Program Quality Director

My dear Toastmasters,

February has been an energising month across the district, especially through our recent District Officer Training sessions. These were not just training sessions, but engaging, hands-on experiences filled with games, shared learning and powerful conversations on accountability while recalibrating our Club Success Plans. It was inspiring to see our district officers reflect, realign and recommit to supporting member growth with innovative ideas.

If you are on the anvil, wondering whether to step into a leadership role, don’t hesitate. Leadership in Toastmasters is not about having all the answers; it is about learning together and growing together. Each of us are on the learning path together. We make mistakes, learn from it, bounce thoughts with our mentors and peers and progress. Every role is an opportunity to discover strengths you didn’t know you had and a safe space to learn.

Contest Season Is Here– Say Yes to the Challenge

Contest season is upon us and there are abundant resources available on our District website to help you prepare. If that small voice asks, “Am I good enough?” respond with confidence:
I am awesome and ready for it. Dream big. Build the castle in the air and start laying the foundations. Reach out to our chief judge, Paul Walsh, watch the contest podcast episodes with world champions on our District 91’s Ditch the Nerves podcast  as well as tips to run a successful contest on our District 91 You Tube channel

Keep Moving Forward on Your Pathways Journey

Earlier this year, I encouraged you to check where you are in your Pathways journey and work with your Vice President Education to plan your next milestone. I hope you are progressing steadily. If you need a burst of motivation, join the Pathways session held in the third week of each month to re-energise and stay on track.

We also hosted a Distinguished Toastmaster drop-in session. If you missed it, you can catch up on demand through our District 91 YouTube channel

And don’t forget to submit your level completions on Base Camp so your club can benefit from incentives.

Exciting Educational Developments Ahead

As part of the evolving Pathways experience, members will soon see new opportunities to learn, explore and connect Toastmasters heritage with modern communication needs, as announced by Toastmasters International:

2026 – Vintage Paths
Two new paths will allow members to step into Toastmasters history.

·       Basic Training for Toastmasters will feature content first introduced by Ralph C. Smedley in 1943.

·       The Communication Series: Entertaining + Storytelling will include the Competent Communication manual along with The Entertaining Speaker and Storytelling Advanced Communication manuals.

These paths will be available for purchase after completing Level 1 in any other path. Members will access the classic material on Base Camp, with options to view online or download and print. Completion will count toward Distinguished Club Program credit and provide new credentials and badges at every level.

If you haven’t yet registered to Pathways, then don’t hesitate. You could be missing some amazing developments which will propel you to become a fantastic communicator and leader. Go to your Vice President of Education if you need help and sign up today!!

Club Officer Training Let’s Finish Strong

I request all club officers to complete a minimum of three hours of Club Officer Training before 28 February. These sessions equip you with the tools to better support your members, strengthen club quality and take your club to the next level.

Mentoring – A Promising Beginning

Our maiden mentoring initiative has been progressing well, with encouraging participation and meaningful mentor–mentee connections forming across the district. It is wonderful to see members supporting one another’s growth and building confidence together, the true spirit of Toastmasters in action.

Root to Rise Conference –Your Moment to Reimagine Growth

Our upcoming District Conference, Root to Rise, is designed to help us grow strong foundations and rise with purpose in a world of constant change. Early bird tickets are available until 28 February and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity.

This year’s conference will feature:

·       Inspiring speakers including published authors, playwrights, and individuals who have disrupted norms and successfully reinvented themselves, a timely message in today’s fast-changing world.

·       A thought-provoking panel discussion on leadership in the age of AI.

·       A dedicated AI learning stream and opportunities to interact with innovative product developers shaping the future.

·       Rich networking, shared learning and moments of celebration after the district International Speech and Evaluation contests across our district community.

It promises to be a space where tradition meets transformation, perfectly aligned with our theme of rooting ourselves in strong values while rising to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Celebrating Achievements

Congratulations to our Triple Crown achievers, members who completed three or more education awards this toastmaster year.

January’26 additional winners

Elzbieta Pawlowska from Gloucester Speakers

Ange de Lumiere from Northavon Speakers Toastmasters Club

February’26 Triple Crown Winners

Mark A. Yansen from London Corinthians Toastmasters

Keep shining and growing on your toastmaster journey. Each of you will help your club become distinguished and feature on the leaderboard while gaining incentive points for your club.

Let us continue to stay accountable to the goals we set, support one another in achieving them and embrace every opportunity to grow as communicators and leaders.

Together, let’s step forward with confidence, build strong roots and rise.

 

Warm regards,
Seema Menon, DTM
Program Quality Director, District 91

 

My dear Toastmasters,

A new year is the perfect time to revisit your goals, recalibrate your actions and rise to new challenges!

What bold step will you take this year? 

Whether it’s aiming for Distinguished Toastmaster, completing a Pathways level, giving back by mentoring someone, or delivering a keynote. The options are limitless. 

Own your actions, embrace the journey and rise above every challenge.

Revisit and Recalibrate Your Goals

• Reflect on your Toastmasters milestones: DTM, Pathways levels, club leadership achievements or contests.

