May Reflections: Root to Rise Together

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May has been a month of inspiration and connection at our incredible District 91 Conference: Root to Rise held at the beautiful De Vere Latimer Estate.

What an inspirational weekend it was!

From powerful real-life stories of overcoming setbacks and self-doubt to thought-provoking discussions on AI and the future of leadership, every session reminded us that finding your voice can truly change lives. The conference beautifully reflected the diversity, courage and resilience within our Toastmasters community. We were able to showcase some of the
specialist clubs in our district too.

The speech contests showcased some of the very best speakers in the district, with exceptionally high standards across both the International Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest. Every contestant brought passion and authenticity to the stage, making the experience unforgettable for everyone in the audience. Congratulations to our District 91 champions.

International Speech contest winners

Evaluation Speech contest winners

We wish them every success at the next stage of their Toastmasters journey.

There was plenty of joy too, singing “Volare,” dancing together at the gala dinner and sharing laughter late into the evening. These are the moments that remind us that Toastmasters is
more than communication and leadership. It is about friendships, belonging and shared experiences.

A huge thank you goes to Pearl and the entire conference team for delivering a great event despite all the last-minute challenges. Conferences of this scale do not happen overnight. They are built through months of planning, teamwork, problem-solving and dedication from volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes. Your efforts created a truly memorable experience for our members and guests alike. We are also grateful to our supporters who helped make the conference experience so special.

If any one would like to be involved or interested in being a conference chair for future conferences, please send an email to conference@d91toastmasters.org.uk

Celebrating Club & Member Excellence

We are delighted to recognise the 4 th club to achieve the prestigious Smedley Distinguished Club status, a reflection of strong commitment to excellence.
Congratulations to the clubs reaching this milestone: PMI UK Toastmasters Club from L16.

Division Area Club Name
B 8 Tube Talk Toastmasters
C 5 Bloomberg London Toastmasters
D 20 Sustainable Speakers Online
L 16 PMI UK Toastmasters Club

As we approach the end of the Toastmasters year, this is also a gentle reminder for members to ensure that all completed educational levels are submitted and updated in Pathways. Every level achievement matters and contributes not only to your personal growth but also to your club, area, division and district success. We are at 81 Distinguished clubs and we will see many more joining the ranks soon. A special thank you also goes to all our Division Directors and Area Directors who have supported clubs tirelessly throughout the year. From conducting Area Director visit reports to mentoring club officers, encouraging quality meetings, guiding clubs toward Distinguished status, your leadership and commitment have played a vital role in helping clubs pursue excellence for their members.

Educational Achievements

Celebrating Excellence till date

Educational Awards: 1068 educational awards till date for 2025-26.

Education Awards Member Achievements Total
Level 1 441
Level 2 266
Level 3 171
Level 4 121
Level 5 60
Distinguished Toastmaster 9
Total 1068

Triple Crown Award Winners: 47 Triple crown awards achieved till date for 2025-26 with 12 winners in May’26

Month Club Name Member Name
May-26 Legacy Speakers Brixton Beverley Daniel – Blugh, PM5 (2nd Triple Crown this year)
May-26 London Olympian Speakers Toastmasters Joann Walsh
May-26 Polish Your Polish Arkadiusz Dudek
Mar-26 PMI UK Toastmasters Club Grace Nabatanzi
May-26 Hamwic Speakers Tom Primrose
May-26 Early Bird Speakers Hary Bell
May-26 Casterbridge Speakers Beverley Hepting, PM3
May-26 Early Bird Speakers Christine H. Wallach, DTM
May-26 db Toastmasters – Canary Wharf Elaine Kelly, DTM
May-26 Connected Speakers Georgios Apostolakis, PM4
May-26 Malvern Speakers Isaac Baker, PM3
May-26 PMI UK Toastmasters Club Rajan Jesuraj, PM2
May-26 PMI UK Toastmasters Club Ranjit Shergill, PM4

Many congratulations, you inspire us all.

Important Reminder: Pathways Price Increase

Toastmasters International has announced that the cost of purchasing a new Pathways learning path will increase from $20 to $35 effective 1 July 2026. Members considering starting an additional path are encouraged to take advantage of the current pricing before 30 June 2026. Now is a wonderful opportunity to continue investing in yourself.

