Club Growth Director

What if improving your communication skills could change your career—or even your life? That’s exactly what we showcased with our Toastmasters awareness campaign on the London Underground!

A Campaign that created a buzz (10 Mar – 23 Mar)

This initiative started as a challenge—to explore new and innovative marketing ideas. From 10th March to 23rd March, our TFL Tube Campaign showcased Toastmasters across Bank, Brixton, Chiswick Park, Edgware Road, Holborn, Turnpike Lane, Waterloo, and Westminster stations. With my background in media, I had always been curious about advertising on the Tube but wasn’t sure if it was feasible within our limited budget. But here’s the thing about Toastmasters—we make things happen!

Our Goals:
1️⃣ Raise awareness about Toastmasters—a global organisation with 270,000 members worldwide and 175 clubs in the South of the UK.
2️⃣ Encourage more people to join and experience the life-changing skills Toastmasters offers—whether for acing a job interview, becoming a stronger leader, or speaking confidently.
3️⃣ Make our members proud of their journey through a Tube Selfie Contest!

How It All Came Together

To reach a larger audience and spread the word about Toastmasters, we created a small action team:
🔹 Hephzibah Emereole & Ramesh Halai from the club growth team led the groundwork, researching options and engaging vendors. I finalised station locations and negotiated a taster campaign with Dami from Global, securing first-time client discounts and ad extensions beyond 23March. It’s still there on the Bank Station if you’d like to take some more selfies.
🔹 Steve Vear believed in the vision and approved the budget, making this dream a reality!
🔹 Janet Alkema, Rob Dewing & I collaborated on the engaging webpage DitchTheNerves.com.
🔹 Diane Richardson designed eye-catching visuals.
🔹 Allen Paul crafted contest messaging and drove engagement on social media.

The Results: A Resounding Success!

📸 Districts across the world noticed the campaign and reached out to collaborate with us on the #DitchTheNerves initiative.
🌟 Our district members enthusiastically participated, taking Tube selfies and spreading the word.
📈 Sign-ups from non-Toastmaster members surged, and we kept them engaged with five emailers, sharing videos and interview tips collated by Janet.

What’s Next? DitchTheNerves-Live Webinar on 16th April & 14th May!

Our team is now working on DitchTheNerves-Live, a webinar designed for non-Toastmasters who engaged with us through the Tube Campaign and the Jobs Fair campaigns.

🎤 Hosted by experienced Toastmasters, HR professionals, and corporate club members, this panel discussion will:
✅ Share personal growth stories.
✅ Discuss interview do’s and don’ts.
✅ Provide strong takeaways to inspire attendees to join Toastmasters for their communication and leadership journey.

Look out for the social media campaign reaching out to wider audiences beyond London. Details will follow soon.

This campaign is a testament to what we can achieve together—helping more people find their voice and unlock their potential.

 

Announcements & Incentives

👥 Bring a Friend Initiative – Introduce four guests to your club and earn an exciting incentive from the district when they join the club!

🏆 Early Bird Renewal Winners Announced! Congratulations to our winners who renewed their membership early! Your commitment to growth is inspiring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warm regards,

Seema Menon, DTM
D91 Club Growth Director 2024-25

Dear District 91 Members,

I am delighted to bring you the latest updates as we continue our journey of growth and excellence! Your dedication and enthusiasm have been truly inspiring, and we are already seeing incredible progress in 2025.

 

Membership Renewals – Act Now!

With membership renewals open until 31st March, we encourage clubs to renew early to avoid last-minute system crashes. I had alluded to  Early Bird Renewal Incentive in my last month’s note. Renew 100% of your membership base by 10th March to receive a special incentive!

A big round of applause to the clubs that have already renewed—well done! If you are a member of a corporate club, now is the time to start the process, if you haven’t yet. If you need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

Talk Up Toastmasters & Bring a Friend – Still Up for Grabs!

The Talk Up Toastmasters incentive is in full swing! Add 5 new or dual or reinstated members to your club by 31st Marchand earn well-deserved recognition. Additionally, our Bring a Friend incentive continues—introduce 4 guests and showcase the power of Toastmasters! You would avail of a personal incentive too. 

 

Toastmasters Takes Over London – TFL Tube Campaign

From 10th March to 23rd March, Toastmasters will be featured across several London Underground stations: Bank, Brixton, Chiswick Park, Edgware Road, Holborn, Turnpike Lane, Waterloo, and Westminster. 

Something exciting is on the horizon! Help us spread the word—if you spot our poster in any of the tube stations mentioned above, snap a selfie and share it with us at win@d91toastmasters.org.uk. The selfies will be posted on our district socials, and a lucky member will win a special prize in our contest draw! Keep an eye out for our contest promo. 

 

Corporate Clubs & Open Houses – A Game Changer!

I had the opportunity to visit exciting Open House meetings at Accenture and Deutsche Bank, witnessing first-hand how corporate clubs are revitalizing and attracting new members. Open Houses and Speechcraft sessions are fantastic tools to energize your clubs—reach out if you’d like support in organizing one!

