The old man with no name is arm deep in a Dublin City bin. Scavenging for cast-off Coke cans and bendy bottles for a paltry return. Oblivious to the street’s soundtrack of shrieking seagulls and ear-piercing pedestrians, he marshals his shopping trolley and the vestiges of his dignity, towards bountiful bin bags hopefully. Christina Hession
Since joining Toastmasters International in 2017, Gerda Parkja has exemplified steady, values-driven leadership. As Vice President Education at Manchester Orators, she helps support a thriving club community of 68 members—an achievement that reflects both commitment and strong leadership. Despite the demands of such a large club, Gerda consistently makes time to participate in Area Council … Read more
Club Presidents and Treasurers, please reach out to all your members and ensure that at least 8 members renew so the club remains in good standing and continues to receive all the Toastmasters benefits they currently receive. Your members place their trust in you as a committee to do the best for them and their … Read more
Sustainability is often discussed in terms of the environment, but within organisations it has another equally important meaning: ensuring that systems, knowledge, and leadership are strong enough to continue even when key individuals are not present. In community organisations such as Toastmasters clubs, sustainability is essential for maintaining momentum, supporting members, and ensuring that meetings … Read more
Because of a shortage of Committee members, I have seen how hard Tina has worked, keeping the Committee together and mentoring the new Committee members and she, herself has doubled up on Committee roles.Well done Tina! Strictly Speaking Harrogate
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, I was delighted to participate in The Doyle Collection Headshot Initiative. Raising funds for a great cause. Running simultaneously across hashtag#London, hashtag#Dublin, hashtag#Cork and hashtag#Washington D.C. We had the opportunity to book a slot and have headshots captured by a professional female photographer Here is yours truly, Anne-Marie Murphy … Read more
Throughout District 71, women continue to shape the future of Toastmasters through leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to personal growth. One such leader is ClĂ©sia Mendes, Area 48 Director. ClĂ©sia currently supports more than 190 members across six clubs in the Manchester area and surrounding communities. In her role as Area Director, she works closely … Read more
Half a year after my first wife died tragically, I was invited to share in starting a new Toastmasters club – Bromley Speakers – in 1992. Still traumatised by my bereavement, my short- term memory was shot. Speech making helped me to get over that. Then I learned about the International Speech Contest and rushed … Read more
I left a Toastmaster’s club because I felt unfulfilled. However, I did not want to leave Toastmasters. I mentioned to some toasties who were friends that I was thinking of setting up a club in my own locality. All of them said they were in and would help. I sourced a location and found the … Read more
I am alive today because of the friendship I received during my illness from clubs around the world.Three years ago, I was struck down with a spinal abscess. I was in a coma for a month in the main hospital for five months and in the rehabilitation ward for a further four months. During that … Read more