District Leadership

 

Firstly, well done. As at 17th March 80 clubs have renewed at least the minimum number of members to remain in good standing.  Thank you to all those members.  Everyone else, keep those renewals coming, make your treasurers job an easy one.  Some of you may still be undecided, so remember why you joined, was it because of a promotion, to build confidence or to have the courage to speak up.  You gain all this and so much more by being a Toastmaster. I know that by continuing to be a member you will develop and grow and achieve more than you ever thought possible.  I know because it’s happened to me and I know it will happen to you too. 

Congratulations to the following clubs for achieving the early renewal incentive award. 

Canary Wharf Communicators	Thame Speakers
Gatwick Communicators	Tube Talk Toastmasters Club
GSK House Toastmasters	UK Speakers and Leaders Toastmasters
Hallmark Speakers	Witney Speakers Club
Northaven Speakers Toastmasters Club	Woodford Green Speakers
Northern Lights Speakers Club	Worthing Speakers
PMI UK Toastmasters Club

 

We continue to raise awareness for the Toastmasters brand within District 91, to connect with individuals who are not yet members and introduce them to Toastmasters. From 10th March to 6thApril we are doing another digital campaign, you may see our bright yellow poster pop up on online channels such as Zoopla.  The International LinkedIn Campaign is now two months in and the District is performing better than projected. We have had almost 500 prospective members through find a club so far with one more month to go.  So please do ensure your clubs ‘find a club’ details are up to date.  (see below for details on how to do this).  

 We have renewals, we have enquiries, we have new members and there is still time for more.  The ‘Talk up Toastmasters’ incentive of adding five new, dual or re-instated members, doesn’t end until 31st March.  Share your stories and inspire your friends, family and colleagues to come along to your next meeting and help your club grow.  

 

We are still looking to add new clubs to our Toastmasters family so read the article below from Lydia McDowell whose role is to research for new club leads.  Please do see if you work in any of the organisations mentioned, we would love to hear from you.  

 

Clubs already in our Toastmasters family celebrate their anniversaries.   

Whether 1 or 25 years it is great achievement.  Celebrate your success.  It’s a fabulous way of bringing people together.    

Congratulations go to: March – Based on the Official Charter Date 

Club	Month	Years
Hallmark Speakers	March 2001	25
City Women Speakers	March 2006	20
Lloyds Banking Group Toastmasters	March 2016	10
VM02	March 2025	1

 

February to March has been a month of International support for District Club Growth as we enter the last few months of the Toastmaster year. Inspiring messages from International President, Aletta Rochat and motivational support from our International Director, Francesco Fadele and Regional Advisor, Lilian Shaftacola.  See their thoughts and tips below.  

 

Drop-ins 

In case you missed it:- 

Renewals with Kevin Harringtom  

 Your One Introduction Could Launch District 91’s Next Corporate Club 

By Lydia McDowall, Club New Source Research Chair 

At the start of this Toastmasters year, Lynne Gayer, our Club Growth Director, asked if I would support her by taking on the role of Club New Source Research Chair. It felt like something I could genuinely contribute to, so I was glad to say yes. 

The purpose of this role is to work closely with the Club Growth Director to support the District’s marketing plan for establishing new clubs, with a particular focus this year on identifying opportunities for corporate clubs. These are Toastmasters clubs based inside organisations that bring communication and leadership development directly into the workplace and benefit both employees and employers. 

Think regular lunchtime or after work meetings where colleagues build confidence, practice presenting and develop leadership skills within their own organization. 

What we discovered 

My initial approach was to generate lists of the top 100 companies in the UK and try to identify appropriate contacts within those organisations. However, finding the right internal contact without an existing connection quickly proved more challenging than expected. 

 So I shifted approach. Using global Toastmasters data covering more than 44,000 clubs, past and present, I identified companies that host Toastmasters clubs elsewhere in the world but do not yet have one in the UK. I then cross referenced their UK office locations to confirm they fall within District 91. 

The result? A carefully researched shortlist of 63 companies that could be strong candidates for a future corporate club. 

This is where we need your help. 

