Program Quality Director

A lot has been happening in PQD world including attending District Leadership Training where we plan and refocus our attention on the remainder of the Toastmaster’s year.  I hope you will also be inspired by the Club Officer Training Sessions in your Areas as we strive to have excellent clubs.

What is Club Excellence and Why Should you Care
Club Excellence in Toastmasters is about consistently creating high-quality member experiences, fostering growth, and developing leadership and communication skills. It aligns perfectly with the Toastmasters Club Mission:

“We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.”

But why should you, as a member, care?  Because Club Excellence directly impacts your journey. When a club operates at its best, it provides a vibrant, engaging environment where you feel motivated, supported, and inspired. High-quality meetings, effective mentorship, and constructive feedback allows you to build your skills faster and more effectively.

Additionally, being part of an excellent club creates a sense of community and shared success. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals striving to grow, which encourages your own commitment and progress. A thriving club also ensures that every moment you invest in Toastmasters offers you maximum value, helping you achieve the confidence and capabilities to excel in all areas of life.

Why Submitting Education Awards Matters
Submitting education awards is a critical part of achieving Club Excellence. Every completed award is a testament to your personal growth and dedication to self-improvement. It also contributes to the club’s success in the Distinguished Club Program (DCP), which helps measure the overall health and effectiveness of the club.

By submitting your education awards, you’re not only celebrating your own milestones but also inspiring other members to pursue their goals. These achievements showcase the value of Toastmasters to prospective members and reinforce the club’s culture of learning and achievement.

Remember, your growth and accomplishments are at the heart of what makes a club thrive. Let’s work together to reach new heights – one award, one meeting, and one member at a time!

International Speech and Evaluation Contests 2025

In case you missed the recent webinar, here is the link to the recording to discover all the essential information that you should know: https://youtu.be/UYSN_HBUDiE?si=OYVTj6zUm16Mrlv9

The District 91 Conference – 2-4 May 2025 – The Stage is Yours

Why You Should Attend the District Conference – Especially If You’ve Never Been
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond your club meetings? The District Conference is your opportunity to experience the wider world of Toastmasters in an exciting, inspiring, and welcoming environment. Whether you’re early in your journey or well into your career, if you’ve never attended before, here’s why this could be the game-changer you didn’t know you needed:

1. Be Inspired Like Never Before
   Picture a room buzzing with enthusiastic Toastmasters, all eager to learn, share, and support one another. The energy is electric, and you’ll leave feeling motivated and ready to tackle your goals with renewed confidence.
2. Learn from Exceptional Speakers
   Experience keynotes and interactive workshops led by dynamic professionals. These sessions are packed with practical tips to boost your public speaking, leadership, and personal growth—skills that will benefit you in any stage of your career or life.
3. Witness Jaw-Dropping Speech Contests
   If you’ve never seen a district-level speech contest, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. The creativity, storytelling, and passion on display are truly inspiring, sparking fresh ideas and encouraging you to aim higher in your own speeches.
4. Build a Network That Matters
   Connect with like-minded individuals from all walks of life, from students to seasoned professionals. Whether you’re looking for fresh perspectives, career advice, or simply someone who shares your goals, the relationships you build here can be both meaningful and long-lasting.
5. Expand Your Horizons
   The District Conference gives you a chance to see the bigger picture of Toastmasters. You’ll gain insight into how the organisation works and discover opportunities to grow, contribute, and make a real impact.

Don’t miss out – this could be the event that transforms your experience!  You can pay for your ticket in full or in 3 instalments – link is here: https://conference.d91toastmasters.org.uk

Debbie Williams
Program Quality Director 2024-2025

As we welcome the new year, there’s plenty to anticipate and prepare for in 2025.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Club Officer Training 

Effective leadership is key to a successful club, and our Club Officer Training sessions are here to help you grow as a leader. If you’re a club officer, don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge.  Please check the district 91calendar for upcoming training or contact your Area Director should you have any questions. Calendar of Events – Toastmasters UK South – District 91 Members

For corporate club officers who couldn’t attend the November sessions, or could only attend in part, a final training opportunity will be available in February. Be sure to take advantage of these to equip yourself for a productive year ahead.

Further details below:

The Road to Distinguished

Is your club on track to achieve Distinguished status this year? The Distinguished Club Programme is a valuable roadmap for club success, but it takes consistent effort and teamwork to stay on course. Now is the perfect time to review your progress, align your goals, and ensure you’re meeting the needs of your members. Let’s work together to make 2025 a standout year for your club!

International Speech and Evaluation Contests 

The excitement of contest season is just around the corner! Start preparing for this year’s International Speech and Evaluation Contests. Whether you’re competing or supporting your club’s contestants, it’s a chance to showcase and celebrate public speaking excellence.

To kick off the season, join our District Chief Judge, Arnaud Sartre’s webinar on Sunday, 19th January 2025. Gain valuable insights and guidance to ensure your contest experience is both rewarding and successful.  Further details below:

https://tinyurl.com/club-cont 

Conference, 2-4 May 2025 

Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated 2025 District 91 Conference taking place from 2-4 May 2025 at the Radisson Red Heathrow. It’s set to be an inspiring weekend of learning, networking, and celebration.

