This year has been nothing short of extraordinary for Liverpool City Toastmasters. Built on the foundation of a committed and proactive committee, the club set itself up for success from day one. With regular committee meetings and every officer completing two full rounds of Club Officer Training, the leadership team led by example and created clarity, consistency, and momentum.
That solid foundation paid off in a huge way: Liverpool City Toastmasters became the first club in the district to achieve all 10 Distinguished Club Program (DCP) points – a milestone achievement that reflects the dedication of every member and means we’re well on track for the new Smedley award.
Our meetings were buzzing with healthy competition and growth, highlighted by four successful and highly competitive club contests. At the same time, new members were welcomed with structure and care – every new joiner was assigned a mentor and quickly became an active part of the club. The energy was so strong that we ran into a brilliant problem: a shortage of speech slots! This led us to introduce speakathons, and ultimately to take an exciting next step – opening a second club, our very own Advanced club, to create even more opportunities for growth.
We were also proud to host three successful guest speaker events, welcoming inspiring speakers such as Kate Trafford, Jose Ucar and Raymond Pelekamoyo giving members access to fresh perspectives and high-level insights into communication and leadership.
Beyond our own club, Liverpool City Toastmasters played a key role across the district this year, proudly hosting both the Area Contest and the Division Contest. We also collaborated with a local TEDx event, with members contributing to TEDx speaker coaching and one of our own becoming a licensed TEDx organiser for Liverpool – a huge achievement and testament to the calibre of our community.
Just as importantly, Liverpool City Toastmasters is a social club at heart. Alongside our regular meetings, we’ve enjoyed frequent social activities that have helped members build real friendships, not just speaking skills. Our meetings are also known for their unusual, immersive Table Topics – creative, interactive experiences that push members out of their comfort zones in the most fun way possible, while sharpening their ability to think on their feet.
To support continuous improvement, we introduced monthly members-only nights, which quickly became a highlight of the calendar where we took the education and development of our members to the next level by introducing workshops. These focused workshops on contest judging, table topics, evaluations, and storytelling gave members space to sharpen specific skills, build confidence, and learn from each other in a relaxed, supportive environment.
From leadership excellence and competitive success to community impact, social connection, and ambitious expansion, this year has shown what’s possible when a club is driven by commitment, collaboration, and a shared love of personal development. Liverpool City Toastmasters didn’t just have a great year – we raised the bar for what a thriving club can look like.
Sarah Davies
Liverpool City TM