If you work at one of the companies listed below, or know someone who does, a simple introduction could open the door to a conversation about bringing Toastmasters into that organization. You don’t need to sell anything. Simply pointing us towards the right person to speak with, for example someone in Learning and Development, HR employee networks or even your boss, would be incredibly helpful. Even if you’re not sure who the right person is, just let us know you have a connection there and we can explore it together. 

 If you work somewhere that isn’t on the list but feel your organization could benefit from a Toastmasters club, or know someone at a company that might, we would love to hear from you too. 

 Toastmasters grows through the connections we already have, and our District community can play a direct role in launching the next corporate club. Even a small nudge in the right direction could make a real difference.  

If you think you may be able to help, please email  club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk with the company name and, if possible, the name or department of your internal contact. These introductions directly support our District goal of establishing new clubs this year. 

 We’ll give a shout-out in the next District newsletter to every member who assists with this initiative, because introductions like yours are often how new clubs begin. 

 One introduction could be the start of something big. 

Take a moment to scan the list below. You might be surprised how many familiar organisations appear. 

AECOM	Honeywell	Novo Nordisk
Aon	HP UK Headquarters	Oracle
AT&T	HP London Office	P&G
BNP Paribas	IBM	PayPal
Bosch	Infosys	Pepsi Co
Capgemini	Kraft Foods	Philips
CBRE	Landmark	Prudential
CGI	Lenovo	Roche
Chubb	LinkedIn	Rockwell Automations
Cisco	Manulife	S&P Global
Cummins	Marriot	SABIC
DBS	Mattel	Salesforce
Dell	McDermott	Samsung
Docusign	Mercedes Benz	Schnieder
Ericsson	Merck	Shell
Fluor	Mizuho	Siemens
Genetec UK	Morgan Stanley	Standard Chartered Bank
GM London	Morning Star	TCS Tata Consultancy Service
Hatch Consulting	Motorola	Teradata
HDR	Nokia	UNICEF
Holiday Inn	Novarartis	Walmart

How to update club details (for those prospects looking to ‘Find a Club‘) 

The club officers, specifically the Club President, Vice President Membership, and Secretary, are the individuals who can access and update the club’s contact email address listed in Club Central on the Toastmasters International website. When a prospective member uses the “Find a Club” page to message a club, an automated email is sent to these three officers.  

The club itself decides which email address to use for general inquiries, and officers can set this  information in Club Central. 

To update Club’s contact information: 

• Log In: Go to toastmasters.org, log in as an officer. 
• Access Club Central: Navigate to Leadership Central and click on “Club Central”. 
• Edit Info: Select “Club Contact and Meeting Information” to find the contact email field. 
• Update & Save: Enter the new email and click “Save” at the bottom. 

Note: Please allow up to 24 hours for the update to appear on the website.  

Thoughts and Tops Tips from our International Leaders 

The value of Talk up Toastmasters by Aletta Rochat (International President) 

1. Imagine how more vibrant your club meetings would be with five or more new members.  
2. Invite, invite, invite, anyone and everyone to come to your next meeting 
3. Ask them to join  

Five steps to grow by Francesco Fadele (International Director) 

1. Make it easy for prospects to find your club e.g. have a website 
2. Always greet your guests as the first five minutes decides everything 
3. Help guests understand what is going on 
4. Invite guests to join 
5. Follow up with guests within 24 hours 

A new club provides benefits to everyone by Lilian Shaftacola (Region 10 Advisor) 

1. More people have the opportunity to start their Toastmasters journey and develop themselves. 
2. The benefits to existing Toastmasters is that when we grow and bring more people into the organization that opens the door for more quality events such as training and contests.  
3. We support Toastmasters itself as we help to strengthen the brand 

 

 

If you’ve ever wondered how Toastmasters clubs are organised across the district, who decides which club sits where, and how everything fits together, there’s a good chance Barbara Saph has had something to do with it.

But behind the role of District Alignment Chair is a story that many members will relate to.

Barbara’s Toastmasters journey didn’t start with confidence, quite the opposite.

Introduced to Toastmasters in 2011 (with a little encouragement from friends), she admits:

“For those who are really nervous about public speaking, take heart, things can sometimes get worse before they get better.”

