Allen Paul

Celebrating Club Successes and Growth: September Update From Club Growth Director

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Dear District 91 Toastmasters, 

Can you believe it, we are already three months into the Toastmasters year, summer is just about over and we are transitioning into autumn.  The changing season brings with it a renewed sense of energy and momentum.  

Let’s take a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come and look ahead to what we can still achieve in the final days of Q1 and into a powerful Q2. 

 

Celebrating Your Successes 

Congratulations to the following clubs:-  

Renewing a 100% of their membership base by the 15th September    

  • EBRD Toastmasters 
  • FM Communicators 
  • HSBC 8CS London Toastmasters 
  • Northern Lights Speakers Club 
  • PMI UK Toastmasters 
  • UK Speakers and Leaders Toastmasters 
  • Wharf Speakers 

 

Adding 10 or more members since 1st July 

  • 1st London Toastmasters 13 
  • Central London Toastmasters 14 
  • Holborn 16 
  • London Victorians 10 

 

A special shoutout to our newest Club Coaches, Nick Ronald and Barbara Saph. Thank you for stepping up to support our clubs.   

A massive welcome to our 232 new members who have joined us this quarter.  

 Do you have a ‘win’ to share with us, do send it through, they inspire others and show what’s possible. club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk  

 

Renewals 

is always so much to gain from being a Toastmaster, from building confidence to learning new skills as well as building a great network and lasting friendships.  Do remember if you are participating in a Contest you need to have renewed to be a member in good standing and your club has to be in good standing. Have you renewed yet?  Renewals close on 30th September.  Don’t miss out.  

 

Last few days of the Smedley Award! 

Clubs have been busy adding new members and if your club adds 5 new, dual, or reinstated members between 1st August and 30th September, your club earns: 

  • The Toastmasters International Smedley Award 
  • A special ribbon for your banner 
  • 10% discount code for Toastmasters supplies 
  • Plus £25 from D91 

 

Looking Ahead to October and Q2 

My Why 

This season, we’re creating a series of “My Why” reels to showcase our amazing members and we would love to feature your story.  You can also post these on your clubs socials as this is a great way to attract new members. 

Here’s how to do it (20–30 seconds):  

  • Start with a challenge e.g. 
    • “I used to freeze during presentations…” 
    • “Networking events made me nervous…” 
  • Share how Toastmasters helped 
    • “My club gave me a safe space to practice…” 
    • “I built confidence and leadership skills…” 
  • Show the result 
    • “Now I present at work with ease…” 
    • “I’ve made lifelong friends and mentors…” 
  • End with a call to action 
    • “That’s why I renewed and that’s why I stay and I encourage you to do the same!” 
    • Send your reel to allen@d91toastmasters.org.uk
  • Keep it natural, keep it YOU –  short, real, and inspiring. 

Together, let’s show why Toastmasters is worth saying YES to! 

 

Starting a club 

We’ll be running ‘how to start a club’ webinar to include both community and corporate clubs for those that have an interest and just want to find out a little more.  Dates to be advised shortly.   

We are here to Support You 

Whether you are a VP Membership looking to run an Open House, a Committee member considering running a Speechcraft session or a Toastmaster ready to coach a club, myself and the Club Growth team are just an email away. club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk  

Warm Regards 

Lynne 

Lynne Gayer 

Club Growth Director 

District 91’s Journey Ahead: Message from Debbie Williams, District Director

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Dear Members

I am pleased to share some good news from District 91. This past month we held both our District Executive Committee meeting and our District Council meeting. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped move our district forward.

I am pleased to let you know that our District Success Plan and budget for the year have been approved. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on supporting our clubs and members in reaching their goals.

As we begin this new chapter, I encourage you to renew your membership. I have renewed mine, not only because I am the District Director, but also because I want to continue learning and growing alongside all of you. Renewing means you can continue developing your skills, learning at your own pace, and connecting with a supportive community that wants to see you succeed. It also helps to keep your club strong for both you and future members.

Ralph Smedley reminded us that “We learn best in moments of enjoyment”. I hope you will continue your journey with us this year, learning, leading and enjoying the experience along the way.