Using Our Voices to Create Impact

Toastmasters skills extend far beyond our clubs and workplaces, they help us create real impact in our communities. This month, Janet and I had the privilege of attending the 50th anniversary garden party at Buckingham Palace celebrating the work of The King’s Trust. One of the most rewarding moments was seeing the young people we had mentored now thriving as Young Ambassadors, confidently sharing their stories and inspiring others. It was a powerful reminder that encouragement, mentoring and helping someone find their voice can truly change lives.

As we move into the final stretch of the Toastmasters year, let us carry forward the spirit of Root to Rise, continuing to learn, connect, encourage and grow together.

 

Four New Clubs and Fresh Opportunities for Growth

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The end of April, beginning of May has been another busy period, with a visit from our International Director, Corporate Award visits, our District Council meeting and Elections, our fabulous District Conference, notification of the Talk Up Toastmasters Award winners and, I am delighted to say, we have added four new clubs to our Toastmasters Family.

New Clubs

Lets give a very warm welcome to the following newly chartered clubs:

  • Ciso Speakers Toastmasters
    o A specialist club focusing on Cyber Security, meeting 3 rd Thursday 6pm
  • Excalibur Online Global Speakers (EOGs)
    o An Advanced Club meeting, 1 st & 3 rd Wednesday 7pm
  • Hemel Speakers
    o A local community club, meeting 1 st & 3 rd Thursday 7.30pm
  • Pen Test Parables
    o A corporate club, meeting times to be confirmed

Congratulations to all the Sponsors and Presidents who brought these clubs to life; Andy Green, Nicola Ferrari, Andrew Bennett, Samir Malak, Sujanth Sivanesan, Imke Hoffman and James Beamish. As well as the home team, Ramesh Hali Demo Lead, Mary-Anne Ledger Division B Director, Alison Morris Division J Director and everyone else who gave a helping hand. Ciso and EOGs go into Division B, Hemel and Pen Test into Division J.

EOGs, Hemel and Pen Test were all started by current Toastmasters, so if you have an idea for a club in your Area; Community, Specialist or Corporate please do let us know.
club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk

Delighted to do an Area Visit to Ciso and see them in action for their first meeting

Delighted to be going to Excalibur’s online charter party on Wednesday 27 th May

It was wonderful to see Hemel Founders Sujanth and Imke at the D91 Conference

Pen Test are currently planning their first meeting since chartering.

Talk Up Toastmasters Award

I am finally able to announce the winners of the Talk Up Toastmasters Award. Apologies for the delay, Head Office were behind schedule. Congratulations to all of the following clubs who added five or more new, dual or reinstated members between 1 st February and 31 st March 2026. It was great to see clubs adding five to 16 members. All will be recognised by both Head Office and District. Well done.

Beat the Clock

And remember we are in another club building incentive period with Beat the Clock. It is a race to the finish between 1st May and 30th June. Once again, Clubs will be recognised by both TMI and District 91 where we offer £25 to 25 clubs who bring in five new, dual or reinstated members. Many clubs are planning Open Houses to help increase membership, so go on, invite your friends, family and colleagues, let them see the wonders of Toastmasters and what it can do for them.

Back to Charter Strength

We challenged all those clubs that started the Toastmaster year on 1st July under charter strength, which is less than 20 members, to grow. We challenged the clubs to get back to 20 by adding a minimum of plus five, new or re-instated members. I am delighted to say that nine clubs achieved this, some adding not just five but up to 10 new members. A fabulous effort and achievement, setting these clubs up for a stronger start to the next Toastmaster year. If your club is under 20 members you still have time to add more with the Beat the Clock incentive above. A stronger club ensures meeting roles are more easily filled, prevents member burnout, and creates high energy meetings.

Congratulations go to the following clubs.

  • Canary Wharf Communicators Club
  • Gatwick Communicators
  • Meridian Speakers Club
  • Northern Lights Speakers Club
  • Romford Speakers
  • Spinnaker Speakers
  • St Pauls Speakers
  • Sussex Online Speakers
  • Thamesdown Speakers Club

 

Anniversaries

Another way to attract guests and potential members is to have an Anniversary celebration.

