Meet A Toastmaster

This Toastmasters year I am the Club Mentor Lead. I help appoint and support club mentors, who guide newly chartered clubs to become sustainable ones.

I joined Toastmasters exactly seven years ago. Like many Toastmasters, I joined because I wanted to overcome my fear of public speaking and become a better speaker. Public speaking was something I avoided ever since school. This all changed when I became a member of my club, Society Speakers, based in King’s Cross.

The friendly welcome I received from my fellow members was just what I needed to begin my Toastmasters journey. I liked, and still do like, being able to sign up for roles in advance and prepare for them. I enjoyed the meetings and could see a huge difference in my confidence and public speaking skills in just a few months. I have barely missed a meeting ever since!

I soon received my first taste of leadership when, six months after I joined, our Club Vice President of Education had to step down and I took on the role. I enjoyed playing such a central role in the club and organising our meetings. It helped me enjoy the success of my fellow members even more.

At the end of that Toastmasters year, I moved from Club Vice President of Education to Club President. Representing the club, helped open a whole new world of Toastmasters outside of my club and made me appreciate the opportunities to meet and learn with fantastic Toastmasters all over District 91.

In my career, as a civil engineer, I was working towards becoming professionally qualified. I had struggled to pass the final round interview to becoming professionally qualified and failed twice. It was then I realised I had to utilise what I had learned in Toastmasters and harnessed the confidence I gained from seeing my leadership and communication skills improve.

I sat my interview for a third time and passed. This has allowed my career to get moving and I have managed to be promoted twice and find a new job in the past four years.

Seeing how Toastmasters has given so much to me, I became determined to play my part in helping others experience the same benefits I have. I became an Area Director in July 2022 and a Division Director the following Toastmasters year. Those roles pushed me to meet and form connections with Toastmasters and their clubs which were completely new to me. It was a big challenge for me and I learned a lot.

I enjoyed meeting all of those Toastmasters, organising contests and organising club officer training. Better still was the support from other Toastmasters, whether that was giving me advice, taking roles or supporting contests.

This Toastmasters year, I am the Club Mentor Lead on the District 91 Club Growth team. I jumped at the opportunity when it came up! Being able to rub off that Toastmasters magic on entire clubs full of Toastmasters, instead of just individual Toastmasters, sounded incredible.

The Club Mentors I have been working with are passing on their expertise to brand-new Toastmasters and making a huge difference. Joining Toastmasters was transformational for me and I think of the Toastmasters before me who founded my club and how I might not have become a Toastmaster without them. That is what I think is special about new Toastmasters clubs starting now. It is not only about the founding members, but also all of the Toastmasters who will ever join the club.

If supporting a newly chartered club as a Club Mentor sounds like something you might be interested in then please get in touch here and I will be more than happy to speak to you.

 

When I walked into my first Toastmasters meeting in 2021 at CS Relentless Toastmasters in Ghana, I had no idea how much it would shape my personal and professional growth. I was looking for a space to refine my communication skills, but what I found was a community that inspired me to grow in ways I never expected.

Stepping into leadership roles early on—first as Vice President Membership, then as Club President—challenged me to think beyond my own development. I learned how to support others, foster a welcoming environment, and work with a team to build something bigger than myself. The experience honed my leadership skills and gave me a deeper appreciation for mentorship and collaboration. Completing two Toastmasters pathways—Presentation Mastery and Dynamic Leadership—was another milestone, reinforcing my confidence and ability to express my ideas with clarity.

Relocating to the UK was a new chapter in 2023, and I knew I wanted to stay connected to Toastmasters. Becoming part of Central London Toastmasters and serving on the District 91 Leadership Team has been incredibly fulfilling. As Marketing Lead under the Club Growth Director Team, I’ve worked on exciting initiatives—from partnering with universities to leading Facebook ads and Tube campaigns that introduce more people to the power of Toastmasters. Each project has been a reminder of what this community represents: opportunity, empowerment, and limitless growth.