Yours in service,

Debbie Williams DTM

District Director 2025-2026

District 91

Celebrating success, honouring milestones, bold steps ahead

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My dear Toastmasters,

As August draws to a close, I am filled with pride and gratitude for all the work that has taken place across our District this month. Today, on 30 August, our Division Directors came together in true collaboration to deliver a Last Chance Club Officer Training (COT) – giving every club officer ample opportunity to train and step into their roles with confidence.

With the first round of training finishing on 31 August, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to our Area Directors, Division Directors, presenters, zoom masters, timers and most importantly, to every club officer who took time out to train. Your efforts ensure that members gain value, goals are achieved and members see value in the programme. Together, you are building the foundation for success.

Club Success Plans – Leading the Way

I’m delighted to share that 53 clubs have already submitted their Club Success Plan (CSP). This is a fantastic achievement and a strong sign that these clubs are on track to become distinguished, especially as the Club Success Plan is a mandatory requirement this year.

The District deadline is 7 September 2025 and all clubs who submit by then will be part of our Program Quality Incentives (details coming soon!).

A special shout-out to our first two clubs in the District to achieve 6 goals in the Distinguished Club Program:

  • Sustainable Speakers
  • City Limits Speakers

Both online clubs, and both have already submitted their CSP – well done for leading the way!

Contest Season Begins

Next, we look forward to contest season!

  • We’ve already hosted contest drop-in sessions with our Chief Judge and will continue these through September, with support from experienced Toastmasters.
  • Whether your club is running contests for the first time or wants to elevate the member experience, help is at hand.
  • Clubs that conduct contests will also be incentivised

📌 Save the Date: District Humorous Speech Contest & Table Topics Contest will be held in London on 23 November 2025.

Club Visits – Support in Action

Thank you to our Area Directors, who are out visiting clubs and sharing insights. Already, we’ve had 17 club visit reports, with the very first received from Area Director, Kelvin Lam for his visit of Bath Spa Toastmasters in July.

These visits are key to helping every club excel and you can expect your Area Director to connect with you soon, supporting your club’s next level of growth.

Pathways Enhancements

Exciting news! From October 2025, Pathways will be further enhanced to include Successful Club Series, Better Speaker Series and Leadership Excellence Series. Select advanced manuals will be integrated into Pathways. This is a great time to engage with Pathways.

Celebrating Achievements

Please join me in congratulating:

  • Our new Distinguished Toastmasters:
    • Barbara Saph, DTM (District Alignment Chair, Salisbury Online Speakers), July 2025
    • Rupa Datta, DTM (District Parliamentarian, Wembley Stadium Speakers), August 2025
  • Our Triple Crown winners for the months of July & August:
    • Leo Shkembi (City Limits Speakers)
    • Abhijeet S Rajadhyaksha (Hamwic Speakers)
    • Tundie Berczi (London Olympians)
    • Kevin Harrington (Reading Speakers)
    • Marc Lottig (Sustainable Speakers)
    • Anis G Rezaei (Sustainable Speakers)

Mentorship Matters

“Everyone needs a mentor. A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you.”

We will be launching our Mentor Buddy program in September, reaching out to mentors across the District for support. Look out for details soon! I had the privilege of seeing my own mentor, Jean Gamester, get elected as the 2nd Vice President at the Toastmasters International Convention in Philadelphia.

Looking Ahead

In September, we will announce this year’s incentives, ensuring that every club, whether with fewer than 12 members or more than 40, has the opportunity to benefit. We’re also excited to launch our District’s Ditch the Nerves podcast and introduce amazing tools to create contest posters and certificates this September. So many exciting things are coming your way, all powered by the awesome hard work of our very own D91 Toastmasters behind the scenes!