In fact, the nerves were strong enough that she stepped away for a while… only to return in 2014 with a new mindset – Jump in and participate fully.

Since then, she has taken on multiple club officer roles, district roles, mentoring, and leadership positions across several clubs including Hallmark Speakers and Salisbury Online Speakers.

What Keeps Her Going?

For Barbara, it comes down to one thing:

Curiosity

“I enjoy watching the evolution and personal development of members as they discover new opportunities in their lives.”

That curiosity combined with a love for organization, naturally led her into leadership roles.

(And perhaps, she admits, sometimes more leadership than intended 😄)

Life Outside Toastmasters

When she’s not aligning clubs and supporting the district, Barbara enjoys:

• Art and craft exhibitions
• Reading science fiction, fantasy, and mystery
• Jigsaw puzzles (self-confessed addict!)
• Gardening and the occasional painting session

And while she no longer has pets, she still enjoys borrowing her daughter’s black Labrador and has a lifelong interest in horses.

So… What Does a District Alignment Chair Do?

In simple terms, Barbara helps ensure that:

• Clubs are placed in Areas and Divisions where they can thrive
• Area Directors can effectively support their clubs
• The district structure aligns with Toastmasters International policies

Each year, this means reviewing:

• Club locations and proximity
• Membership levels
• New clubs forming
• Clubs closing or struggling

And yes sometimes making difficult and emotional decisions when clubs need to be moved.

The Balancing Act Behind the Scenes

One of the biggest challenges?

Making everything fit.

• Each Area must have 4–6 clubs
• Clubs need collaboration opportunities
• Geography, online clubs, and corporate clubs all play a role

And as Barbara puts it:

“We can’t always make everyone happy.”

So what is alignment really like?

Barbara’s answer:

✔ A puzzle
✔ A game of chess
✔ A bit like organising a very large family dinner

…and sometimes:

“Trying to fix something with one piece that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere.”

Thinking About District Leadership?

Barbara’s advice is simple and honest:

• Start with club officer roles (VPE, VPM, President)
• Attend training, contests, and conferences
• Talk to people already in the roles
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

And most importantly:

“Everyone starts somewhere, no one knows everything.”

Barbara’s journey is a reminder that even the most experienced leaders once started with nerves, uncertainty, and a first step.

And sometimes, all it takes is returning… and deciding to fully take part.

Last month, May 2025, marks nine years since I first joined Toastmasters in May 2016. As the end of June approaches, it also signifies the conclusion of four successive years on the District Leadership Team, six consecutive years as a DEC member, and seven years of service on the District Council. This is a moment of transition, and one that invites thoughtful reflection.

The journey has been filled with memorable milestones and meaningful achievements. Among these were leading District 91 to President’s Distinguished status in 2023/24 program year for the first time in eight years, being named Division Director of the Year in 2020/21, and contributing to the organisation of the 2020 “Lock Down” District Conference, as Registration Director and Designer which was successfully delivered online in just six weeks under the leadership of Diana Robertson. This project demonstrated that, even in the face of adversity, extraordinary outcomes are possible when we come together with purpose and resolve.

Equally important were the initiatives that strengthened the long-term foundation of our District. These included redesigning the district website, and co-creating the Thanks Toastmasters campaign alongside Susan Rayner, Florian Bay and Arnaud Sartre. These efforts were not merely creative projects; they were strategic tools that empowered clubs, enhanced member engagement, and reinvigorated our shared identity during Covid and the years immediately after. It was gratifying to see that the campaign was used in the recent tube campaign run by this years team.

Naturally, the past six years serving the district first as an Area Director and then as IPDD, have not been without challenges. From the global pandemic in March 2020 and its long-term effects to economic pressures and, most recently, the 33.3 per cent membership fee increase introduced by Toastmasters International during my term as District Director last year, our District has had to adapt swiftly and often. Yet through all these trials, we have succeeded when we have worked together as a team. We have grown stronger, together.

Behind every achievement are a team of people who made it possible. I am filled with gratitude for the many individuals and clubs who supported me throughout this journey.