One of the things I value most about Toastmasters is its inclusive and supportive nature. No matter your age, background, or experience level, this is a space where you can discover your potential. I encourage young professionals to take that first step—invest in yourself, challenge yourself, and watch how Toastmasters transforms you.

Looking back, I see how much I’ve grown, and I know the journey is far from over. Toastmasters isn’t just about public speaking—it’s about becoming the best version of yourself.

 

 

 

I often wonder why fellow toastmasters don’t enter contests – only it seems like such an obvious thing to do to refine our skill.  Should you enter? Of course you should, but what do you stand to gain?

 

It was so obvious to me to enter one year – I thought it would be easy – and then I failed spectacularly and unexpectedly. It’s quite normal for a table topic to go horribly wrong or for the speaker to sit down half way through. It’s not so common in a club speech, and even less common in a contest speech. Three minutes in I put my hand up and told the contest chair I’d had enough, and was going to sit down. I really had. The contest had brought out the worst in me – a lack of preparation, and an attempt to deliver an emotional speech from my childhood really hit home.

 

Emotionally, the speech had the desired effect on me, but not my audience. The message I was hoping to deliver to my audience hit me the hardest, and I dried up, memory gone, a few garbled sentences later and I was done. Should I attempt a rescue and get back on track, or stop my speech right there in the middle? Usually I would always choose the former. Pause, breathe, and deliver the rest of the speech of the cuff – or find a way get back on track.  When a speech goes wrong like this the audience don’t know if you transition in to something more like a table topic. You then appear to be confident and in control. To pull this one off I would need to be in a happy smiley place (my top tips for Table Topics are to smile and be happy). I was agitated and emotional, and that was my downfall. My rehearsal time spent yapping into a mirror did not have the same emotional impact that I experienced from a real audience. And my lack of preparation showed. My nerves loaded the gun and emotion pulled the trigger. 

 

The best bit about these experiences is what you can learn from them. I don’t think I could have prepared for this because I didn’t even know it could happen. And that’s why we enter the contest, so that we can prepare better for the next contest, and fulfil our goals as accomplished toastmasters.

 

For me speech contests are the biggest bang for your buck at Toastmasters. They accelerate learning and the ability to deliver speeches confidently in all scenarios. They can provide you with the world’s greatest confidence boost, or the world’s greatest wake-up call. Which will it be? There’s only one way to find out…

 

Patrick Thomas
VPM – Farnham Speakers Club

 

 

When people first join Toastmasters, their main reason is often to become more confident at public speaking. That was my primary reason too. Another was to be part of a community.

I joined Godalming Speakers in May 2022, a year into running my Leadership and Team Coaching business. Working mostly from home on Zoom, I was getting cabin fever. I needed to get out of the house to meet people and re-energise myself.

At my very first meeting, I joined the Warm-up and even did a Table Topic—well outside my comfort zone. I’d have been happy to observe quietly, but my friend Caroline stood up before me and I couldn’t let the side down! The adrenaline rush after that first experience certainly energised me.

Beyond Public Speaking: Taking on New Roles

Initially, I focused on developing my speaking skills. What I imagined would be a terrifying and lengthy ordeal quickly became easier. As my confidence grew, I took on different meeting roles like Timer, Table Topics Master, Grammarian, Evaluator, and eventually, Toastmaster.

What I hadn’t realised at first was how these roles develop skills beyond public speaking. For example, giving feedback as an Evaluator improves your ability to provide constructive insights. Running the meeting as Toastmaster strengthens organisational and leadership skills. These are critical abilities, and I often recommend Toastmasters to coaching clients who want to boost their confidence in these areas.

Finding My Voice: Joining the Committee

In my second year, I joined the committee as VP of Public Relations (VPPR), which led to some of my biggest “aha” moments. At the time, I was still figuring out social media for my business and procrastinating about starting a blog. As VPPR, I managed our club’s Facebook page and created posts to promote events.