As we step into September, we will face challenges and setbacks along the way. But by supporting each other, leading with courage and moving forward together, we will achieve not only our individual goals but also our shared District mission. I want to leave you with the words of Rocky Balboa: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” 

With gratitude,

Seema Menon

Program Quality Director 2025-26

District 91 Toastmasters

Welcome to the DYNAMIC Division D Spotlight – ONE TEAM ONE DREAM – Empowering Voices, Inspiring Growth

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As District 91 Toastmasters continues to flourish with a supportive Trio and DLT, Division D stands out as a beacon of energy, innovation and community spirit. Today we celebrate achievements, highlight upcoming opportunities and share pictures of transformation from our vibrant clubs and members. With 6 Area Directors  refered to as the ‘MARKIMS team’ – Milica, Ana, Rafael, Kanti, Ian, Monica and Smita and all our club officers and past district officers supporting us, we are poised to make our mark. Indeed we are fortunate to have the privilege of supporting our clubs and serving our members as well as contribute to our district’s success.

Division D at a Glance

Division D comprises a diverse network of Toastmasters clubs, each dedicated to nurturing communication and leadership skills. Our clubs span corporate, community and institutional, reflecting the dynamic character of our division. Our 30 clubs across 6 areas, with 817 unique members from all walks of life—students, civil servants, other professionals, homemakers, retirees, and entrepreneurs—Division D is truly a microcosm of the Toastmasters vision: empowering individuals to become confident speakers and effective leaders. Our total memberships went up by nearly 10% in the last 2 months to 849 up from a base of 772 thanks to efforts of most clubs. We are a huge geography from Watford Speakers to Woking Speakers (55 miles) and from Wandsworth to Windsor, Maidenhead & Burnham (45 miles) with clubs in Hammersmith, Richmond & Ealing.  Many district directors were/are members/mentors of Division D with Vanessa and Steve (Guildford Speakers), Rupa (Wembley Stadium Speakers and past Trojans member) Diane and Arnaud (UK SALT). Diane is our Division mentor with all of them as key Advisors. Many younger leaders from other divisions like  Andrew (J), Andrea (A), Ron (B & H) etc have come together to join, support and assist in member growth. With only 6 clubs less than 20 members and 15 clubs over 25 members we hope to be Presidents Distinguished same as last year and remain grateful to Deborah Stevens and Russell Searle our last 2 division directors and their teams. The focus remains on member experience enhancement and retention with a special focus on strengthening and supporting our corporate clubs.

Spotlight on Our Clubs

  • Bridging generations, our Maidenhead club houses our most experienced and veteran toastmaster Norman who had joined toastmasters 41 years ago & Peter of Harrovian Speakers is soon to complete 39 years. Our deepest regard for them & the 112 members (14%) who have spent more than 10 years
  • With 12 out of our 29 Base clubs having 30 or more members and each growing rapidly, it is obvious that the legacy effort and brilliance of past leaders as well as current executive committee members needs to be celebrated. Epsom Speakers soon will celebrate its 60 years while Wembley Stadium Speakers chartered 18 plus months ago displays exemplary service and commitment to communication enhancement (amongst others), of ALL its members. Thank you  Penny, Costa, Gillian, Amanda, Brendan, Jin, Alex (Epsom Speakers) & Rupa, Sushil, Angelie, Katrina (Wembley Stadium Speakers) and so many more.
  • Our club members like networking, socialising and taking many pictures. Indeed our club VPPRs love to take pictures for the social media.

       

Sutton Speakeasy celebrate each meeting with a group photo

  • Clubs like London Athenians, Watford Speakers, Reigate Rhetoric, Camberly Speakers etc. have become renowned for their welcoming atmosphere and creative meeting themes like the ‘Greek God and Goddesses’. Camberly Speakers in July were the hallowed halls of their own Olympus, they gathered for a council of wisdom and inspiration, themed around the mythology of Ancient Greece. The session presided by Toastmaster Goddess, Nur, guided all in exploring the pantheon of almighty gods. With the precision of Athena’s wisdom, evaluations were both insightful and enlightening. Naturally, each role was performed with the grace and skill of divine artisans. Rachel was the “Best Dressed Goddess.” The evening concluded with a message -“There is a potential hero in each and every one of you. Just listen to your inner God.”

‘Greek God and Goddesses’-Camberly Speakers encouraged by Doug, Martin, George, Rich, Bob, Milica, Jenny, Nur etc.

