A Strong Finish, A Stronger Beginning: Building on Success in 2026–27

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I am delighted to be kicking off Toastmaster year 2026-27 by closing out 2025-26. At the 11th hour we chartered two new Clubs:

  • UK Speakers and Leaders 2 Toastmasters Club
  • Bouncing Onward DTM Toastmasters Club
  • AND reinstated Amazon UKIR Toastmasters

These three Clubs helped us to achieve our Club Growth targets.

                            

In total we chartered 10 new clubs and reinstated two.  We were second in the world for new membership payments. Third in the world for total membership payments. Not bad for a District that is not even in the top ten size wise. We are also third globally for clubs with the highest percentage with 20 or more members which is fantastic achievement.  Credit to our members and leaders for all your efforts. A great end to a somewhat challenging year. We did it together.

At the end of June it was wonderful to bring our Division and Area Directors together for District Officer Training. A chance for them to get to know their new teams through team building activities, educational sessions and general networking.  It was a full two days of interaction, fun and learning, providing our leaders with the best possible information to support their clubs and members.

Topics covered included the new and exciting Club Officer Training materials, developed for Toastmasters by Toastmasters, many from our District, D91.  This is being rolled out globally to standardise the process and for consistency across Districts. With new materials there is no excuse for Officers not to attend, new or more experienced. In-fact experienced Officers can support the process by offering to run one of the sessions.  Divisions and Areas are scheduling their COTS, so if you are a Club Officer please do sign up.   Let us aim for all seven Officers in all Clubs trained so we can give all our members the best experience possible,

Another key topic was Area Visits which is a key part of the Area Directors role, do welcome them when they pop in to say hello.  They are there to support the clubs in their development.

We also covered in some depth Success Plans; Club, Area, Division and District. You may find your Club Officers asking you what you want to achieve this year as they set about developing the Club Success Plan.

Now is a great opportunity to rethink and refocus, both as individuals and as clubs.  What do you want to achieve this year?  Did you complete a few speeches last year? Then go for a level completion this year.  Achieved less than 5 Distinguished Club Points last year, go for Distinguished this year.  Whatever we did last year let’s raise the bar and go for the next level.  Just think how much more we can achieve this year.  We are an education organization after all so when we stretch ourselves we learn more and achieve more.  That’s a win win to me.

Let’s challenge ourselves to have 90+% members on Pathways versus the current 82%.  That’s almost 800 members not having the opportunity to develop and grow with the guidance of a structured education programme and the incredible peer support that we offer.   More members on pathways, more levels completed will allow us to have even more distinguished clubs.  Let’s hit Smedley again for Distinguished clubs.  Let’s also go for the number one slot with percentage of clubs with 20 or more members, the recommended minimum number for club health and sustainability.

It’s a new year, a new start and a great opportunity to develop and grow and achieve more than we ever thought possible, individually and collectively.

We can do this together.

PQD Targets for 2026-27
90+% on Pathways   106+ Distinguished clubs

Its all about Learning, Leadership and Leading the way forward  DOT 2026

 

We’re Looking for Passionate Volunteers!

District 91 is looking for enthusiastic members to join our leadership team and help shape another successful Toastmasters year. We currently have the following volunteer opportunities available:

  • Incentive & Analytics Lead (2026–2027)
  • May Conference Director (2027)

If you’re ready to develop your leadership skills, make a meaningful impact, and contribute to the success of District 91, we’d love to hear from you. Get involved and be part of the team that helps make great things happen across our District! 

email to program.quality.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk

 

Building the Road Together

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There is something special about the start of a new Toastmasters year. It isn’t just a change of roles or a new calendar, it is an opportunity to build on the amazing work by our predecessors while creating something even stronger for those who follow.

Thanks to the vision of last year’s Trio led Debbie Williams, unrelenting focus and dedication by Lynne Gayer as the CGD and me as the PQD along with our incredible District Leadership Team, our extended Club Growth and Programme Quality teams and every leader across District 91, we have so much to celebrate. Together, we achieved Distinguished District status, grew to 176 clubs, reached 9,573 membership payments and celebrated 110 Distinguished Clubs. These are not just impressive numbers; they represent thousands of members who found confidence and opportunities to grow. They remind us of what is possible when we have a shared vision, remain focused on our purpose and work together as one team. 

I am delighted to be kicking off the 2026-27 Toastmasters year from such a strong foundation. 

