Club Growth Director

From Idea to Impact: The Journey of Founding LSEG London Toastmasters Club

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I joined LSEG in January 2023. I was so full of gratitude for receiving a new job in such a great company that I revived my old idea to start a Toastmasters club in my workplace.  

During my first year I was testing the waters by telling everyone I met in the office about Toastmasters. I discovered that Toastmasters was a perfect small talk topic, a great answer to “What are your plans for the weekend?” question and an ideal excuse for not staying in the office after 6pm. During my first year at the company I identified three groups of colleagues that could potentially be interested to join a club as members: women’s network, Business Analysts network, and recent graduates.  

A year has gone by, but the club still was in the idea phase. My fellow Toastmasters were enquiring if I chartered the club yet. But I was puzzled about my next steps.  

At some point in January 2024, in one of the women’s network’s catch-ups I heard that there was someone willing to launch a Toastmasters club at LSEG. I grabbed the opportunity with no hesitation nor delay. I was there to help! It turned out that Mani Janakiraman, Senior Global Product Manager and enthusiastic public speaker, secured some budget for the club earlier. That meant I suddenly found a supporter and a co-sponsor. It was so wonderful! 

We had our Demo meeting on the 1st of February 2024. My fellow Toastmasters were so supportive and helped to run it to the highest standard. I would like to thank Mo Dawodu, then Club Growth Director, Scott Baker, then City of London Toastmasters Club President, Marc Lottig, VP Education from the City Limits club in the Area C2 which I was leading at that point, Martin Madden, whose St Paul’s Speakers club is located just round the corner from LSEG’s London office, and Greg Smith, a fellow Area C5 Director at that time. 

The Demo meeting generated a lot of interest, and we started running our meetings every two weeks on Thursdays. We were regularly promoting the club via MS Teams team, Viva Engage, London communities and networks, and on LinkedIn. Mani has a wide network, so he routed a lot of people to the club. Every active participant was inviting their colleagues. The club has got some visibility among senior management, too. 

It was not easy to reach a cherished number of 20 members. A few people expressed their interest but never joined any meeting. A few people joined once or twice but decided it wasn’t a priority. Some joined as members and dropped along the way due to other commitments.  

Despite all challenges, LSEG London Toastmasters club chartered on the 5th August 2024. 

Our regular meeting invite now goes to about hundred people. We have a core of 10-12 members who attend almost every time and a very dedicated club committee (Mani Janakiraman, Maurizio Morabito, Alam Chowdhury).  

What’s next? This year our District 91 has a vision to be Distinguished or better. Division C which I lead has the same vision. LSEG London Toastmasters should be Distinguished or better in 2024/25. I believe in this club so much that I have no doubt we will achieve our goal together. 

 

Olga Galaiko 

LSEG London Toastmasters Club President 2024/25  

Division C Director 2024/25 

 

Trailblazing Women in Toastmasters: Empowering Voices and Leading Change

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As we celebrate 100 years since Toastmasters International was founded by Ralph C Smedley, it is interesting to note that women were not allowed to join initially and for nearly five decades, it remained a men-only organization. This changed in 1973, when women were officially welcomed into Toastmasters as full members, forever altering its course. 

Today, women are not just participants but key drivers of the organization’s growth, consistently reaching new milestones and breaking barriers. Some of us from District 91 were lucky to witness the first woman of Indian origin, Radhi Spear DTM, become the International President for 2024-25.  

   

Ripple Effect 

In 1985, Helen Blanchard became the first woman to serve as International President, paving the way for female leaders to follow in her footsteps. Her achievement sends a clear message: it’s possible. 

Another milestone came in 2008 when LaShunda Rundles became the first woman of colour to win the prestigious World Championship of Public Speaking. This Role Model effect motivated other women to participate and we witnessed an all women winning team in World Championships of Public Speaking in 2018, 2023 and 2024. 

Diversity and Representation 

One of the greatest strengths of Toastmasters in District 91 is the diversity of its members. Women leaders from various backgrounds, cultures, professions bring their unique voices to the organization and share stories as well as insights that might otherwise go unheard. By creating an inclusive space for all members, regardless of gender, race, or background, Toastmasters continues to evolve into a more representative and forward-thinking organization. Be the champion, be the sponsor and bring a friend to your club showing the world just how powerful their voices can be. Together we Rise.  

 

At your service, 

Seema Menon DTM 

Club Growth Director 

The Spring Season of Renewal

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The mid year District officer training event did allow me time to reflect on my leadership journey. Not many organisations have their mid year at the start of a new calendar year.

The genius of the Toastmasters year finally dawned on me, can you imagine all the chaos of June and July being in December and January? However it’s the opportunity to have a new beginning twice a year that really excited me. The season of Spring is upon us and we have to take advantage of it.

During my reflection at the Heathrow departure lounge, I was approached by Elizabeth Jordan, the D71 District Director and we had an insightful conversation about the history of D91 which was formed out of D71 a decade ago. I am enriched by our time together discussing Toastmasters leadership and my recent trip to her home county of Barbados to surprise my sister during her birthday celebrations.

I was adopted as an honorary member of D71 during the two day training, we shared a taxi from the airport after waiting for other member of the D71 leadership team Daniel Banks, Programme Quality Director and Mairead Dillon Club Growth Director to arrive from other airports. Great team planning and coordination I thought. I was glad to learn from Mairead that the District 91 aspiration for 18 new clubs this Toastmasters year was not too ambitious with D71 setting a goal for 25. Danny who I shared a cab back to the airport with was modest about is knowledge of many things.

