Empower, Inspire, Lead: Barking Toastmasters Elections 2025/26

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By Nadya Hamedi DTM, Club Coach, Barking Toastmasters

Leadership at Toastmasters is about more than filling roles. It is about nurturing potential, inspiring participation and creating opportunities for members to grow. This was clearly demonstrated by the recent Club Officer Elections at Barking Toastmasters on Saturday 17 May.

Invitations were personally sent to every member and guest accompanied by promotional flyers shared to build excitement and encourage full participation.

The Nominating Committee added a personal touch to the official Toastmasters process. Each member received a detailed summary of all club officer roles, along with access to the Club Leadership Handbook, and official Toastmasters election videos. These resources equipped members to fully understand the responsibilities of each position.  Open and supportive conversations encouraged everyone to explore the different leadership opportunities available.

Multiple nominations for key roles, including Vice President Education, highlighted the club’s vibrant spirit and healthy competition. Nominees shared inspiring speeches about how they plan to serve and lead the membership, while other members delivered heartfelt seconding speeches in support. This engaging process helped everyone learn more about one another and the many ways to contribute.

The meeting was quorate, with strong attendance and lively participation. Each newly elected officer received a comprehensive welcome pack, including a personalised congratulatory letter, Club Officer Agreement and Release Statement, a role summary outlining responsibilities and skills for each position, self-evaluation form, and the iconic “Where Leaders Are Made” ribbon. These resources affirm the club’s commitment to supporting new leaders from the start.

The outgoing committee was formally discharged with sincere thanks for their dedication, receiving certificates in recognition of their contributions. In an uplifting ceremony, the new officers were installed, stepping into their roles with enthusiasm and reaffirming the club’s commitment to develop leaders, inspire growth and empower confident communicators.

At Barking Toastmasters, elections are more than a procedure. They are a celebration of voices, visions, and the journey of developing leaders. Here, leaders are not simply elected. They are nurtured, celebrated, and made.

To every club preparing for elections, embrace this opportunity. Use the tools and support available, connect meaningfully with your members and create an experience that sparks confidence and commitment. Elections also provide invaluable speaking opportunities through nominee and seconding speeches, reinforcing Toastmasters’ core values of communication and leadership. When we invest in leaders, we empower speakers. And when we do both, we ignite transformation in members, in clubs and across our Toastmasters community.

Role summary outlining responsibilities and skills for each Club Officer position:

Club Officer self-evaluation form for each Club Officer position:

🗣️ “Elections are more than just choosing officers; they represent our collective commitment to grow with the club.” Anthony Moore, Club President, Barking Toastmasters, Area 12, Division K, District 91

🗣️ “I was amazed by the extraordinary level of organisation, support, passion and the power of camaraderie in Barking club Officer election.” Olga Galaiko, Division Director, Division C, District 91

🗣️ “The Barking club officers’ elections were the most organised, inspiring and comprehensive that I have ever seen.”   Lynne Gayer DTM, Division Director, Division B, District 91

 🗣️ “Barking Toastmasters club officer elections were a testimony to excellence and member engagement.”  Mo Dawodu, Immediate Past Club Growth Director (2023-24), District 91

 🗣️ “It was inspiring to see members embrace leadership with enthusiasm, engage through public speaking, and connect as a community.” Diane Richardson DTM, Immediate Past District Director, District 91

 

May Club Growth Update: From Comebacks to Champions – Let’s Finish Strong!

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My dear toastmasters,

As we head into the final weeks of the Toastmasters year, our district is buzzing with success stories, new beginnings, and clubs stepping up like never before. Here’s your May roundup from the Club Growth corner:

🌟 Barking Toastmasters: A Comeback Story to Celebrate!
Once a coached club, Barking Toastmasters has made a stunning comeback — now proudly holding President’s Distinguished status and having earned over 4 incentives this year! Your resilience, teamwork, leadership and guidance from your coach, Nadya, inspire others across the district.

🏆 Clubs Claiming Multiple Incentives – Celebrating Excellence
So far, 61 clubs have earned incentives — with more still available and waiting to be claimed!
A special round of applause goes to:

  • Woodford Green Speakers, who under the guidance of their coach earned 2 incentives

Other clubs who surpassed expectations by earning 4 or more incentives, a phenomenal achievement that showcases dedication to member experience and growth.

  • London Olympians Speakers Toastmasters Club
  • London Toastmasters
  • LSBU Public Speakers Club

🚀 New Club Spotlight – SAP UKI Toastmasters
May welcomed a fantastic new addition to our district — SAP UKI Toastmasters! Congratulations to the club founders and members for officially chartering and joining the wider Toastmasters family. We look forward to seeing your voices and leaders thrive.