• Identify where you can stretch yourself: public speaking, leadership, mentoring or community impact.

• Set specific, measurable goals. Small consistent actions lead to big results.

Toastmasters is a safe space to step outside your comfort zone, try new things, and grow.

The Root to Rise Conference – website is live! Book your tickets!

Secure your spot for 2–3 May 2026 at De Vere Latimer Estate for a weekend of growth, connection, and inspiration.

Book your tickets here: Root to Rise Conference 

Upcoming Learning Opportunities & Drop-Ins

• Club Officer Training (Round 2): Strengthen your club leadership skills. 

• Pathways Drop-In  with Juli Chapman on 21 January at 7:00 PM GMT: the first of a series of Monthly Q&A sessions for guidance on your Pathways journey.

  • Contest Collective Drop-In on 25 January at 7:00 PM GMT: get some tips, get answers to your questions and prepare to ace upcoming contests.

• Coming soon: Distinguished Toastmaster Pathway Drop-In if you need inspiration to complete your DTM.

Check the District Calendar for all the upcoming sessions.

Ditch the Nerves Podcast

Watch & Listen Here: District 91 Ditch the Nerves Podcast . 

Check our YouTube channel to gain inspiration from leaders and champions in the Toastmasters community. 

• Aletta Rochat, DTM – International President

• Gauri Seshadri, DTM – First Vice President

• Jean Gamester, DTM – Second Vice President

• Sabyasachi Sengupta – World Champion of Public Speaking

Learn how Toastmasters helped them grow as leaders, speakers, and mentors to take your own communication skills to the next level.

Quarterly Incentive winners 

Congratulations to the 27 clubs who won Quarter 2 incentives. Please find the link of winners here 

Celebrating Achievements
Congratulations to our newest Distinguished Toastmaster

I am excited to announce that I have just gained my second DTM award – yes it takes time and effort but is so worthwhile!

And Congratulations to our Triple Crown achievers, members who completed three or more education awards this toastmaster year.

December’25 additional winners

Mirna Gomaa from 1st London Toastmasters 

Himanee Anthwal from 1st London Toastmasters 

January Triple Crown Winners 

Cecily Liu from LSEG London Toastmasters Club

Celia Edwards from Purley Speakers

Murat Ozturk from Tube Talk Toastmasters 

Step Up, Compete and Grow

Contest season is here! Take the challenge to step outside your comfort zone. Take the Challenge: Become a Better Version of Yourself

This year, focus on one area to elevate your impact and growth. Make a difference in your club, community or workplace. Every step you take, every new challenge you embrace, is an opportunity to grow, do good and inspire. Let 2026 be the year you revisit your goals, take accountability, and rise to your full potential. Toastmasters is here to support you every step of the way.

Lastly, we’d Love Your Feedback on program excellence to help us serve you better. Your voice matters. Please take a moment to share your thoughts by completing our short survey if you didn’t get a chance to do in December: https://forms.gle/rwaNZQU4cocW5yaX8

 

With encouragement and excitement,

Seema Menon, DTM

Program Quality Director, District 91

Growth does not always begin with motion. Sometimes it begins with a pause, a moment to reset the mind and rise with intention. 

As we come to the end of December, we also reach an important milestone in our Toastmasters year six months in. This is a powerful moment to pause, reflect and gently reset before we step into the next stretch of the journey. 

Before we rush ahead, we invite you to look back. 

Reflect on Your Toastmasters Journey 

Take a moment to reflect on your journey so far: 

• What have you learned about yourself as a speaker or leader? 

• Which moments stretched you and which ones energised you? 

• What are you most proud of achieving in the last six months? 

Now, set your intention for the rest of the year.
Think about the levels you’d like to complete, the Pathway you may want to embark on or the mentoring journey you’d like to explore as a mentor, a mentee, or both. 

Toastmasters is a safe space to experiment, practise and grow, so this is the perfect time to set ambitious personal goals not aimed at perfection, but progress. 

A Note for Club Officers 

To our club officers, this is also a great time to revisit your Club Success Plan: 

• How far have you come as a leadership team? 

• What milestones have you achieved together? 

• Which member successes are you celebrating as a club? 

Pause to acknowledge both your efforts and your members’ progress so far. 

Rest, Reset and Re-energise 

This season is also an invitation to step out of “doing mode.”
Allow yourself time to switch off, rest and take care of your wellbeing. A rested mind creates space for clarity, creativity and better decision-making as you plan the next phase of your Toastmasters journey. 

Looking Ahead: Root to Rise Conference 

We’re excited to announce that the District 91 Conference 2026 themed Root To Rise will take place on the 2nd and 3rd May 2026 at the beautiful De Vere Latimer Estate, Chesham, HP5 1UG. Set amidst the tranquil Chiltern Hills and steeped in history, this inspiring venue provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of learning, growth and connection. Ticket details will be released soon! Sharing a promo for you to get an initial preview of the venue.

Why “Root to Rise”?
Root to Rise captures the Toastmasters journey where meaningful growth begins with strong foundations and purposeful learning. Grounded in our core values of integrity, respect, service and excellence, we strengthen our communication, leadership and self-awareness through practice and feedback. As we rise, we grow in confidence, step into leadership, find our voice and expand our impact within our clubs, communities and beyond. This conference invites every Toastmaster to reflect, deepen their learning and rise to what’s next together, as one district. 