 

Building Sustainable Clubs – A Special Thanks!

I had the privilege of joining drop-in sessions with our Club Mentors and Club Coaches over the last few days. Their dedication in sustaining strong clubs is truly commendable. A huge thank you to our awesome Club Growth Team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support you on your path to excellence.

Let’s push forward, grow, and celebrate our successes together !

Warm regards,
Seema Menon
Club Growth Director
District 91 Toastmasters

Dear District 91 Members,

I am thrilled to share some fantastic news! During the recent Mid-Year Training in Hyderabad, our district was recognized as the 2nd highest in Region 10 for the number of clubs achieving the President’s 20+ status. This is a tremendous achievement, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you for your commitment to membership growth and retention.

But why stop at second place? Let’s aim for the top spot in our region by the end of March 2025! With membership renewals now open, we encourage clubs to renew 100% of their member base by 10th March. Those that achieve this milestone while maintaining 20+ members will receive a special incentive—stay tuned for details!

This incentive is in addition to the many exciting opportunities already available, including:
✅ Talk Up Toastmasters
✅ Speechcraft Booster
✅ Bring a Friend
✅ New Club Champion
✅ Trailblazer Division
…and more! Make sure to check out all the available incentives here: District 91 Incentives.

Does your organization have a Toastmasters club? If not, do you think you could help set one up before 15th April this year? Could others benefit from Toastmasters the way you have? If the answer is yes, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! My team will be happy to help you organize demo meetings and support you in establishing a sustainable club. Plus, there’s a New Club Champion incentive waiting for you!

We are now halfway through the Toastmasters year, and this is the perfect time for a renewed, concerted effort to support one another in achieving the goals we set at the start of July 2024. Let’s push forward, inspire growth, and celebrate success together!

Warm regards,

Seema Menon, DTM
D91 Club Growth Director 2024-25

My dear toastmasters,

As the calendar turns to 2025, it’s a moment for us to reflect on our accomplishments and set our sights on exciting new horizons. Each year, our journey as Toastmasters is enriched by the goals we pursue, the connections we forge, and the personal growth we experience. I want to take a moment to celebrate the spirit of our Toastmasters community. 

From launching new clubs to helping members achieve their personal and professional goals, each one of you has played a vital role in shaping our success. Thank you very much for your dedication and passion!

We will continue our efforts in 2025 with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

1. Expanding Our Community: By chartering new clubs and welcoming new members, we will bring the benefits of Toastmasters to even more people across our region. 

2. Strengthening Our Community: Let’s foster environments where each of us feels supported and empowered to achieve our goals.

3. Celebrating Success: With a focus on quality meetings, engaging learning experiences and recognising achievements, we will champion excellence and pride in being part of District 91. 

As you set your personal and club goals for the year, know that you are not alone. Our district leadership team is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s dream boldly, work collaboratively, and celebrate every milestone along the journey. Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic New Year filled with growth, connection and happiness!

 

Warm regards,

Partnerships Driving Growth

This year, we experimented with partnering with external events to amplify the Toastmasters message and positively impact individuals and organizations. Our collaborations with Jobs Fair events in Bristol, Reading, and South London have proven to be highly successful, generating valuable leads for membership growth and creating opportunities to launch new clubs.

A special thank you to Division Director Helyn for inspiring this initiative, and heartfelt gratitude to every Division Director and Toastmaster who represented Toastmasters at these events. Your dedication and belief in our program showcased the transformative power of Toastmasters and energized us to think outside the box.

This success is a testament to the fact that we can achieve so much more when we work together. Up next, we have the Jobs Fair in Cardiff on 29th January 2025. Let’s continue to make an impact!

 

Welcome Toastmasters Sky Osterley!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new corporate club, Toastmasters Sky Osterley, in Division D. This marks a significant milestone in expanding our reach within the corporate community, offering members new opportunities for growth. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this launch possible!

 

Incentive Reminder: Claim Your Rewards!

A quick reminder for clubs to claim their Great Golden Quarter and Smedley Awards incentives. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to celebrate and accelerate your club’s success.

 

Region Advisor Visit Highlights

We were delighted to host Region Advisor Lilian Shaftacola, who visited several corporate and community clubs. Her memorable experiences included attending her first Toastmasters meeting in a beautiful church venue and a lively first experience with an early morning breakfast club. Her visit provided invaluable inspiration and ideas for our members and leaders.

Through incredible collaboration and progress, we are laying a strong foundation for growth across the District. Visiting clubs, attending Division contests, and witnessing the camaraderie at this month’s external events have highlighted the true power of one of our core Toastmasters values: Respect. Respect is about “creating an environment where every voice matters and every idea has the space to flourish.”

When we embrace respect, we nurture connection, ignite growth, and inspire excellence. Let’s continue to strengthen our Toastmasters community with this vital principle at its core. Together, we grow. Together, we thrive.

 

Your Club Growth Director,

Seema Menon