Congratulations go to:

Club Name Month Year Years
Brighton & Hove Speakers May 2001 25
Woking Speakers Toastmasters May 2006 20

May data – Based on the Official Charter Date

Top Tip
Borrowed from one of the presenters at conference:

Toastmasters is not about perfection, it’s about progress. So grab the opportunity and give it a go. Whether it’s doing your first speech, running an Open

 

Eleni Kyrtsia: April’s Area Director of the Month

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Eleni Kyrtsia, from Area C5 has been recognised as Area Director of the Month for April for her dedication, consistency, and support to clubs, including helping Markel return after 10 months of hard work.

We asked Eleni about the recognition, the journey with Markel, and what she has learned about supporting clubs as an Area Director.

Congratulations on being recognised as Area Director of the Month for April. What did this recognition mean to you?

Thank you Allen. I’ve been a member of Toastmasters for more than three years now, and this community means a lot to me, my club Wharf speakers is like a little family to me. The recognition was a very welcome surprise, it was nice to see the effort and support given to clubs being acknowledged.

Markel came back after 10 months of hard work. What kept you believing that the club could return?

I think with Markel, it was always about the intention from the members to keep the club alive. They never gave me a doubt that it wouldn’t happen. Of course, there are always blockers, people are busy, things get missed, life happens, but when people are truly convinced things will work out, that creates reassurance and doesn’t leave room for ambiguity. It was clear that Markel wasn’t ready to close its doors; it just needed a bit more time and support to get things back on track.

What would you say to another Area Director supporting a club through a difficult period?

Don’t underestimate the importance of simply being present and consistent. Things don’t usually change overnight, so being understanding and helping maintain a positive attitude despite the challenges can go a long way. Sometimes clubs don’t need someone to step in and sort out everything immediately, they need support and encouragement. Sticking around when things seem to slip away helps more than people think.

What has this experience taught you about supporting different clubs?

Every club is different. They all have different needs, challenges, pace and way of doing things. So there’s no one size fits all approach for Area Directors when supporting clubs. We have to meet them where they are, understand what success looks like for them, and help them move forward in a way that is realistic and sustainable for them. This way the progress they make is way more meaningful for their members and will have a more lasting impact.

What message would you like to share with members and leaders across the District?

Every person I’ve spoken to in Toastmasters talks about the value it brings to their life. It becomes a community, and sometimes even a family, where people help each other grow into stronger versions of themselves and into the people they want to become. What a privilege it is to witness and share that kind of growth with others on their journey. Every time we show up for ourselves in some way, we move a little closer to the version of ourselves we want to become. And every time we help someone else, we help them move closer too. Clubs grow because of the effort, care, and dedication of the people within them. There is something really special about preserving and nurturing those safe spaces for growth.

Eleni’s story is a reminder that club support is not always about quick fixes. Sometimes, it is about presence, patience, consistency, and believing in a club long enough for it to find its way back.

How One Humorous Speech Led to BBC Radio

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Danny Wang, our District Humorous Speech Champion, recently took his speaking journey beyond the Toastmasters stage and onto BBC Radio Berkshire. We asked Danny about his contest speech, the unexpected radio call, and what other clubs can learn from sharing real human stories with local media.

What was your humorous speech about, and why do you think it connected with the audience?

Honestly, the whole speech was just me exposing my own chaos. I basically talked about something stupid I did, exaggerated it slightly (but also… not really), and people related because everyone’s life is a bit of a mess. The audience laughed because they saw themselves in it – or at least saw someone doing worse than them, which is always comforting. We’ve all been through a ‘frugal’ phase or something somewhat obsessed. I think the Donald Trump impression was the cherry on top though.

How did the BBC Radio opportunity come about?

I got into work one morning, and as I was making my coffee I got a call from an unknown number. I picked up, and it was BBC Radio Berkshire! It went along the lines of ‘hey, ya wanna speak on the radio in a sec’ and I was like, ‘hell yeah’. They were doing a bit about public speaking, and crushing fears – I guess they had found my club or seen my newspaper article.

Was speaking on radio different from speaking at Toastmasters?