Attending VPPR training and exploring the resources on the Toastmasters International portal helped me develop a social media plan with monthly themes. This structured approach made content creation easier and I also taught myself how to use Canva to create eye-catching graphics. I applied these skills to my LinkedIn strategy, starting with weekly leadership tips. Having a plan and themes to focus on not only saved time but also helped me find my voice on social media.

Taking It Further: Starting a Blog

As my confidence grew, I decided to experiment with creating a blog. Setting up our Godalming Speakers Substack page gave me the perfect opportunity to learn. Using branded graphics from Toastmasters’ PR resources, I created our first newsletter in July 2023, titled Unleash Your Inner Toastmaster.

The safe space of our club’s social media platforms allowed me to experiment and build skills that directly benefited my business. Learning tools like Substack and Canva saved me time and money. By starting with free resources, I avoided costly mistakes like unnecessary app subscriptions or ineffective advertising.

Volunteering for Learning, and Growth

Being part of the Godalming Speakers committee taught me that when we all contribute, we create something much bigger—in the club and within ourselves. Volunteering for a committee role not only helps the club thrive but also provides invaluable personal growth opportunities. Roles like VPPR, Secretary, or Treasurer come with built-in learning experiences that extend far beyond the Toastmasters meeting room.

If you’re considering a committee role, I encourage you to give it a try. The skills you develop—from planning and organising to creative thinking and leadership—will serve you in all areas of life.

Ready to Take the Leap?

If you’re already in a committee role and want to share ideas, or if you’re curious about volunteering, let’s connect! Together, we can make an even bigger impact. Toastmasters isn’t just about speaking—it’s about discovering new skills, building confidence, and creating a supportive community.

So, what’s stopping you? Take the first step toward something extraordinary.

Sue Scott
Leadership & Team Coach
Godalming Speakers VPPR

My home club is City of London Toastmasters. At various points I’ve also held dual membership at a variety of other wonderful clubs in London and I became a Distinguished Toastmaster in 2018. I love competing, having reached District finals 9 times across different contests and winning Evaluation in 2016. I’m a management consultant at KPMG, where I currently head up designing solutions for managed learning services for clients across the globe. So, developing myself and creating the platforms for others to learn and grow has always been central in my career.

 

This year, I’m supporting the District as Club Coach Lead. If a club has been facing some challenges in membership numbers or need support, I match them to an experienced Toastmaster who helps the club rebuild its membership and improve the overall quality of the club experience. The coach works closely with club officers and members to provide guidance, enthusiasm, and structure within the club.

 

Recently, my home club celebrated its 29^th anniversary in November. As the current longest serving member I’m still in touch with many of the former Club Presidents and it was a joy to invite 7 of them back to a special in-person panel discussion during our club meeting. They shared their leadership lessons and what this club has meant to them. The three things I took away were:

 

1. Each Club President brought their unique personality to the club. They introduced and tested innovations and improvements to the club. Toastmasters is not only a safe space for members to practice their public speaking skills, but also a safe space for people to grow their leadership skills.
2. We recognise the courage it takes put yourself out there. All our past Presidents started at the back of the room, eventually getting more and more involved in the meetings until one day, they became the person to stand at front and open every meeting. The importance of encouraging people to get involved and have a go is paramount.
3. We’ve always been a very social club. Going to the pub post meeting, the annual Christmas curry get-together and we’ve recently introduced snack and chat and the end of the meetings. Countless friendships have formed in a community where people want to support each other to succeed in their goals.

 

Coming back to club coaching, Toastmasters is an amazing place, and we want to support every club to help serve its members. Becoming a successful club coach gives you a credit towards your Distinguished Toastmaster award and gives you enormous satisfaction in helping a club succeed and secure its own legacy, I would recommend any Toastmaster to consider it.