Making learning, laughter and celebration part of the Toastmasters experience
What happens when Beetlejuice presents an educational award to a ghoul, and the ghoul returns the favour?
Just another evening at Godiva Speakers! 👻
At our recent Halloween Extravaganza, we embraced the theme with costumes, painted faces, themed food, plenty of laughter and a prize for the best dressed.
But amongst all the spooky fun, we also had something special to celebrate.
Our Club President, Lauren, completed Level 1 of her Toastmasters Pathway, and I completed Level 2 of mine.
So there we were, Lauren dressed as Beetlejuice and me looking decidedly ghoulish, presenting each other with our educational awards!
It got me thinking about three things that make our Toastmasters meetings even more valuable.
1. Themes bring meetings to life
Having a theme for the evening adds another dimension to a Toastmasters meeting.
It creates opportunities for creativity, encourages members to step outside their comfort zones and brings a sense of fun and connection to the room.
Not every meeting needs fancy dress, of course! But a well-chosen theme can inspire speeches, Table Topics, warm-up questions and even the Word of the Day.
It also gives guests something memorable to take away.
After all, we’re not just learning to speak in public. We’re learning to connect with people, engage an audience and enjoy the experience along the way.
2. Celebrate educational achievements in the meeting
One thing we’re making a point of doing at Godiva Speakers is recognising members’ educational achievements during our meetings.
Rather than simply announcing that someone has completed a level, we present their certificate and take a moment to celebrate their progress.
And it’s not just about the person receiving the certificate.
When guests and newer members see these presentations, they begin to understand that Toastmasters is much more than a public speaking club.
It’s a structured educational programme with clear opportunities for progression.
Pathways offers a variety of learning paths, each with five levels, for someone who has only recently joined, the Pathways system can seem a little overwhelming.
But seeing another member receive a certificate makes it real. They can see what they’re working towards, recognise that progress is achievable and perhaps feel inspired to take their own next step.
It also creates a natural opportunity to explain Pathways to our guests, without turning the meeting into a training session!
And let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a little recognition for their efforts?
3. The learning doesn’t stop when you finish a pathway
This latest achievement was particularly meaningful for me because I’m now working through my fourth pathway.
You might wonder why I keep going back for more.
Surely once you’ve completed a pathway, you’ve learned what there is to learn?
Not at all!
One of the things I’ve discovered is that the more experience I gain, the more I get out of the projects.
I bring different experiences, new perspectives and greater awareness to the work.
Sometimes I revisit a skill I thought I’d already mastered, only to discover there’s another level of understanding waiting for me.
The projects may be familiar, but the person completing them has changed.
And that’s the beauty of lifelong learning.
Toastmasters isn’t something we finish. It’s something we can continue to grow through, adapting what we learn to wherever we are in life.
Whether you’re preparing your very first Icebreaker, developing your leadership skills or embarking on your fourth pathway, there’s always something more to discover.
So perhaps at your next club meeting, consider how you’re bringing your theme to life and whether you’re making the most of opportunities to celebrate your members’ progress.
Because every achievement deserves recognition, and every celebration is an opportunity to inspire someone else.
And if that celebration happens to involve Beetlejuice and a ghoul presenting each other with certificates?
Well, that’s just a bonus! 👻🎃
Gina Dallison
Vice President Education, Godiva Speakers
District 71 Area Director of the Year 2025–26