🌟 District Corporate Summit – 19 June

We’re excited to host the District 91 Corporate Summit on 19 June — a focused, in-person event showcasing the impact of Toastmasters in the workplace. Invite your HR, L&D, or Business Leaders to discover the benefits of starting a club within your organisation. This initiative is led by our amazing Rupa Datta. Look out for the link for more details.

🎤 Ditch the Nerves Live: Part 2 – Interview Skills Success!

On 14 May, we hosted Ditch the Nerves Live: Part 2 — a powerful, practical session focused on interview skills. Attendees walked away with real tips, renewed confidence, and insights into landing their next big opportunity. A heartfelt thank you to all the speakers and supporters who made this possible. This series continues to make a meaningful impact — and we’re just getting started!

📣 Claim What’s Rightfully Yours!
We still have a few more incentives available — and we’re encouraging clubs to step forward and claim what is rightfully yours. If your club has met the requirements, please don’t miss the opportunity to be recognised and rewarded. Every member, every milestone counts.

💡 Help Shape the Future by sharing your voice with us!
Whether you’re interested in coaching, mentoring, training, contests, or events — we need your voice! 📩 Register your interest and together, we’ll build a stronger, more inclusive learning culture.

We’re still a bit shy of reaching Distinguished status and encourage you to bring your friends, convert the guests at clubs to members as well as help clubs on the anvil of chartering, cross the line. Together we can make it happen. Thank you for your commitment, energy, and belief in the Toastmasters journey.

Let’s finish this year strong — and begin the next with even greater purpose!

With appreciation,
Seema Menon
Club Growth Director, District 91
2024–2025

 

April Club Growth Update: A Month of Momentum!

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Dear Members,

What a fantastic month April has been for club growth and energy across our district! Here’s a roundup of the highlights:

27 Clubs Earn Talk Up Toastmasters Awards!
A huge congratulations to the 27 clubs that achieved the Talk Up Toastmasters incentive by adding five or more new, dual, or reinstated members between February and March. Your commitment to growing vibrant club communities is truly commendable!

Celebrating Our “Bring a Friend” Champions!
Our special Bring a Friend incentive invited members to bring guests who later joined their clubs — and what a success it was!
We are delighted to announce 10 winners, each recognized with a voucher for bringing in 4 or more new guests who signed up. Thank you for sharing the Toastmasters experience and inspiring new journeys!

April Club Launches – Growing Stronger!
April will see the launch of three exciting new clubs:

  • HSBC London Toastmasters Club
  • SAP UKI Toastmasters
  • Columbia Threadneedle Investments Toastmasters

A warm welcome to all our new members and club leaders — we can’t wait to see you flourish!

Processing Updates
While many club renewals have already been completed, we are awaiting updates for a few due to a slight processing backlog at Toastmasters International HQ. Thank you for your patience and continued enthusiasm as we work through the final confirmations.

District Growth Snapshot:

  • New Clubs This Year (to date): 9
  • Clubs with 20+ Members: 86
  • Clubs with 25+ Members: 55
  • Highest Club Membership: 71 members!

Each guest welcomed, each member supported, and each new club chartered strengthens our mission of empowering individuals through communication and leadership. Thank you for the passion and dedication you bring to every meeting and every conversation.

See You at the Conference!
I’m looking forward to meeting many of you in person at our upcoming District Conference at Radisson Red, near Heathrow, on 2 May! It’s going to be a wonderful celebration of all we have achieved together — and a chance to ignite even more inspiration for the year ahead.

Let’s keep the momentum going and finish the year strong! 🚀

Warm regards,
Seema Menon DTM
D91 Club Growth Director 2024–2025

 

From a Triple Crown to the Chair of the District Council

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From a Triple Crown to the Chair of the District Council

When I became a Toastmaster back in 2010 I was immediately sold with the idea of what the organisation was about, through the wonderful welcome and induction I received from my club Wessex speakers in Winchester. I very quickly set myself some objectives to work through my competent communicator manual and unlike a lot of members also got through my competent leader manual at relative pace. Within a year of membership I had also managed to achieve my advanced communicator bronze award.

I decided that I wanted to understand more about the organisation I joined and I remember going to a divisional speech contest early in my membership. This sticks in my mind because it was the first time I met Past International Director Jean Gamester. To my utter surprise my name was called out by her when she was on the stage and I was presented with something called a Triple Crown. Although the award was unexpected and very nice, I remember driving home thinking even at that point I wasn’t sure what it really meant to be part of an organisation as big as Toastmasters International.