All our leadership teams have face intended challenges that the Toastmasters programme presents at all levels of leadership from club to the international board. I am proud of the work our District D91 leaders are doing to support our members to grow their clubs and grow the Toastmasters community of clubs. We have added 1445 new members, the 3rd highest out of 130 Districts globally this Toastmasters year.

We have chartered 3 new clubs this Toastmasters year and added 6 new prospective clubs bringing our prospective club list to 9 with a promising new club leads.

It is our District 10th anniversary and Toastmasters Centenary celebration year. We have a tried and tested development programme, I will like to encourage you to share the benefits of our organisation and win some of the incentives our District has on offer.

  • Talk up Toastmasters Award by signing up 5 new members between 1st of February and 31 March
  • Net growth of 4 members on July base numbers after April renewals first 50 win £40.00
  • Net growth of 8 members on July base numbers after April renewals first 30 win £40.00
  • 20 + 80 Challenge Renew 20+ July base members and retain July base members 80%+ after April renewals first 25 clubs win £30.00

Open house boxes are available for your clubs to run a membership growth.  Contact me to request a box.

The above incentives can be won if you renew your membership early. It is time to take advantage of the Spring, It is the season of opportunity and as we look forward to our Bristol Spring Conference. Let us put a spring in our Toastmaster journey.

We can celebrate our 10th anniversary by each bringing a friend, colleague or family member to join the Toastmaster community or start a club where you work to bring the benefits we enjoy at Toastmasters to others.

Mo Dawodu

D91 Club Growth Director

A new year. A new beginning. A new focus.

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Happy New Year from the D91 Club Growth Team.

A new year, A new beginning, A new focus.

Thanks to all volunteer members of the D91 Club Growth team Emmanuel Karamagi, Ron Mayne, John Drinkwater, Sadiq Owo and Andrew Deer who have contributed immensely towards our District mission in the first half of the Toastmasters year.

 

History has shown that January of each Toastmaster year, is the best time to attract new members.

Many people begin a new year with resolutions for personal development. The start of 2024 presents us with an opportunity to renew our membership and club building focus and to engage guests by sharing the many successful Toastmasters stories with a view to bringing the best of Toastmasters to many more by actively supporting each clubs’ growth initiatives.

How can we strive for a more successful second half of the Toastmasters year? Reflecting reasons, relationships and respect.? Asking questions to focus our actions?

Reasons are the foundation of commitment, focus and success. I consistently ask our existing members why they joined, how have they benefited and what’s next. The answers to these questions highlight the 100-year growth of Toastmasters International and the 10-year success story of our district. The many reasons why we joined Toastmasters have or changed over the years and perhaps opportunities for the organisation to grow and impact many more people is increasing with advancing technologies and population trends.

 

Relationships are fundamental to successful teams and even more so in a volunteer organisation like Toastmasters. The focus on teamwork, team building, using the wealth of knowledge available within the Clubs/Areas/Divisions, encouraging going beyond our clubs to network and build new relationships is an opportunity available to all our members. There are tremendous benefits to learning and practicing how to win new friends and influence new members to join your clubs or building new clubs.

Respect is the Toastmasters International core value that underpins good relationships and effective teamwork. The diversity our members and their aspirations are a unique opportunity to learn and grow as Toastmasters.

What will define success for you as a Club or member? Do you want to organise an open house event to grow your club’s membership? Do you want to achieve Distinguished status? Do you want to organise anniversary celebration or special event or learn a new skill?

What will define success for you going beyond your club? Do you want to organise an Area open house? Do you want to setup a new Toastmasters club or support a prospective club?

 

Our district thanks to our members has made significant progress with membership growth this year and as we start the 2024 calendar year to celebrate the centenary or Toastmasters International and the 10th anniversary of District 91, I look forward to supporting you to ensure we make the second half of the Toastmasters year a greater success by focusing on building our average club membership base and building new clubs to share the benefits of Toastmasters to others.

Mo Dawodu

D91 Club Growth Director 2023/2024

Celebration Season

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Fellow leaders,

Congratulations to our Division Directors, District contest winners and all those who have made the contest season a success. The Bristol District Conference in May 2024 will be exciting with competitive District Contests to look forward to.

Congratulations to all our Members who were recognised at the Division Hall of Fame events. Every award is testimony to the commitment of our club officers who manage clubs and the unique developmental opportunities provided by the Toastmasters education programme.

Christmas festivities are upon us and I look forward to celebrating our D91 Toastmasters 10th Xmas as we look forward to both our District 10th Anniversary celebrations in May 2024 and the Toastmasters International 100th Anniversary later in 2024.

Well done to all clubs that have successfully renewed enough members to remain in good standing. We have achieved over 4000 membership payments to date, thanks to your hard work and support for the District mission.

This is not yet celebration time as we now need to focus on supporting many of our clubs to rebuild our membership base to ensure we have enough members to provide quality club meetings.

Many of us join Toastmasters for a specific reason and the success of the Toastmasters programme is best reflected in October renewal dashboard as many members have developed the skills and confidence required to fulfill the Toastmasters mission. Congratulations to our immediate past members and renewed members as we approach the milestone of 100 years of Toastmasters International and 10 years of District 91.

Thanks to our new club coaches volunteers, we do require more volunteer club coaches to support our low member clubs, please contact the Club Growth team if you would like to be a club coach which is a prerequisite for becoming a DTM and an opportunity to share your knowledge and ensure the benefits of Toastmasters can reach more people in future by helping build sustainable clubs.

As we consider the opportunities to grow our clubs, rebuild our low member clubs and build new clubs, it is important to ask ourselves this question?

What do I want to achieve as a Toastmasters leader in the next 7 months?

Wishing you a merry Christmas.

Mo Dawodu
D91 Club Growth Director 2023-2024