As we begin this new chapter, I find myself reflecting on the story of Dashrath Manjhi, the “Mountain Man” of India. After losing his wife because there was no direct access path to medical care, he made what seemed like an impossible decision. Armed with nothing more than a hammer, a chisel and an unwavering belief, he spent 22 years carving a road through a mountain. People laughed at him. They questioned him. Many thought he would never succeed. Yet he kept showing up – one strike, one day, one step at a time – until the impossible became reality.

His story reminds me that extraordinary achievements begin with unconditional belief. Believing in a future that others cannot yet see. Believing that every small action matters. Believing in one another, even when the destination feels far away. 

Our vision this year is based on the following principles:

Supportive. Simplify. Sustainable.

Supportive – because no leader or member should ever feel alone. Leadership can be demanding, but kindness towards others and towards ourselves matters. When we support one another, we create the confidence for people to step forward, grow and lead.

Simplify – because when we remove complexity, we create space for clarity and action. The simpler we make leadership, the more time we have to focus on our members and clubs.

Sustainable – because our greatest legacy is not what we achieve this year, but the leaders we develop, the clubs we strengthen and the culture we leave behind.

I’m pleased to say this vision is already in motion with the vision and planning by my Trio leaders, Lynne Gayer (Program Quality Director) and Alison Morris (Club Growth Director).

District Officer Training visualised by Lynne, has equipped our district leaders to serve with confidence, while Club Officer Training is well underway, preparing club leadership teams for a successful year. Our immediate priority is supporting clubs through the membership renewal period especially with the changes effective 3 August. Alison has designed incentives to recognise clubs that build early momentum while helping members continue their Toastmasters journey.

On 19 July, many of you joined us for our first District Town Hall, where our International Director for Region 10, Francesco Fedele, answered members’ questions regarding the recent Toastmasters International subscription price increase. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and shared your thoughts respectfully. Listening to our members and ensuring your voices are heard is one of our most important responsibilities as district leaders. While many questions were addressed during the session, we’ve also captured the additional questions raised and will be forwarding them to the Toastmasters International Board to seek further guidance and clarification.

We’ve also launched monthly leadership sessions led by Yogendra Paranjpe creating regular opportunities for our Division Directors across District 91 to learn from successful toastmaster leaders and continue growing as one leadership community. 

As we look ahead, it is also important to acknowledge those who continue to strengthen our district in different ways. I would like to thank Past District Director Andy Hammond, who has graciously taken on the role of our District Harmony Officer. Andy brings a wealth of experience, wisdom and a calm perspective that will help us foster a culture where every leader feels heard, respected and supported. Harmony isn’t simply about resolving differences, it’s about creating an environment where we can have honest conversations, learn from one another and move forward together.

Before I close, I’d like to remind our Club Presidents and Secretaries that you should have received the request to assign your club’s proxy vote for the upcoming Toastmasters International Annual Business Meeting in August. I would be honoured if you would assign your proxy to me so that I can represent your club and cast your vote on your behalf. To help us prepare for the Annual Business Meeting, please complete your proxy assignment by 12 August. Thank you for ensuring that District 91 has a strong voice in the governance of our international organisation.

Simon Sinek says, “When people are emotionally invested, they don’t need to be managed, they want to contribute.” That is exactly the kind of District we will continue to build. I had the opportunity to visit our clubs and see leadership in action. On the final day of my journey as Programme Quality Director, I celebrated with our corporate club, HSBC 8CS London Toastmasters Club as they achieved Distinguished Club status within a year of chartering, a wonderful testament to belief and commitment.

On 1 July, my first day as District Director, I visited Kent Speakers Club and experienced the culture of excellence that has made them a Smedley Distinguished Club. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of inducting the new leadership team at Wembley Stadium Speakers and visiting Cheltenham Speakers and LSEG London Toastmasters Club. Every visit has reinforced the same message: our district’s greatest strength lies in our clubs, our members and the leaders who bring Toastmasters values to life every week.

The year ahead will undoubtedly bring challenges. Every worthwhile journey does. I have complete confidence that if we continue to believe in one another, support one another and work together as one team, we will not only maintain the excellence District 91 is known for, we will elevate it even further.

Dashrath Manjhi built a road through a mountain because he believed it was possible. We have a different road to build through service, leadership and the lives we touch every day. And unlike Dashrath, we won’t be building it alone. Every club, every leader and every member carries a hammer and chisel of their own. Every meeting, every speech, every mentoring conversation and every act of encouragement chips away at the mountain before us.

Thank you for placing your trust in me. It is an honour and a privilege to serve as your District Director and I look forward to serving you keeping the 3 guiding principles of Supportive, Simplify and Sustainable for decisions made.

Together, let’s keep building the road ahead.

