Stretching from Reading to Plymouth, and embracing the vibrant cities of Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, and many more, Division A represents the heart of the South-West, a region where coastlines meet creativity, and communities thrive on connection. Our clubs reflect this rich diversity: from historic university towns to bustling business centres, each brings its own flavour to the Toastmasters experience.
A Team United in Service
At the helm of Division A is Division Director Yogendra Paranjpe, supported by a passionate team of leaders dedicated to helping every club and member succeed:
– Area A1 Director: Yassin George
– Area A17 Director: Kevin Harrington
– Area A19 Director: John Christie, DTM
– Area A42 Director and Assistant Division Director: Rob Dewing
– Area A46 Director: Blake Rumfitt
– Area A62 Director: Kelvin Lam
Our shared goal is simple – to ensure every club feels connected, confident, and celebrated.
Our Focus This Year
Division A’s energy this year is directed toward five key areas:
1. Member Growth – Welcoming new voices and helping them discover confidence through communication.
2. New Club Development – Bringing Toastmasters to new communities and workplaces.
3. Club Excellence – Supporting clubs on their journey toward achieving their goals through mentoring, collaboration and recognition.
4. Member Engagement – Creating opportunities for learning, celebration and connection.
5. Culture & Communication – Strengthening inter-club relationships and promoting a culture of openness and support.
Celebrating Club Highlights
– Five Clubs, namely Hamwic Speakers, Shilling Speakers, Spinnaker Speakers, Salisbury Online Speakers and Northavon Speakers, had all of the 7 club officers trained in the first round of COT.
-Rob Dewing, Area Director of A42, was the recipient of the District’s Toastmaster of the Year award for the year 2024-2025.
– Barbara Saph, DTM from Hallmark Speakers completed her second DTM and Kevin Harrington from Reading Speakers Club, Svitlana Samko from EMEA Verizon Online, and Abhijeet Rajadhyaksha achieved the Triple Crown.
– In the recently conducted Division Contests, Danny Wang from Reading Speakers Club and Shenaz Banu from Bristol Central Speakers bagged first places in Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests, respectively. They will go on to represent Division A at the District Conference on November 23rd.
Every story of growth, collaboration and courage contributes to Division A’s collective success.
Facing Challenges with Courage
Division A is not immune to the usual challenges of sustaining engagement and balancing hybrid formats — but our members approach these with resilience and creativity. Open communication, shared learning, and unwavering support keep the momentum going, one meeting and one speech at a time.
Looking Ahead
The journey ahead is filled with opportunities:
– Division A Open House Tours to celebrate our clubs’ creativity and community outreach.
– Learning Exchanges that spotlight innovative club practices.
– Recognition Events to celebrate members’ achievements and leadership milestones.
Each initiative helps strengthen the bonds that make Division A not just a collection of clubs, but a family of learners and leaders.
A Message to Our Members
To every member, officer and guest — you are the voice and heartbeat of Division A. Each role you take, each speech you give, and each bit of encouragement you offer adds to the ripple of growth across our Division.
Let’s continue to Elevate, Collaborate, and Celebrate together — because in Division A, we rise by lifting others.
Last Updated on 27th November 2025 by Allen Paul