  • Toastmaster Ernie organised this week a ‘Red Carpet’ themed meeting for Woking Speakers. People were dressed up and walked the red carpet to collect awards including the Best Tech Head (like the Oscars?)

The Red Carpet themed meeting at Woking Speakers with Event Organiser VPE Ernie, Club President Milica and the Red Carpet Award winners.

  • Focused on communication enhancement and tangible growth through mentorship, many clubs like Riverside Communicators https://bit.ly/RiversideCommunicators , Epsom Speakers, Sutton Speakeasy, Surbiton Speakers have a mentorship initiative pairing experienced Toastmasters with new members.

Sutton Speakeasy- L to R: Donald joined to deliver a better speech at his daughters wedding and stayed to motivate and serve others. Biraba served twice as VP Membership and is the President now. Jonathan won the best table topic twice as a guest and just became a member. Kudos to Amanda for serving selflessly and enabling an enviable mentoring program.

  • If you love receiving 14 minutes of un-whitewashed evaluations on your (potential paid public speaking) speech, the new UK SALT Advanced club is the place to visit. Members tackle topics from global affairs to personal development, mental health, marketing, AI etc sharpening their critical thinking and persuasive speaking abilities. It has an advanced mission that the current 25 members are committed too under Ron’s capable Presidentship. Sponsored by Eddy & Smita DTM under the guidance of Diane DTM and Mo the club has distinguished mentors in Arnaud DTM and Andrea.

When UK Salt members meet face to face unplanned at a COT in another division far away from their homes….cacaphony, laughter and smiles pepper the event. It is never about us but ‘Service before Self’ ! Ruth is the Assistant Division D Director for  Smile More and Clap. This initiative is for encouraging members to have fun as well as Sponsor, Mentor & Coach clubs in the district.

When Rupa DTM spoke about her Leadership journey from Trojans to District Director and more, there was pin drop silence. Truly Inspiring ! She was presented with the Outstanding member pin by Arnaud DTM on behalf of Division D for her continued service as IPDD. Credentials Chair and now District Parlimentarian as well as chartering and motivating Wembley Stadium Speakers, organising the Corporate Summit in June 2025 amongst many other initiatives.

Amazing banter and fellowship comraderie.  ‘Let us chat rather than pose for a picture’. Note : The Division D Director evaporated!! However only our 2 past district directors started leading the way to pose for the picture.

 

Recent Achievements

Division D members, most clubs and areas have shone brightly over the past 2 months.

  • We are proud to announce that past district director and current Parlimentarian Rupa received her well deserved DTM award. Kudos to her and heartiest congratulations.
  • This year also commenced well with 35 levels being filed in Pathways of which 9 are level 4 and level 5 awards
  • 2 new areas D20 and D61 with 9 clubs, warmly welcomed by cutting cake in a Division Event on 26th July 2025.

Welcoming Area D20 Club officers with a Fudge Cake being cut by Immediate past Area Director Casper who is also part of the Club Growth District Team as  District Mentor Assignment Lead On the extreme right are 2 Jal Richmond Leaders Club officers Yannis and Stefan. Disclaimer: To the best of the organisers knowledge equal opportunity for devouring the fudge cake was provided !! Also it was nut and gluten free.

  • 3 new clubs chartered – 2  on 30th June 2025 (JAL Richmond Leaders and UK Speakers and Leaders) and Richmond and Wandsworth Communicators club chartered on 22nd July 2025.

Officers of Jal Richmond Leaders and UK Salt chartered on 30th June 2025 cutting the Chocolate Cake at 9.36am at a Division D COT event. Chocolate needs no timers !!! Behind the scenes Timer Milica flashing her Red Coat frantically as we took our time devouring the cake.

 

  • Judges Training and Chief Judges Workshops supported by Paul our district Chief Judge and Smita DTM, hosted by UK Salt (Advanced Club chartered June 20th 2025), with many humorous and table topics workshops scheduled in September.
  • 176 Club officers attended 3 Division D COTs with a couple more to follow on the 30th & 31st of August 2025. 65% of Division D officers trained with 75% of the clubs having 4 or more trained. Kudos to all 3 newly chartered clubs for having all their officers trained as well as Burnham Speakers, London Athenians, West London Speakers,   Harrovian Speakers, Watford Speakers and  Wembley Stadium Speakers

VPPR’s and SAAs being trained in the 60 min breakout by Immediate Past ADs Duncan and Casper

Presidents being trained on contests by Immediate Past District Chief Judge and Past District Director Arnaud DTM. Arnaud is also Division D Advisor. Thank you Arnaud for all you do for us and the district! 