In the couple of years that followed, I remember going to the conference in Swindon, one in London near to the Tower of London, one in Gatwick and when I was serving as Division Director I stepped up to become logistics chair for the Mayflower conference in Southampton. I remember vividly the thank you speech that Vanessa King DTM gave when she prepared to step down as District Director and remember thinking how proud I was to be involved with such an amazing group of people. Somehow I still feel tired when I think of that conference, but it holds memories I will always cherish.

It feels very strange therefore, to be less than a week away from our conference in Heathrow where I will chair the annual business meeting as District Director. The conference team under the leadership of Debbie Williams and Bolu has done an amazing job to put together such an exciting agenda. At the time of writing we are sold out of our Gala Dinner and VIP tickets. As you will see from Debbie’s article – there is still time to buy day tickets!

So…. If you want to build memories, spend time with friends, maybe even make some new friends, then you need to come along and be part of the fun.

You will not regret being helped to see how big and impressive this organisation is – but most importantly how impressive the talent and members are that we have here in District 91.

Buy your ticket today – and maybe one day you will be inspired to become the District Director too….

Yours in service,
Steve Vear

A Message from your Programme Quality Director

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Dear Toastmasters,

This is your last chance to secure a spot at the District Conference taking place 2-4 May at the Radisson Red Heathrow, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it! In just a few days, we will come together for:

  • Inspiring keynote speakers who will motivate and challenge us to grow.
  • Engaging, hands-on workshops that will leave you with actionable skills to boost your leadership and speaking.
  • Thrilling speech contests showcasing the very best talent in our district (come and support our contestants, which division will win?).
  • The unforgettable experience of connecting with fellow Toastmasters who share your passion for growth and excellence.

The conference is shaping up to be an extraordinary landmark event, and this is the time to be part of it. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time to act! Tickets are almost gone (VIP and Gala Dinner tickets have sold out), and you do not want to miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate with us.

Secure your ticket today and get ready for an experience that will leave you energised and ready to take on new challenges. Book your tickets here: https://conference.d91toastmasters.org.uk

Celebrating Member and Club Milestones
It has been wonderful to see so many clubs and members striving for excellence this year. Congratulations to those who have achieved Distinguished status (or higher) so far as listed below.  So many other clubs are close to achieving Distinguished status, and I look forward to adding your club’s name to the list below:

Hamwic Speakers

Shilling Speakers

Reading Speakers

Casterbridge Speakers

Hallmark Speakers

Newbury Speakers

Wessex Speakers

Basingstoke Speakers

Bath Spa Toastmasters

Bristol Central Speakers

London Olympians Speakers

London Athenian Speakers

London Corinthians Toastmasters

West London Speakers

Medidata EMEA

London Toastmasters

LSBU Public Speakers

Excalibur Speakers

Early Bird Speakers

Sustainable Speakers Online

London Cardinals

London Victorians

PA Consulting

104 London Debaters

 Paddington Toastmasters

Bloomsbury Speakers

Experience French

City Limits Speakers

Bloomberg London Toastmasters

Lloyds Banking Group Toastmasters

1st London Toastmasters

Woking Speakers

Camberley Speakers

Farnham Speakers

Maidenhead Speakers

Wokingham Speakers

Burnham Speakers

Riverside Communicators

Epsom Speakers

Surbiton Speakers

Sutton Speakeasy

The Speakers of Croydon

Arun Speakers

Worthing Speakers

Bromley Speakers

Lewisham Speakers

Beckenham Communicators

Kent Speakers

 Tunbridge Wells Speakers

Brighton & Hove Speakers

Thame Speakers

Chiltern Speakers

Berkhamsted Speakers

Oxford Speakers

Cardiff Toastmasters

Wye Knot Speakers

Cheltenham Speakers

Gloucester Speakers

Melting Pot Toastmasters

City of London Toastmasters

London Public Speakers

Barking Toastmasters

Moody’s Europe Toastmasters

Berkeley Square Speakers

Google UK Speakers

Winchmore Hill Speakers

Harrovian Speakers

Wembley Stadium Speakers

 

 

 

 

Your dedication and commitment are what make our district outstanding.

 Keep Pushing Towards Your Goals
 We are now entering the final stretch of the Toastmasters year, and there is still time to finish strongly. Whether it is:

  • Completing another Pathways level
  • Submitting your final speech project
  • Supporting your club to achieve one more Distinguished goal

Every effort counts towards your personal growth and your club’s success. Let us continue encouraging one another to end the year on a high.

Quality is Key
Remember, high-quality meetings lead to high-quality member experiences. Thank you to all the club officers and members who consistently plan and deliver excellent meetings. Your efforts are building a strong foundation for the future.

Let us finish the year with pride. I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

With appreciation,

Debbie Williams
Program Quality Director 2024-2025
District 91