District 91 Celebrates Distinguished District Achievement and Outstanding Member Contributions

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We Are a Distinguished District!
District 91 has achieved Distinguished District status for the 2025-2026 program year, a reflection of the commitment, passion and teamwork demonstrated by our members, club officers, and district leaders throughout the Toastmasters year.  This achievement belongs to everyone who has contributed to the success of our clubs and members.  Here is a message from International President, Aletta Rochat, DTM.
The Hall of Fame provided an opportunity to recognise the individuals whose leadership, service and dedication have made an exceptional contribution to District 91 over the past year. From those working quietly behind the scenes to those leading at district and international level, each recipient has helped strengthen our district and support our members.
Congratulations to our 2025–2026 award recipients which included:
Distinguished Service Award – Website Team: Rob Dewing, Janet Alkema DTM and Amy Jones DTM
District Innovation Award -Rory Graves DTM
Distinguished Alignment Service Recognition – Barbara Saph DTM
District Ambassador Award (those members from District 91 contributing outside of the District): Jean Gamester DTM, Second Vice President, Toastmasters International; Patrick Oluyidi DTM, International Director, Region 11; Helena Boden-Brewer DTM, Region Advisor, Region 11, Steve Vear DTM.
Translator of the Year:  Annelise Lepage
Division Director of the Year: Yogendra Paranjpe, Division A
Area Director of the Year: Muriel Teisseire, L27
District Director’s Award: Allen Paul Pulikkal DTM, District Public Relations Manager
Toastmaster of the Year: Deborah Stevens: District Administration Manager
We were delighted that International Director for Region 10, Francesco Fedele DTM was able to join for our celebrations.
The afternoon also celebrated further awards and certificates for excellence in club growth, programme quality, and public relations, while recognising the invaluable contribution of every member of the District Leadership Team. Their dedication, together with the commitment of volunteers across the district, has helped District 91 continue to thrive. This collective effort was reflected in our achievements this year.
Additionally, five Divisions and twenty-five Areas finished Distinguished or above, demonstrating the strength and commitment of leaders and clubs across the district.
As another successful Toastmasters year draws to a close, the Hall of Fame was a fitting opportunity to celebrate the volunteers whose leadership, service and dedication made these achievements possible. Every award and certificate presented reflected not only individual excellence, but also the collective spirit that has driven District 91 forward.

Congratulations once again to all our award recipients and thank you to every member who has contributed to making District 91 a Distinguished District. Together, we have much to celebrate and an excellent platform to build on in the year ahead.

Yours in service
Debbie Williams DTM
Immediate Past District Director 2026-2027
District 91

Growing Stronger Together: Club Growth Priorities and Member Opportunities for 2026–27

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Club growth remains at the heart of everything we do, it is not only about increasing membership numbers; it is about strengthening our clubs, supporting our volunteers, and creating welcoming, active environments where people want to belong and grow.

As a District we are doing ok BUT surely we want to do more, this year the District is aiming for Smedley Distinguished, this means we need;

A Club Net Growth of 14 clubs from a Base of 176 to 190, this figure doesn’t take into account the loss of any clubs, currently we have 22 Clubs under 12 members, these all need coaches, so please contact me if you are interested in helping these clubs remain Active. 

Club Payments to increase by 766 from 9570 to 10336, these are made up of new members, re-instated and renewals. If we can get as many new members, as possible, in before the April renewals this will mean they count for 3 payments.  

We now have the increase in renewals, with a short time to get renewals in before the price goes up. Where possible get club members to pay before 2nd August and to renew for 12 months, thereby saving $24 (£18 at todays rate of exchange). 

We have some incentives to help with renewals 

If 75% of Clubs obtain 75% renewals in one Area for 6 months by August 3rd 26 they will get Humorous and Topic Contest trophies for their Area Contest. If they renew for

If 75% of Clubs obtain 75% renewals by August 3rd 26 for 12 months in one Area they will get trophies for all 4 Contests for their Area Contest.

Any club that adds 8 new or reinstated members paying up to 31st March 27 by 31st August 26 they not only complete 2 of the DCP points, they also achieve Smedley Award and in addition will get a Superstar Trophy and a Certificate.

Please Note : Any payments after 3rd August 26 will be at the New rate.

Clubs that charter by 30th September 26 and pay for 6 months up to March 27 will get $150 worth Goodies.

Clubs that charter by 30th September 26 and pay 12 months up to September 27 will get $200 worth of goodies for the club.

Even better Charter clubs can use the old renewal rate if they charter before the 30th September 2026.