Also past District Director Rupa DTM trained the VP Memberships while past AD Ramesh Halai seen at the top corner trained the Secretary of the clubs.   

They finally posed possibly when the PQD Seema Menon DTM and the Division D Director Smita Narayan DTM sandwiched most in between…. Or was it on the photographers request? Could be soon after the chocolate cake disappeared too!! Too groggy to remember a month later at the time of publishing this update but this surely was a great looking bunch even after 4 plus hours of Club Officer Training.

Most did hit the bar later well organised by the Host Club Trojans with Harsh the President and his EC beaming. In a nutshell Harsh personifies some of the spirit of Division D. He came as a guest a few months ago to JAL Richmond and to Riverside Communicators. He joined Riverside as JAL had not chartered and then also visited Trojans. There he volunteered and decided to serve as the President.

Kudos to the multitasking ADs Ana, Kanti and Ian well supported by AD Rafael and AD Milica.

  • Distinguished Club Program: Several clubs in Division D have achieved DCP goals and added members. Notable is Sustainable Speakers with 6 DCP goals achieved. All clubs achieved DCP Goal 10b with many doing early renewals Goal 10a.
  • Pathways Milestones: Members continue to excel in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience, completing advanced levels in Dynamic Leadership, Presentation Mastery, and more. Enrolments are being prioritised for new members.

Upcoming Events

The coming months promise an exciting array of events and opportunities for all Division D members:

  • Area Speech Contests are scheduled commencing 8th October with Division Contests & Conference scheduled for October 25th  2025 and April 11th   Please save the dates and try to attend. The venue can take 200. We have special guest speakers.
  • Leadership Workshops: The division will host a series of workshops in September & October, designed to help members develop leadership competencies, including team management, conflict resolution and strategic planning. There will be public speaking practice workshops as well.
  • New Member Orientation: For those new to Toastmasters, an orientation session at the end of each month will be hosted in rota by clubs to introduce the structure, benefits, and opportunities within Division D and District 91.
  • Club Officer Training: COT2 will be held at the beginning of November, providing essential resources and support for club leaders.
  • Open Houses in Corporate clubs like BMS scheduled for September

Meet a Member: Growth Stories

One of the greatest strengths of Division D is its diverse membership. In each division newsletter, we feature the journey of Toastmasters whose growth inspires others. Please subscribe to our social media.

Educational Focus: The Power of Feedback

One of the cornerstones of Toastmasters is the art of giving and receiving constructive and motivating feedback. Division D clubs strive to maintain a supportive environment where members can learn from one another. Evaluators play a crucial role, offering insights that highlight strengths and suggest areas for growth. This culture of continuous improvement is what sets Toastmasters apart, ensuring that every speech, no matter how small, becomes a stepping stone toward greater mastery. 4 Evaluate 2 Motivate sessions will be conducted in the run up to the evaluation club contests.

Division Director’s Message

Dear Toastmasters,

As we enter the renewal period keep the focus on renewing each member through their needs comprehension and fulfilment. I am filled with pride at our collective achievements. Division D is more than a collection of clubs—it is a family of individuals dedicated to personal and professional development. Whether you are participating in contests, attending workshops, or supporting your club’s initiatives, know that your efforts make a difference.

Let us continue to embrace the Toastmasters values of integrity, respect, service, and excellence. Reach out to fellow members, step outside your comfort zone, and remember: every voice matters. MCA : Grow the M-members and yourselves, grow your C-clubs, grow the A-area and the division will thrive continuing our past legacy.