Yeah, massively. In Toastmasters you can see people’s faces. On radio, you’re basically just talking on the phone. Kind of felt like speaking to senior management. Also, no clapping. Very rude.

What was the reaction from people around you after the radio appearance?

I pre-warned my colleagues and mum I’d be on the radio. They all listened in sneakily and sent some wholesome messages after. It was funny because I actually went to a meeting room in the office and my colleagues were watching me whilst listening to it – if that makes sense?

Why should clubs consider approaching local radio stations with their stories?

Because radio stations are desperate for local stories that aren’t about potholes or lost cats. Toastmasters can have a goldmine of vocational, weird, wholesome, human stories. They want that stuff.

What kind of stories do you think radio stations would be interested in?

Anything that’s: personal, slightly funny, slightly chaotic or involves someone overcoming something. If it sounds like something your friend would tell you in the pub, I reckon they’d love it.

What advice would you give to clubs approaching local media?

I did not approach them myself, so I’m not sure what the perfect approach would be. I’d say don’t send them a 500-word essay. Don’t be formal. Don’t say “we would like to enquire about media opportunities”. Just talk like a human. And don’t pitch “we meet every second Tuesday” – pitch an actual story. Local if possible!

What did this experience show you about Toastmasters beyond the club room?

That nobody outside Toastmasters knows what we do… but once they hear about it, they’re weirdly interested. People love self-improvement stories, especially when they’re not preachy.

What is next for you?

God, there’s so many things. Few big goals of mine are to get onto the international stage, actually make work on my startup, climb a couple mountains, do well at work – the usual, ya know? Then after that, some sleep. Haven’t been getting enough of that recently. Then maybe more speaking, more comedy, maybe another contest, maybe something completely random. I’m just saying yes to things and seeing what happens.

Danny’s story is a reminder that clubs do not always need a “perfect” story to approach local media. Sometimes the best stories are personal, funny, chaotic, local, and human.

Celebrating Our Corporate Recognition Award Recipients

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Each year, members of Toastmasters International’s Board of Directors present this distinguished honour to a chosen few corporate sponsors around the world, in recognition of their commitment to the ongoing professional development of their employees.

There are moments in a District’s history that stand out as truly exceptional, and this is one of them. The Corporate Recognition Award is presented only when a District receives a visit from a Toastmasters International Director. Last month, Francesco Fedele, International Director for Region 10, visited District 91 to present the awards.

The award recognises organisations that have supported a Toastmasters club within our District for a minimum of two years and have gone beyond simply providing space or funding, actively embedding Toastmasters into their culture of professional growth.

This year, we are proud to announce not one but two recipients from our District: PA Consulting and HID Global.

PA Consulting is a global innovation and transformation consultancy, combining expertise in strategy, technology, engineering and design to help organisations across both the public and private sectors tackle complex challenges. Founded in 1943 and headquartered in London, the firm operates across more than 14 countries. Francesco Fedele DTM presented the award to Helen Mullings, Chief People Officer, who spoke warmly of the impact Toastmasters has had at the company.

HID Global is a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, providing the technology that millions of people in more than 100 countries use every day to securely access physical and digital places. The company offers products and services spanning access control, digital security, biometric identification and card printing, serving industries from healthcare and government to financial services and beyond. Francesco Fedele DTM presented the award to Joan Kennedy, Vice President of Human Resources, who accepted with great pride on behalf of HID Global.

What makes this moment even more special is the company they keep. In the history of our District, only one corporate club had previously earned this distinction: Bloomberg. For two organisations to join that legacy in the same year is truly extraordinary.

“Corporations who sponsor a Toastmasters club are making an investment in the future of their employees and their organisations. Toastmasters can help build the next generation of any organisation’s leaders and communicators. Thank you for supporting your team members through the Toastmasters programme,” says Daniel Rex, Chief Executive Officer, Toastmasters International.

As District Director, it is my honour to recognise the outstanding commitment of both PA Consulting and HID Global to their employees’ development and to the strength of our Toastmasters community.

Please join me in extending our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to everyone at both organisations who has made this possible.

 

Debbie Williams DTM

District Director 2025-2026

District 91