Tickets go on sale later in January, so be sure to secure yours early! Additionally, the “call for speakers” is now open!  Don’t miss your chance to share your expertise with a wider audience. Follow this link to learn more and apply: https://forms.gle/wLRSC3KFM5Z9YpXx8.

Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, achievement, and community. We look forward to seeing you at these events!

Yours in service,

Debbie Williams, DTM
Program Quality Director 2024-2025
District 91

What a fantastic month it has been! A huge congratulations to all the winners of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Division Contests. Your success is an inspiration! A special shoutout goes to all participants who took on the challenge and achieved personal growth, your efforts and courage are commendable. To all the functionaries and helpers who made these contests run seamlessly, thank you for your dedication and teamwork. We look forward to seeing all winners at the District contests taking place at the Distict 91 Conference.

Conference Update

I am thrilled to introduce the D91 Conference Director for 2 – 4 May 2025 is Bolu Olubajo. Bolu is a member of Holborn Speakers and looks forward to formulating and leading the conference team for a successful conference. Find out further details about Bolu and see the announcement of the conference venue here.

Club Officer Training

We were treated to an incredible lineup of speakers at our recent Corporate Club Officer Training. From exploring Pathways to learning how to maintain momentum and stay focused, the event was packed with actionable insights. A heartfelt thank you to Christine Lennon DTM, Marc Lottig DTM, Andrew Tsuro DTM, Pat Johnson DTM PIP, and Morag Mathison DTM, for sharing their expertise and facilitating these outstanding sessions.

If you missed out, don’t worry, further training opportunities for all other club officers will be available now through to the end of February 2025. Don’t miss your chance to learn and grow.

Incentives We’re delighted to announce the winners of the Club Success Plan incentive! This initiative encouraged clubs that were not distinguished last year to submit a club success plan for this year. Congratulations to the following winners:

• 07814710 LSBU
• 05042742 Deutsche Bank Toastmasters London
• 07084351 Worcester Speakers
• 03105854 Malvern Speakers
• 07850144 Verizon EMEA Online

Your dedication to planning for success sets a strong foundation for achieving your goals this year.

Here’s to a joyful and successful festive season—wishing you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and continued success in the months ahead!

Warm regards

Debbie Williams

Program Quality Director 2024-2025

Time moves fast, and as we move into the second half of our Toastmasters year, there’s a lot on the horizon to prepare for and celebrate! Here’s an update on upcoming training, new tools, recent contests, and some important updates on club incentives. 

Club Officer Training Round 2: Strengthen Your Leadership Skills 

Round 2 of Club Officer Training (COT) is just around the corner, offering a valuable opportunity to refresh your skills, exchange ideas, and prepare for the second half of the year. The training period starts on 1st November 2024 and ends on 28th February 2025.  Attending COT sessions is an invaluable step toward club success. Let’s come together, learn, and prepare for a strong finish to the year.  All details will be posted in the district91 calendar.   

A lot of work goes into arranging club officer training, and we’re pleased to offer specialized sessions just for our corporate clubs. Behind the scenes, someone has been working tirelessly to tailor this training for corporate club officers. Please join us in welcoming the District 91 Corporate Club Training Lead, Jill Segal, who has been instrumental in crafting a relevant and impactful program for our corporate clubs. Jill’s dedication and insights will make a meaningful difference for our corporate club officers this year.  Read further about Jill here. 

In the meantime, please see below details of Corporate Club Officer Training taking place next month.   

New Base Camp: Elevate Your Pathways Journey 

In major news, Toastmasters International recently launched the newly redesigned Base Camp platform, which brings an improved, streamlined experience for all members working in the Pathways program. The updated platform allows for smoother navigation, making it easier to track your goals, complete projects, and find resources as you progress. If you haven’t had a chance, log in to explore these updates — your learning journey just got even better! 

Celebrating Club-Level Contests: Congratulations to All! 

A heartfelt congratulations to all clubs who have held their Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests so far. We’ve seen some fantastic speeches and quick-witted responses, highlighting the talent and skill across our district. Thank you to every participant, judge, and contest official who made these contests possible. Now, as we move to the Area and Division contests, we invite everyone to show their support by attending and cheering on contestants as they represent their clubs. 

Club Success Plan Incentive: Update and Apology 

I’d also like to extend my sincere apologies for the delayed notification regarding the incentive for submitting Club Success Plans. I understand that many of you have been eagerly awaiting this announcement, and I regret the hold-up. Unfortunately, some of the information is incomplete, which has prevented me from finalising the list of winners. Please know I am working to resolve this and hope to make an announcement very soon. 

District 91 Conference 2-4 May 2025 

Please save the date and register your interest now to stay updated with the latest news, ticket details, and opportunities to attend or volunteer at the D91conference! 

Thank you all for your continued dedication and patience as we work to make this an outstanding year for all our clubs and members. 

Here to serve 

Debbie Williams 

Program Quality Director, 2024-2025 

District 91