Club Growth Director
Club Growth Newsletter – September 2023
Club Contest Season and Growth Opportunities
On Wednesday 21 September 2016 I walked into Lewisham Methodist Church with a friend. It was the venue for Lewisham speakers Toastmasters club, and it was a special night, Humorous speech, and Table Topics contests. That was my first Toastmasters experience and my first meeting with Julie Kertesz who was in the table topics contest and still a member.
I eventually joined Kent Speakers in May 2017, and club contests have played an important part in my Toastmasters development. I recall being excited after finishing third in our club Humorous speech contest. It did not matter that there were only three of us in the contest, my “I did it” moment was fulfilling. I subsequently performed better in the International Speech Contest reaching the Division H finals with Sandra Mighty and Dan McGill in Edenbridge in 2018.
My International Speech Club contest experience made me both curious about Toastmasters and inspired me to attend my first Toastmasters International Convention in Chicago, where I experienced the international speech contest final live, Ramona J Smith with a speech titled still standing contributed to my long-term commitment to Toastmasters.
At club level we hold contests twice a year. I believe these are unique events to promote some of the benefits of Toastmasters, and we should consider sharing this experience by welcoming guests at the club, Area, and Division levels.
I have experienced many contests in the past six years, many as a functionary to support both at Club and District levels. Taking part in speech contests has challenged me to grow and as a member I will encourage you to take part as a contestant or support as a functionary.
Lot of winners are created at Club, Area, Division, District, and international levels. Like Ramona you could be still standing.
What next?
- Why not invite guests to your Club, Area, and Division contests?
- Take advantage of the opportunity to add five new members to qualify for the Smedley award benefits.
- Please contact your Area Director, Division Director, or Club Growth Director with membership and new club ideas.
Thank you!
Mo Dawodu
Club Growth Director, 2023-2024
Club Growth Newsletter – June 2023
Let’s Finish the Year with Determination
In Toastmasters, we place great emphasis on finishing the year with determination and striving for success until the very end. One example that resonates with this concept is the story of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. Throughout his career, Phelps consistently demonstrated the power of finishing strong and overcoming challenges.
Phelps faced numerous obstacles and setbacks on his path to becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, during the 100m butterfly event, his goggles filled with water impairing his vision. Despite the disadvantage, Phelps didn’t give up. He continued to swim with unwavering determination and managed to win the gold medal by a mere one-hundredth of a second.
Phelps’ story showcases the importance of resilience, perseverance, and never giving up, even in the face of adversity. It serves as a powerful reminder that finishing strong is not only about achieving personal success but also about inspiring others and leaving a lasting impact.
In Toastmasters, we can draw inspiration from Phelps’ story by channelling our energy and efforts into finishing the year with the same level of determination and perseverance. Let’s support our fellow members, celebrate their achievements, and assist them in reaching their goals. Doing so contributes to a thriving Toastmasters community where everyone can strive for excellence and finish strong together.
Let’s celebrate our successes and finish strong together.
Let’s Celebrate New Clubs
I am thrilled to welcome two new clubs to District 91. These clubs provide a platform for employees to sharpen their public speaking skills, refine their leadership abilities, and foster a culture of collaboration and growth. Through the Toastmasters program, members of these clubs will embark on a transformative journey, gaining the confidence and expertise needed to excel in their careers and make meaningful contributions to their teams. Please welcome Natwest Wealth CDIO Toastmasters and Dr Martens Toastmasters Clubs.
NatWest Wealth CDIO Toastmasters
“We are proud and excited to join Toastmasters International and build our communication and leadership skills within our organization. We’re very grateful for all of the support from District 91; we’ve had 2 amazing sessions so far with resoundingly positive feedback and we’re building confidence with each step we take on this journey.”
Dr Martens Toastmasters
‘We are all really excited to get the new DM’s Toastmasters club off the ground and create a safe, supportive and fun environment to watch club members build confidence in public speaking’
Net Growth 10
The first 20 clubs who, by the 15th of June 2023, achieve a net growth of ten new members from their 1st July 2022 base number will win £100 to boost their club’s funds. The winners so far are:
Bank Street Toastmasters
Beckenham Communicators
Bloomberg London Toastmasters
Bristol Central Speakers
City of London Toastmasters Club
Early Bird Speakers
Farnham Speakers Club
Holborn Speakers
Kent Speakers Club
London Cardinals
London Public Speakers
PA Consulting London
Winchmore Hill Speakers
Beat the Clock
Clubs adding five new, dual or reinstated members with a join date between May 1 and June 30 receive a Beat the Clock ribbon to display on the club’s banner.
