As District 91 Toastmasters continues to flourish with a supportive Trio and DLT, Division D stands out as a beacon of energy, innovation and community spirit. Today we celebrate achievements, highlight upcoming opportunities and share pictures of transformation from our vibrant clubs and members. With 6 Area Directors  refered to as the ‘MARKIMS team’ – Milica, Ana, Rafael, Kanti, Ian, Monica and Smita and all our club officers and past district officers supporting us, we are poised to make our mark. Indeed we are fortunate to have the privilege of supporting our clubs and serving our members as well as contribute to our district’s success.

Division D at a Glance

Division D comprises a diverse network of Toastmasters clubs, each dedicated to nurturing communication and leadership skills. Our clubs span corporate, community and institutional, reflecting the dynamic character of our division. Our 30 clubs across 6 areas, with 817 unique members from all walks of life—students, civil servants, other professionals, homemakers, retirees, and entrepreneurs—Division D is truly a microcosm of the Toastmasters vision: empowering individuals to become confident speakers and effective leaders. Our total memberships went up by nearly 10% in the last 2 months to 849 up from a base of 772 thanks to efforts of most clubs. We are a huge geography from Watford Speakers to Woking Speakers (55 miles) and from Wandsworth to Windsor, Maidenhead & Burnham (45 miles) with clubs in Hammersmith, Richmond & Ealing.  Many district directors were/are members/mentors of Division D with Vanessa and Steve (Guildford Speakers), Rupa (Wembley Stadium Speakers and past Trojans member) Diane and Arnaud (UK SALT). Diane is our Division mentor with all of them as key Advisors. Many younger leaders from other divisions like  Andrew (J), Andrea (A), Ron (B & H) etc have come together to join, support and assist in member growth. With only 6 clubs less than 20 members and 15 clubs over 25 members we hope to be Presidents Distinguished same as last year and remain grateful to Deborah Stevens and Russell Searle our last 2 division directors and their teams. The focus remains on member experience enhancement and retention with a special focus on strengthening and supporting our corporate clubs.

Spotlight on Our Clubs

• Bridging generations, our Maidenhead club houses our most experienced and veteran toastmaster Norman who had joined toastmasters 41 years ago & Peter of Harrovian Speakers is soon to complete 39 years. Our deepest regard for them & the 112 members (14%) who have spent more than 10 years
• With 12 out of our 29 Base clubs having 30 or more members and each growing rapidly, it is obvious that the legacy effort and brilliance of past leaders as well as current executive committee members needs to be celebrated. Epsom Speakers soon will celebrate its 60 years while Wembley Stadium Speakers chartered 18 plus months ago displays exemplary service and commitment to communication enhancement (amongst others), of ALL its members. Thank you  Penny, Costa, Gillian, Amanda, Brendan, Jin, Alex (Epsom Speakers) & Rupa, Sushil, Angelie, Katrina (Wembley Stadium Speakers) and so many more.
• Our club members like networking, socialising and taking many pictures. Indeed our club VPPRs love to take pictures for the social media.

       

Sutton Speakeasy celebrate each meeting with a group photo

• Clubs like London Athenians, Watford Speakers, Reigate Rhetoric, Camberly Speakers etc. have become renowned for their welcoming atmosphere and creative meeting themes like the ‘Greek God and Goddesses’. Camberly Speakers in July were the hallowed halls of their own Olympus, they gathered for a council of wisdom and inspiration, themed around the mythology of Ancient Greece. The session presided by Toastmaster Goddess, Nur, guided all in exploring the pantheon of almighty gods. With the precision of Athena’s wisdom, evaluations were both insightful and enlightening. Naturally, each role was performed with the grace and skill of divine artisans. Rachel was the “Best Dressed Goddess.” The evening concluded with a message -“There is a potential hero in each and every one of you. Just listen to your inner God.”

‘Greek God and Goddesses’-Camberly Speakers encouraged by Doug, Martin, George, Rich, Bob, Milica, Jenny, Nur etc.

• Toastmaster Ernie organised this week a ‘Red Carpet’ themed meeting for Woking Speakers. People were dressed up and walked the red carpet to collect awards including the Best Tech Head (like the Oscars?)

The Red Carpet themed meeting at Woking Speakers with Event Organiser VPE Ernie, Club President Milica and the Red Carpet Award winners.

• Focused on communication enhancement and tangible growth through mentorship, many clubs like Riverside Communicators https://bit.ly/RiversideCommunicators , Epsom Speakers, Sutton Speakeasy, Surbiton Speakers have a mentorship initiative pairing experienced Toastmasters with new members.

