Club Growth Director

Club Growth Director Update – November Newsletter

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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

Seema Menon Celebrates Membership Milestones and Incentives in D91

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Hello, Toastmasters Champions!

As we close out October, I want to shout out the incredible dedication each of you has shown in growing and energizing our Toastmasters family. From hosting open houses and inviting new members to showing up week after week with a contagious positive spirit—your hard work is the fuel driving us forward!

“Get Your Money!” (thanks for the inspiration, Division Director Pearl ): We’ve got some fantastic incentives on offer for our clubs, so jump in and take advantage. Check out the full list on our incentives page here.

  • Great Golden Quarter Incentive:We heard your feedback, and it’s clear—not only should 100% member renewal be celebrated, but 80% and 90% renewal rates should shine too! Thrilled to announce that 14 clubs have earned the Great Golden Quarter incentive, with special kudos to LSBU Public Speakers Club (B8) and Harrovian Speakers Club (L61) for hitting that 100% renewal by September 15th. Winning clubs, keep an eye out for an email with details on claiming your £40 voucher—make sure to claim it within 30 days! You can see the list of winning clubs
Division Area Club Name Eligiblity
B 8 LSBU Public Speakers Club 100% or more
L 61 Harrovian Speakers Toastmasters 100% or more
A 46 Wessex Speakers Club 90% or more
D 21 Maidenhead Speakers Club 90% or more
H 35 Beckenham Communicators 90% or more
J 4 Thame Speakers 90% or more
J 7 Oxford Speakers Club 90% or more
B 6 London Olympians Speakers Toastmasters Club 80% or more
B 8 London Toastmasters 80% or more
B 18 London Cardinals 80% or more
C 5 Bloomberg London Toastmasters 80% or more
C 34 FTI Consulting UK 80% or more
H 35 Bromley Speakers 80% or more
J 22 Infineum Milton Hill Speakers 80% or more

 

  • Smedley Award Success:Hats off to the 7 clubs that won the Smedley Award this year! Central London Toastmasters (B9) and London Toastmasters (B8) led the charge, adding 17 and 15 new members, respectively. Winners, watch for your email with voucher claim instructions (again, 30 days to redeem).

Growing Membership: We recently hosted a panel on “Growing Membership” with Division Directors sharing some brilliant “Back to Basics” strategies. Catch the recording on the District 91 YouTube channel—it’s packed with ideas to help your club thrive. Plus, our pledge to “Bring a Friend” is going strong. Will you bring a friend to your next meeting?

In October, six clubs hosted Open Houses with solid membership conversions. Shoutout to our Club Growth lead for Open Houses, Ariane Allin, who’s hosting a webinar on February 23, 2025. She’ll be sharing success stories and top tips to help you grow your club before the next renewal cycle.

It’s incredible to see clubs welcoming new faces and adding a spark of energy to meetings across the district. The passion for personal and professional growth we share is what brings us together and keeps us pushing forward.

As we progress through the second quarter of the Toastmasters year, let’s keep the momentum going! Try something new to attract members or plan a themed meeting to boost engagement. Some clubs host wedding speech workshops, group hikes, or comedy nights—it’s all about building that camaraderie! Sometimes small actions, like checking your club’s online details or personally inviting guests to join the club after the meeting, can make a world of difference.

Remember, you’re not in this alone. We’re all here to support each other. If you need tips, resources, or just a boost of motivation, reach out to your club leaders.

Happy Anniversary! To all clubs chartered in October, happy birthday, with a special shoutout to London Athenian Speakers Toastmasters Club, celebrating a fantastic 30 years this month!

Let’s keep building our clubs and make this a journey we’re all proud to be part of.

With gratitude and excitement for the future,

 

Warm regards

Seema Menon, DTM

D91 Club Growth Director

Renew, New Beginnings, and Celebrate! – A September Message from the Club Growth Director

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As we wrap up September, things are getting real! From membership renewals to launching new clubs, we’re in the final stretch of an exciting and crucial month for District 91.

1. Renewals – Let’s Cross the Finish Line Together!
The clock’s ticking, and renewals are front and center. This is the time to ensure every member of your club stays on board for the next Toastmasters journey. A quick message or personal call can make all the difference. Think of it as giving your fellow members a friendly tap on the shoulder to remind them of the amazing growth they’ve experienced—and what’s still to come! Let’s push for that 100% renewal mark and make sure no one misses out on another incredible year of learning and leading.

2. New Beginnings – Toastmasters @ Markel
Now, for some exciting news! We’ve officially launched Toastmasters @ Markel—our newest club in Div K3🎉 It’s a testament to how we continue growing and spreading the Toastmasters spirit. Let’s help this new club hit the ground running and show them what the Toastmasters family is all about.

So, here’s to a final push in September! Let’s renew, let’s grow, and let’s celebrate every win, big or small.

Warm regards

Seema Menon, DTM
Club Growth Director, District 91, 2024/25
07957549427

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