Smita Narayan DTM  Division D Director

Resources and Opportunities

Division D members have access to a wealth of resources and support:

  • Pathways Learning Experience: Explore paths like Dynamic Leadership, Effective Coaching, and Strategic Relationships to tailor your learning journey.
  • Mentorship Program: Connect with experienced members for guidance, feedback, and encouragement.
  • Speechcraft: Short-term programs ideal for newcomers looking to develop public speaking skills quickly.
  • District 91 Website: Stay up to date on events, goals, and opportunities
  • Many current and past District Leaders associated with Division D have formed Division D Extended Advisor Mentor Council Group and some of them are walking, talking and immensely approachable encyclopaedia All one needs to do is ask the club leadership or the area leadership as the case maybe.
  • Opportunities for mentoring members of other clubs do exist

 

How to Get Involved

There are countless ways to participate and benefit from Division D

  • Attend club meetings regularly and volunteer for meeting roles.
  • Take part in speech contests and workshops.
  • Invite friends or colleagues to experience Toastmasters.
  • Engage on social media and share your Toastmasters journey
  • Provide leads for members & new clubs and feel free to sponsor, mentor or coach a club.

Looking Forward

As Division D continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming new members, launching innovative programs, and celebrating the unique achievements of every club. Your enthusiasm, participation, and commitment are the keys to creating a thriving Toastmasters community. Let’s keep empowering voices and inspiring growth together. Help the other divisions when asked to serve too.

Until next time, keep speaking up, leading boldly and supporting each other! Socialise and have FUN!

Post club meeting social drinks for Riverside Communicators when the Area D29 Area Director Ian was invited for a club area visit this month of August. Assistant Division D Director PR Duncan, VPPR Bhupinder, VPM Surinder, President Bayan, Immediate past President Madhuranticka, Kim, Zara , Mr. Magician new member and others like Ruth do look happy before they head home towards midnight. Missing the Smiths, Smita, Mr. Searle, Mr. Sharky and many others smitten by this club.

 

 

 

August update from your Club Growth Director. Let’s Grow Together.

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Dear Members of District 91 

New Members 

A huge welcome to all our new members who have joined over the past couple of months.  We are delighted to have you onboard. You have taken the first step in a powerful journey. Whether you are looking to build confidence, develop your voice or grow as a leader, Toastmasters has the tools and support to help you every step of the way.   

 

New Clubs 

A special shoutout to the first new club of the Toastmasters year, Richmond and Wandsworth. Congratulations to President, Hassan Aden and the team for turning their vision into reality.  They join Area 20, in Division D and will be supported by Area Director Ana Sampaio and Division Director Smita Narayan.

 

Future Clubs 

Did you know up to 77% of people experience speaking anxiety?  Maybe that was you and look how far you have come. Now imagine how many others are still waiting for the opportunity to grow.  We can expand our reach and help more individuals and organisations benefit from what Toastmasters has to offer.  

Do you have an idea for a new club, or even thought of starting one, maybe within your local community or at your place of work?  New clubs provide access and opportunity to those who may not otherwise have it.   

If you have an idea for a new club or would even like to sponsor one please drop me a line at  club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk  

 

Smedley 

Speaking of growth, it is exciting to see clubs already welcoming new members. Don’t forget gain five new, dual or re-instated members between 1st August and 30th September and your club will earn the  prestigious Smedley award in honour of our founder, Ralph C Smedley.   

 

Renewals 

A gentle reminder, September is renewals month. Help your VP Membership and Treasurer by renewing early, for several reasons; it reduces stress, ensures uninterrupted access to Pathways and club activities and helps your club stay in good standing.  

 

Clubs that renew 100% of their July 1st membership base by 15th September will be recognised.  

Let’s keep the momentum going, renewing early = less stress, more success. 

Let’s stay growing together! 

 

Here are Top tips – ideas that have worked at other clubs:

You have new members, want to get them onboard quickly. Introduce a ‘four meeting buddy’. It can even be someone who has been a member just a few months themselves but can explain and show a new person how to sign up to Pathways, book a speech and a functionary role to get them started.
Thanks to Simon McKee and Mike Cooper, London Athenians.

Do you or your club have an idea that works please send to club.growth.director@d91toastmasters.org.uk and we’ll print one or two each month.