Sutton Speakeasy- L to R: Donald joined to deliver a better speech at his daughters wedding and stayed to motivate and serve others. Biraba served twice as VP Membership and is the President now. Jonathan won the best table topic twice as a guest and just became a member. Kudos to Amanda for serving selflessly and enabling an enviable mentoring program.

• If you love receiving 14 minutes of un-whitewashed evaluations on your (potential paid public speaking) speech, the new UK SALT Advanced club is the place to visit. Members tackle topics from global affairs to personal development, mental health, marketing, AI etc sharpening their critical thinking and persuasive speaking abilities. It has an advanced mission that the current 25 members are committed too under Ron’s capable Presidentship. Sponsored by Eddy & Smita DTM under the guidance of Diane DTM and Mo the club has distinguished mentors in Arnaud DTM and Andrea.

When UK Salt members meet face to face unplanned at a COT in another division far away from their homes….cacaphony, laughter and smiles pepper the event. It is never about us but ‘Service before Self’ ! Ruth is the Assistant Division D Director for  Smile More and Clap. This initiative is for encouraging members to have fun as well as Sponsor, Mentor & Coach clubs in the district.

When Rupa DTM spoke about her Leadership journey from Trojans to District Director and more, there was pin drop silence. Truly Inspiring ! She was presented with the Outstanding member pin by Arnaud DTM on behalf of Division D for her continued service as IPDD. Credentials Chair and now District Parlimentarian as well as chartering and motivating Wembley Stadium Speakers, organising the Corporate Summit in June 2025 amongst many other initiatives.

Amazing banter and fellowship comraderie.  ‘Let us chat rather than pose for a picture’. Note : The Division D Director evaporated!! However only our 2 past district directors started leading the way to pose for the picture.

 

Recent Achievements

Division D members, most clubs and areas have shone brightly over the past 2 months.

• We are proud to announce that past district director and current Parlimentarian Rupa received her well deserved DTM award. Kudos to her and heartiest congratulations.
• This year also commenced well with 35 levels being filed in Pathways of which 9 are level 4 and level 5 awards
• 2 new areas D20 and D61 with 9 clubs, warmly welcomed by cutting cake in a Division Event on 26^th July 2025.

Welcoming Area D20 Club officers with a Fudge Cake being cut by Immediate past Area Director Casper who is also part of the Club Growth District Team as  District Mentor Assignment Lead On the extreme right are 2 Jal Richmond Leaders Club officers Yannis and Stefan. Disclaimer: To the best of the organisers knowledge equal opportunity for devouring the fudge cake was provided !! Also it was nut and gluten free.

• 3 new clubs chartered – 2  on 30^th June 2025 (JAL Richmond Leaders and UK Speakers and Leaders) and Richmond and Wandsworth Communicators club chartered on 22^nd July 2025.

Officers of Jal Richmond Leaders and UK Salt chartered on 30^th June 2025 cutting the Chocolate Cake at 9.36am at a Division D COT event. Chocolate needs no timers !!! Behind the scenes Timer Milica flashing her Red Coat frantically as we took our time devouring the cake.

 

• Judges Training and Chief Judges Workshops supported by Paul our district Chief Judge and Smita DTM, hosted by UK Salt (Advanced Club chartered June 20^th 2025), with many humorous and table topics workshops scheduled in September.
• 176 Club officers attended 3 Division D COTs with a couple more to follow on the 30^th & 31^st of August 2025. 65% of Division D officers trained with 75% of the clubs having 4 or more trained. Kudos to all 3 newly chartered clubs for having all their officers trained as well as Burnham Speakers, London Athenians, West London Speakers,   Harrovian Speakers, Watford Speakers and  Wembley Stadium Speakers

VPPR’s and SAAs being trained in the 60 min breakout by Immediate Past ADs Duncan and Casper

Presidents being trained on contests by Immediate Past District Chief Judge and Past District Director Arnaud DTM. Arnaud is also Division D Advisor. Thank you Arnaud for all you do for us and the district! 

Also past District Director Rupa DTM trained the VP Memberships while past AD Ramesh Halai seen at the top corner trained the Secretary of the clubs.   

They finally posed possibly when the PQD Seema Menon DTM and the Division D Director Smita Narayan DTM sandwiched most in between…. Or was it on the photographers request? Could be soon after the chocolate cake disappeared too!! Too groggy to remember a month later at the time of publishing this update but this surely was a great looking bunch even after 4 plus hours of Club Officer Training.

Most did hit the bar later well organised by the Host Club Trojans with Harsh the President and his EC beaming. In a nutshell Harsh personifies some of the spirit of Division D. He came as a guest a few months ago to JAL Richmond and to Riverside Communicators. He joined Riverside as JAL had not chartered and then also visited Trojans. There he volunteered and decided to serve as the President.