District 91 will offer an additional monetary incentive for unique new and reinstated members only of £30. The winners so far are:
Bloomberg London Toastmasters
City of London Toastmasters
Kent Speakers
Central London Toastmasters
London Public Speakers
Bank Street Toastmasters
Phoenix Award
This is an award to any club that started the year with 12 or fewer members and throughout the same toastmaster year built their membership to charter strength (20 members) by 30th April 2023. We extended the deadline to 15th June. I am happy to announce that the winners to date are:
Bank Street Toastmasters and Winchmore Hill Speakers.
Let’s Celebrate New Members!
We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable addition of 2,103 new members to District 91. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of individuals committed to personal growth and effective communication and marks an incredible milestone for District 91. With each new member, our Toastmasters family expands, bringing a diverse range of perspectives, skills, and aspirations to our community. Let’s celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our 2,103 new members, who have embarked on an exciting journey of self-improvement and shared success. Here’s to their boldness, ambition, and the bright future they bring to District 91.
Finally, take a moment to reflect on what you and your club have achieved this year so far, whether it’s a successful speech contest, a new member achieving their goals, or a great meeting. Celebrate your successes and use them as motivation to keep going.
Let’s use the next three weeks to complete our goals and finish strong. I look forward to seeing you at the finish line. Let’s keep going and let’s win together!
Thank you all for your efforts and many congratulations.
Debbie Williams
Club Growth Director, 2022-2023
Club Growth Newsletter – May 2023
Eight Weeks to go: Let’s Finish Strong!
We are just eight weeks away from the end of the Toastmasters year, and I want to encourage you all to finish strong.
District 91 is currently sitting at an impressive number four in the world for member payments and with Select Distinguished status, which is a testament to the hard work and determination of all clubs in recruiting new members and renewing existing ones.
I am pleased to announce that we have welcomed almost 2000 new members since July 1st, 2022, and I want to extend a warm welcome to you all.
We’ve accomplished so much already, but there’s still work to be done when it comes to the number of paid clubs.
To ensure that we end the year on a high note, I would like to ask for your help in completing any outstanding renewals as soon as possible. Every renewal counts towards our overall success, and with your support, we can achieve our goals.
Additionally, if you or anyone you know is interested in starting a new club in the community or within your workplace, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. This is a fantastic opportunity to expand our reach and make Toastmasters accessible to even more people.
I want to share with you my top tips to help you finish strong.
1. Don’t give up on your goals. Even if progress has been slower than you had hoped, keep pushing forward and identify what you can do in the next eight weeks to achieve them.
2. Use this time to make a final push to bring in new members. Invite friends, family, and colleagues to attend meetings and experience Toastmasters.
3. Encourage members in your clubs to work together to achieve their goals and finish the year strong for added motivation.
4. While growth is important, it’s equally important to focus on the quality of your meetings and the experience your members are having. Ensure your meetings are engaging, interactive, and fun, and encourage your members to take on leadership roles and give feedback to improve the club experience. This will also motivate guests to become members.
Finally, take a moment to reflect on what you and your club have achieved this year so far, whether it’s a successful speech contest, a new member achieving their goals, or a great meeting. Celebrate your successes and use them as motivation to keep going.
To further motivate you, here is a reminder of incentives still to be won:
Net Growth 10
The first 20 clubs who, by the 15th of June 2023, achieve a net growth of ten new members from their 1st July 2022 base number will win £100 to boost their club’s funds. Will your club win?
Beat the Clock
Clubs adding five new, dual, or reinstated members with a join date between May 1 and June 30 receive a Beat the Clock ribbon to display on the club’s banner.
District 91 will offer an additional monetary incentive for unique new and reinstated members only of £30.
Phoenix Award
This is an award to any club that started the year with 12 or fewer members and throughout the same Toastmaster year built their membership to charter strength (20 members) by 30th April 2023. Three clubs were so close to achieving this award but sadly missed out on this deadline.
So, to give everyone a fighting chance, we are extending the deadline to 15th June.
Let’s use the next eight weeks to complete our goals and finish strong. I look forward to seeing you at the finish line, I’ll be holding a virtual (sustainable and reusable) bottle of water for you for the final month in the next newsletter. Let’s keep going and let’s win together!
Debbie Williams
Club Growth Director, 2022-2023