My focus as Club Growth Director is to help clubs grow and maintain sustainable growth. This includes sharing ideas that work, supporting membership campaigns, helping clubs identify opportunities, and Divisions appointing a Division Club Growth Director to help both District and Members to find opportunities for new clubs. Our goal this year is to get at least one viable new club lead per area and to charter at least 2 new clubs per Division.

I encourage every club to take a fresh look at how it presents itself to prospective members. Is your message clear? Are visitors followed up promptly? Do you contact members if they haven’t attended for a while? Do you contact members before renewal to check they are renewing, sometimes all it takes is a quick message or phone call to make that member feel valued. 

It is every Members responsibility to build and retain members and Clubs, as stated in the Toastmasters Promise, which you signed up to when you joined.

Are you on Pathways Level 4 or 5 or even going for your DTM, do you need to be a sponsor or mentor for a club? Do you want to be a coach? We need you!

If anyone has any ideas for Club Growth or Membership Retention and Growth please contact me. 

Alison Morris DTM  clubgrowthdirector@d91toastmasters.org.uk 

Celebrating a Year of Growth, Connection and Possibility – District 91 Club Growth Update – June 2026

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As we reach the end of another Toastmasters year, it is the perfect moment to reflect on what we
have achieved together.

Club Growth is about more than numbers. It is about creating opportunities for people to discover their voice, build confidence, develop leadership skills and find a supportive community. Every guest who attended an open house, every member who renewed, every club that welcomed someone new, and every leader who invested their time has contributed to our collective achievements.

This year, District 91 celebrated the chartering of new clubs, membership growth across our District, and countless successful open houses that introduced Toastmasters to new audiences. These
achievements are a testament to the dedication, passion and commitment of our members and leaders.

To every club that hosted an open house: thank you for opening your doors and sharing the Toastmasters experience.

To every member who invited a guest: thank you for being an ambassador for personal growth.

To every club officer, Area Director and Division Director who supported club-building initiatives: thank you for helping our clubs thrive.

A special thank you goes to the Club Growth Team:

Your enthusiasm, creativity and unwavering commitment have made a real difference throughout the year. It has been a privilege to work alongside you and witness the impact you have made across District 91.

While we celebrate our achievements, we also look forward with excitement. The coming year brings new opportunities to strengthen existing clubs, support membership growth, charter new
clubs and introduce even more people to the life-changing benefits of Toastmasters.

Growth starts with a conversation, an invitation and a willingness to share our experience with others. Together, we can continue building strong clubs that transform lives.

Thank you for making this Toastmasters year such a success. Whether you joined recently or have been part of the journey for many years, your contribution matters.

Congratulations on everything we have achieved so far and best wishes to all our incoming leaders. I look forward to seeing District 91 continue to grow, inspire and achieve even greater success in the year ahead.

Together, we have grown. Together, we will achieve even more. THANK YOU.

Here from member, Eleni Kyrtsia, and her Toastmasters story

Membership Growth

So worth celebrating……..

District 91 is 2nd globally for new membership payments. Incredible achievement.

District 91 has consistently been in the top three globally for total membership payments.

New Clubs

Delighted to welcome our eighth new club this year with several more on the cusp of chartering before year end.

WELCOME – JP Morgan EMEA Solutions

Other clubs that chartered this are year:

  • Richmond and Wandsworth communicators club
  • Toastmasters at the BBC
  • Wells Fargo Toastmasters Club
  • Hemel Speakers Club
  • Ciso Speakers Toastmasters
  • Excalibur Online Global Speakers  (EOGS)
  • Pen Test Parables

Club Celebrations – The building of Excalibur Online Global Speakers and The Charter Party

Read on to discover how Excalibur Online Global Speakers came about.

Somewhere in your Toastmasters journey, the question arrives. You’re sitting in a meeting  you’ve sat in a hundred times, watching it run like clockwork, and a quiet thought slips in:
What if we built our own?
Most of us let that thought pass. It feels like a lot. Twenty charter members, charter paperwork, the very real chance of standing up in front of the room and asking people to commit before there’s anything to commit to. Easier to keep attending the club someone else already built. 

But here’s the thing nobody tells you until you’ve done it….. there is no Pathways project that stretches you the way persuading 20 people to bet on a vision does. If you’ve ever wanted proof that you’ve grown, this is it.  We know, because we just did it.

The hardest persuasion task in Toastmasters

When Andrew Bennett, DTM, pitched the idea of a truly global online advanced club, the vision was simple to say, harder to build: a place where speakers from different continents
and cultures sharpen their craft together at the highest level. Saying it took a sentence.
Delivering it took several months.