To my home club, Chiltern Speakers, thank you for providing the foundation of my leadership path. I extend special thanks to Brett Freeman and Paul Imre, and to my first mentors, Jacquie Hogan and Eddie Maguire, who inspired me to take on club and district leadership roles. In more recent years, Adrian Lane and Carolyn Johnson, along with Jacquie and Eddie, continued to provide unwavering support and encouragement.

To Thame Speakers, my second home club since 2019, thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I am especially grateful to Alison Morris, John Morris and Deborah Stevens for their encouragement, support and friendship.

I am also deeply appreciative of my fellow leaders including, Chris Walker and Nadya Hamedi, with whom I served as Division Directors during the difficult Covid year of 2020/21. Your commitment and resilience were exceptional. Chris, thank you especially for your outstanding service as District Chief Judge in 2022/23. Nadya, your contributions across several areas including club growth, membership education and data cleansing were immensely valuable. Your thoughtful approach and behind-the-scenes efforts were greatly appreciated.

I also extend my sincere thanks to Rose Nakibirango, who served as District Parliamentarian, and to Valerie Slavina, who took on the responsibilities of District Finance Manager last year with great skill, diligence and care. Each of you played a vital role in sustaining the district’s stability and progress.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Janet Alkema, who provided consistent support during my tenure as Division D Director and later stepped up to serve as District Administration Manager. Your reliability, dedication and good humour brought clarity and continuity during times of change.

I would also like to acknowledge John Drinkwater for his thoughtful collaboration as we explored digital marketing strategies to expand the district’s reach and relevance. And to Nikita Parks for her work as my PR Manager and helping to realise the Membership Anniversary Campaign.

My thanks also go to Nadya Hamedi, Juli Chapman, Massimo Guadagnino and Rick Cooper for their role in establishing the Pathways Support Group in early 2023. Their efforts were central to the district achieving Smedley Distinguished status for club quality, with 104 of 163 clubs becoming Distinguished, a remarkable achievement reflecting collective club excellence in 2022/23.

To my mentors; Hillary Briggs, Arnaud Sartre and Florian Bay. Thank you for your guidance, generosity and time. Hillary, your mentorship during my terms as Club Growth Director and Programme Quality Director laid the foundation for much of what followed. Arnaud, your openness and clarity always helped me consider different perspectives. Florian, your strategic insights during my term as District Director helped me to lead with confidence. I am truly grateful to each of you.

There are many others who contributed to this journey, both in and outside of District 91, far too many to name, but please know that your support, no matter how visible or discreet, made a difference. You helped shape my journey and the successes we achieved as District 91 in 2023/24.

 

The greatest lesson I have learned is that leadership is not defined by title or tenure, but by service. It requires genuine connection, active listening and continuous dialogue with clubs and members. Ensuring that expectations, goals and processes are clearly communicated and mutually understood is essential to success. This year, as I continued to support clubs, I was reminded once again of the importance of this principle.

 

As I now step away formally from the official leadership roles within the District, I do so not with sadness, but with gratitude. I am proud of what we have accomplished together. I look forward to continuing to support clubs and members in an informal capacity, and I am confident that our paths will cross again at meetings, contests, conferences and beyond.

In closing, I reflect on the core values of Toastmasters that have been at the heart of our District’s progress: integrity, respect, service, and excellence. These values are not merely ideals to aspire to, they are the foundation upon which every success, every connection, and every accomplishment has been built. It is by living these values that we create an environment where everyone can thrive and realise their potential.

I remain inspired by the courage, commitment, and kindness shown by those who offered their unwavering support. We rise by lifting others. As I step down from this role, I will carry these values forward, and I encourage each of you to do the same. The future of District 91 remains bright and having met hundreds of you during my leadership journey I have every confidence that we collectively, will continue to inspire, empower, and achieve greatness, as a district.

Thank you, District 91, for the opportunity to serve. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement and your partnership. As I step away from the DLT at the end of June, I carry forward the lessons learned, the friendships made, and the accomplishments we’ve achieved. It has been a greatest honour to be part of this leadership journey – District 91.

Remember – happiness brings success!

Diane Richardson