Kudos to the multitasking ADs Ana, Kanti and Ian well supported by AD Rafael and AD Milica.

• Distinguished Club Program: Several clubs in Division D have achieved DCP goals and added members. Notable is Sustainable Speakers with 6 DCP goals achieved. All clubs achieved DCP Goal 10b with many doing early renewals Goal 10a.
• Pathways Milestones: Members continue to excel in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience, completing advanced levels in Dynamic Leadership, Presentation Mastery, and more. Enrolments are being prioritised for new members.

Upcoming Events

The coming months promise an exciting array of events and opportunities for all Division D members:

• Area Speech Contests are scheduled commencing 8^th October with Division Contests & Conference scheduled for October 25^th  2025 and April 11^th   Please save the dates and try to attend. The venue can take 200. We have special guest speakers.
• Leadership Workshops: The division will host a series of workshops in September & October, designed to help members develop leadership competencies, including team management, conflict resolution and strategic planning. There will be public speaking practice workshops as well.
• New Member Orientation: For those new to Toastmasters, an orientation session at the end of each month will be hosted in rota by clubs to introduce the structure, benefits, and opportunities within Division D and District 91.
• Club Officer Training: COT2 will be held at the beginning of November, providing essential resources and support for club leaders.
• Open Houses in Corporate clubs like BMS scheduled for September

Meet a Member: Growth Stories

One of the greatest strengths of Division D is its diverse membership. In each division newsletter, we feature the journey of Toastmasters whose growth inspires others. Please subscribe to our social media.

Educational Focus: The Power of Feedback

One of the cornerstones of Toastmasters is the art of giving and receiving constructive and motivating feedback. Division D clubs strive to maintain a supportive environment where members can learn from one another. Evaluators play a crucial role, offering insights that highlight strengths and suggest areas for growth. This culture of continuous improvement is what sets Toastmasters apart, ensuring that every speech, no matter how small, becomes a stepping stone toward greater mastery. 4 Evaluate 2 Motivate sessions will be conducted in the run up to the evaluation club contests.

Division Director’s Message

Dear Toastmasters,

As we enter the renewal period keep the focus on renewing each member through their needs comprehension and fulfilment. I am filled with pride at our collective achievements. Division D is more than a collection of clubs—it is a family of individuals dedicated to personal and professional development. Whether you are participating in contests, attending workshops, or supporting your club’s initiatives, know that your efforts make a difference.

Let us continue to embrace the Toastmasters values of integrity, respect, service, and excellence. Reach out to fellow members, step outside your comfort zone, and remember: every voice matters. MCA : Grow the M-members and yourselves, grow your C-clubs, grow the A-area and the division will thrive continuing our past legacy.

Smita Narayan DTM  Division D Director

Resources and Opportunities

Division D members have access to a wealth of resources and support:

• Pathways Learning Experience: Explore paths like Dynamic Leadership, Effective Coaching, and Strategic Relationships to tailor your learning journey.
• Mentorship Program: Connect with experienced members for guidance, feedback, and encouragement.
• Speechcraft: Short-term programs ideal for newcomers looking to develop public speaking skills quickly.
• District 91 Website: Stay up to date on events, goals, and opportunities
• Many current and past District Leaders associated with Division D have formed Division D Extended Advisor Mentor Council Group and some of them are walking, talking and immensely approachable encyclopaedia All one needs to do is ask the club leadership or the area leadership as the case maybe.
• Opportunities for mentoring members of other clubs do exist

 

How to Get Involved

There are countless ways to participate and benefit from Division D

• Attend club meetings regularly and volunteer for meeting roles.
• Take part in speech contests and workshops.
• Invite friends or colleagues to experience Toastmasters.
• Engage on social media and share your Toastmasters journey
• Provide leads for members & new clubs and feel free to sponsor, mentor or coach a club.

Looking Forward

As Division D continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming new members, launching innovative programs, and celebrating the unique achievements of every club. Your enthusiasm, participation, and commitment are the keys to creating a thriving Toastmasters community. Let’s keep empowering voices and inspiring growth together. Help the other divisions when asked to serve too.

Until next time, keep speaking up, leading boldly and supporting each other! Socialise and have FUN!

Post club meeting social drinks for Riverside Communicators when the Area D29 Area Director Ian was invited for a club area visit this month of August. Assistant Division D Director PR Duncan, VPPR Bhupinder, VPM Surinder, President Bayan, Immediate past President Madhuranticka, Kim, Zara , Mr. Magician new member and others like Ruth do look happy before they head home towards midnight. Missing the Smiths, Smita, Mr. Searle, Mr. Sharky and many others smitten by this club.

 

 

 

Last Updated on 31st August 2025 by Allen Paul