The benchmark for chartering is 20 members. That number sounds modest until you try to gather it. Every name is a conversation, an evaluation, a small act of persuasion. It is the most sustained ask most leaders ever make. Excalibur Online Global Speakers didn’t  just hit 20. We chartered with 22 members across four continents, officially recognised on 29 April
2026.

If you take one thing from our story, take this: the milestone is real and reachable. A handful of committed people, the backing of an established club, and a refusal to quit got us there.
The same is available to you.

What the celebration actually taught us


You don’t charter a global club without throwing a party, and ours leaned all the way into the occasion: a virtual red carpet, matching red Zoom backgrounds, and a footprint that lit up in real time. Club Sponsor and Sergeant at Arms Samir Malak, DTM, set the tone the moment people logged in, getting attendees to add their home cities to their Zoom names so our global reach was visible on screen before the meeting even started.

It looked effortless. Thats the lesson. The smooth run wasn't luck. The committee spent time beforehand ironing out the agenda and the technical logistics so that on the day, the host could focus entirely on the people, not the controls. With President Andrew Bennett at the helm, Toastmaster of the Day Daniel Arda facilitating, and VPPR Krishn Ramchurn managing things on Zoom in the background, the event was smoothly led from the first second to the last. When you build a club, this is the muscle you’ll develop: the unglamorous preparation that lets a moment feel magical for everyone in it.

Some of the charter party attendees

And there were moments: Adam Paldyna, President of our sponsoring club, formally presented the Club Charter Certificate. Daniel kept the energy sky-high, at one point leading the whole room in a virtual samba celebration. VPE John Akers ran Table Topics with on- the-spot evaluations in breakout rooms, specifically so that every single guest got a chance to speak, not just the confident few. All 22 members received their Charter Member Certificates, presented by current District 91 Director Debbie Williams DTM and incoming Director (and our own club member) Seema Menon, DTM. Division B Director Mary-Anne Ledger closed the formal proceedings with a specially composed toast, delivered with real warmth and wit.

We were also honoured to welcome Verity Price, DTM, Accredited Speaker and the 2021 World Champion of Public Speaking, who shared her own communication journey and left
the room buzzing with ideas, followed by a Q&A facilitated by Lynne Gayer, DTM. But the most quietly powerful moment of the night wasn’t on the keynote stage. It came from a brand-new member who later described battling his old instinct to stay silent, then speaking up anyway, taking feedback and giving it in return. That is the whole point of a club, compressed into one person’s evening. Build the room, and you create the conditions for that to happen to someone else.

Verity Price DTM, Accredited Speaker and World Champion of Public Speaking 2021

When the formal meeting closed, the real EOGS showed up: our legendary After Party, where everyone stayed to mingle, debrief, and find out exactly how to join. Because here’s what we’d quietly proven over those months: building the club was never the end goal. The room full of people who didn’t want to leave was.

 

Your move

Here’s the uncomfortable, motivating truth: the only thing separating the club in your head from the club on the roster is the decision to start asking. The paperwork is learnable. The
members are persuadable. The party, frankly, is the easy part.
Maybe youre not ready to charter tomorrow. But maybe your club is sitting on its own milestone right now: a member about to earn a DTM, a Distinguished Club Program goal within reach, a contest win worth marking. Those are reasons to gather your people too. Don’t let them pass quietly.

And if you’d like to see what a global charter celebration actually looks like, you can be our guest. Watch the EOGS Charter Party on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/seHPbAb7jlA.

And come visit us live; we meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 PM UK time, on Zoom. All you have to do is drop an email at ExcaliburOnlineGlobalSpeakers@gmail.com or visit us at https://excaliburonline.toastmasterclub.org.
By Krishn Ramchurn, EOGS VPPR

Club Celebrations – Club Anniversaries

Congratulations go to:

Club Month Year Years
London Business School Public Speaking Club June 2001 25
South West Speakers June 2006 20
Verizon EMEA Online Toastmasters Club June 2021 5
JAL Richmond Leaders June 2025 1
UK Speakers and Leaders Toastmasters June 2025 1

June data – Based on the Official Charter Date


Beat the Clock 

And remember there are still a few days to go for the Beat the Clock incentive.  It is a race to the finish, get those last few guests converted to members before 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. The District needs just a few more members, we can do this, together.

Top Tip from your Club Growth Director, Lynne Gayer DTM

As we transition to our incoming leaders, I encourage every member to continue being an advocate for growth:

  • Invite a guest to your next meeting
  • Support your club’s membership-building efforts
  • Volunteer to help with open houses and club-building activities
  • Mentor new members and help them discover their potential
  • Champion the Toastmasters mission wherever you can