Coming Up & Updates 

We have some fantastic drop in sessions planned for January’26 including goal setting, marketing your club, open house, pathways, amongst others Please visit our District Calendar to view dates and register. The Contest Collective Drop-In Session is scheduled for 25 January at 7:00 PM GMT. It offers a great opportunity to learn, ask questions and prepare for upcoming contests. 

Triple Crown & Distinguished Toastmaster Announcements 

Congratulations to our December Triple Crown winner, Giota Koulouri from Legacy Speakers Brixton for the achievement. 

Club Officer Training round 2 sessions have commenced. We have the last round of Corporate and District Club Officer training in January besides the ones offered by Area Directors. Please visit our District Calendar to view dates and register. 

Quarterly Incentives Leaderboard
The leaderboard for this quarter will be updated by the end of December on our website 

We’d Love Your Feedback 

Your voice matters. Please take a moment to share your thoughts by completing our short survey: https://forms.gle/rwaNZQU4cocW5yaX8 

As the year draws to a close, we wish you time to rest and recharge.
May the festive season bring you joy, clarity and renewed energy and may 2026 be filled with growth, courage and meaningful conversations. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic year ahead. 

 

Warm wishes
Seema Menon, DTM

My dear toastmasters,

Flow with the Fall on 23^rd November was a beautiful blend of connection, celebration and inspiration. We want to thank each one of you who joined us and made the day truly special. The energy in the room reflected the very best of our Toastmasters community.

Workshops That Uplifted Us

Our two keynote speakers delivered sessions that resonated deeply:

Chris Hatfield – Reframing Self-Talk

Chris encouraged us to shift our inner dialogue from “I have to” to “I want to”, empowering us to lead with intention. In a generous gesture, he gifted his book Sales Psyche to every contestant, because in our eyes, they were already winners.

Andrew Oseyami – Beyond the Club

Andrew invited us to reflect on what Toastmasters can mean beyond the four walls of our clubs. His session encouraged meaningful connection and intentional engagement with each other.

We were honoured to be joined by Region Advisor Lilian Shaftacola, who sat down with Rekha Mathew, our district podcast host, for a fireside chat. Together, they shared practical, heartfelt tips on strengthening member engagement and building vibrant clubs.

Contest Excellence

The stage was set and our contestants delivered phenomenal performances.

District 91 Humorous Speech Contest Winners

1. Danny Wang
2. Isaac Baker
3. Yii Foong Tien

A special spotlight on Danny Wang, our champion, a new member who has been with District 91 for only nine months. His achievement shows that you don’t need to wait for the “perfect moment” to enter a contest, serve as a leader or even join a club. Talent grows when we step forward and Danny’s courage is an inspiration to all our new and aspiring members.

District 91 Table Topics Contest Winners

1. Chris Billington
2. Milo Warshaw
3. Shenaz Banu

A particularly heartwarming moment came from Chris, a new dad, who welcomed his baby just last Sunday and chose to be with us on Sunday. His dedication and passion for Toastmasters shone through – especially when he went on to win the District Table Topics Contest. What a story to share with his baby!

Corporate Clubs and Community spirit

We also celebrate HSBC 8CS Toastmasters Club, our young corporate club just seven months old, who proudly cheered their member, a District Humorous Speech Finalist. Their commitment to excellence and support for their member reflects the strength of corporate clubs. Your performances raised the bar and made us immensely proud.

Our sincere thanks also to Toast Titans Club from HID Global, who generously gifted books and pens to our attendees, perfect for capturing insights from the day’s workshops and speeches.

Looking Forward

The season of growth continues, and we have plenty lined up:

We have several drop-in sessions planned over the next couple of months.
If there’s anything specific you’d like to learn more about, let us know and we’ll organise a session for you.

Club Officer Training round 2 sessions are coming up soon. Whether you’re a current club officer, considering stepping into leadership or simply curious about what the role entails, please visit our District Calendar to view dates and register.

Even the District Leadership Team undergoes training with our Region Advisor because learning never stops in Toastmasters.

If you’d like to know more about becoming an Accredited Speaker do reach out to Clare Crowther, our district lead who hosted an engaging, interactive session at the Flow with the Fall event.

If you’re interested in mentorship, either to receive a Mentor Buddy or to serve as a mentor, please visit our district website (https://d91toastmasters.org.uk/members/resources/mentoring/) for details.

A Note of Gratitude

To our conference team, contest functionaries, district leaders, venue hosts and each member who attended – thank you.

To those who cheered, learned, laughed, networked and contributed – you proved that even in the face of doubts, challenges (compounded by rains and train closures) and naysayers, this community stands strong.

We’re thrilled to share that this event has already inspired two toastmaster members to volunteer as Contest Chairs for 2026. That spark of motivation is exactly what we hoped this event would ignite.

When we show up for each other, extraordinary things happen. Flow with the Fall succeeded because of YOU.

The full album for the District Contest can be found on our Facebook page.