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Spring Edition | February 2026

District 71 Monthly Newsletter

Table of Contents

From The District

Mairead Dillion

District Director

Hello fellow Toastmasters!

At the start of February, the DLT and Region 10 Advisor Lilian Shaftacola travelled to Edinburgh to meet with clubs from Scotland. The event was very well organised by Julia Martineau and her team. We are very grateful to Julia for the many hours she dedicated to ensuring everything went smoothly.

The purpose of the event was to share practical tips and best practices on reviving and growing clubs and it made for a very lively session. The Division S Director Ronnie Smith made us feel very welcome and he delivered inspiring words to encourage members to strive for excellence in their clubs.

CGD Kevin O’Reilly also hosted a corporate event at Cirrus Logic on Monday the 9th February. The event was informative and engaging and we are extending a big thank you to the Amplifiers club for hosting us.

The visit to Scotland was very productive and it was wonderful to meet both long standing and new members. Scotland is thriving and we look forward to seeing many new Toastmasters clubs forming there over the next 5 years.

Mairead Dillion
– District Director

Celebrating our Magnificent Seven Club Officers.

Steve Campion

Programme Quality Director

We know that clubs with well-trained officers tend be more successful and enjoyable for all.

Today, we are celebrating the winners of the District’s “Magnificent Seven” incentive, where all seven officers of their club completed their club officer training by 14th  February. By showing an eagerness to develop their skills and working together, they have earned for themselves and their club a full set of club officer pins or a personalised Toastmasters International name badge for each officer.

Please join me in congratulating the following clubs:

  • Chelmsford City Communicators
  • Chelmsford Speakers Club
  • Godiva Speakers
  • Hertfordshire Speakers Club
  • International Voices
  • Liverpool City Toastmasters
  • Manchester Communicators
  • Manchester Orators Toastmasters Club
  • Mullingar Toastmasters Club
  • Phoenix-Tara Toastmasters
  • Salford Speakers Toastmasters Club
  • Sheffield Speakers
  • Talk Club @ Letterkenny
  • The Limerick Lilts
  • West Herts Speakers Club
  • White Rose Speakers

Congratulations

Steve Campion
– Programme Quality Director

Reflections on the Regional Advisor’s February Visit

Stallone-Obaraemi Samuel

Public Relations Manager

From The Public Relations Desk

The visit of Regional Advisor Lilian Shaftacola to District 71 from the 6th to the 8th of February marked a defining moment in the leadership narrative of our district. Although the engagements took place in Scotland, within Division S, the impact and intention were unmistakably district-wide. This was not simply a regional visit; it was a District 71 experience of strategic clarity, collaborative leadership, and organisational renewal.

Day 1– The opening day brought together a combined Club Officer Training and round-table engagement. Participants repeatedly expressed that the sessions were unlike anything they had experienced before- dynamic, deeply engaging, and transformational in both content and delivery. The conversations surrounding club growth, member experience, leadership pipelines, and new club creation reflected a renewed enthusiasm across the district. These sessions reinforced the fact that leadership within Toastmasters is not merely functional; it is developmental, strategic, and profoundly influential for those who choose to engage with it.

Day 2 – The following day extended this momentum into the District Leadership Team for an intensive strategy session, one that quickly distinguished itself through its depth, focus, and commitment to excellence. What emerged was a level of board-level thinking that strengthened our strategic direction and sharpened our alignment with the District Success Plan. With the guidance of Regional Advisor Lilian Shaftacola, the team, led by the  engaged in rigorous discussion and purposeful analysis, resulting in an atmosphere where clarity, accountability, and shared purpose became the defining characteristics of the day.

Day 3 – The final day of the visit took place at The Amplifiers, the corporate Toastmasters club hosted by Cirrus Logic in Edinburgh. The visit demonstrated first-hand the exceptional value of Toastmasters within a corporate environment. The club exemplifies what becomes possible when an organisation commits to nurturing communication, leadership capability, and professional confidence. Cirrus Logic has created an environment where employees are encouraged to grow, contribute, and lead with clarity, and this visit showcased the organisational benefits of such a commitment. The Amplifiers stand as a testament to the importance of corporate clubs, not only for individual development but also for organisational excellence.

Across all three days, the presence and influence of Regional Advisor Lilian Shaftacola were evident. Her contribution elevated the quality of discussion, brought renewed strategic insight, and strengthened the district’s resolve to pursue excellence with intention. The District Leadership Team also played a critical role in ensuring the success of the visit, demonstrating professionalism, unity, and dedication throughout the engagements.

Although the activities were geographically centred in Scotland, their relevance and implications belong to every member of District 71. The visit served as a reminder that leadership is a collective enterprise and that our success as a district depends upon our willingness to think broadly, act decisively, and support one another in the pursuit of excellence.

As Public Relations Manager, it is a privilege to amplify the work being done across the district and to highlight the dedication of those who continue to strengthen our leadership culture. This visit stands as a landmark in District 71’s progress- one that will continue to influence our work long beyond the days themselves.

Stallone-Obaraemi Samuel
-Public Relations Manager

Testimonials From Regional Advisor's Visit

Testimonials From Regional Advisor’s Visit

Attending the Edinburgh event was genuinely worthwhile. It was great to meet members from across the country and put faces

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Testimonials From Regional Advisor’s Visit

I attended the programme with modest expectations but was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and valuable it turned out to

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Testimonials From Regional Advisor’s Visit

The question of how we grow our clubs, and even build new Toastmasters clubs doesn’t really matter to most of

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Testimonials From Regional Advisor’s Visit

After a very warm round of introductions we proceeded to learn how the TM has experience has impacted people from

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Featured Events

Secure your ticket now
Click here

Are you coming to ROSE 2026?

The Kingdom awaits! Your place, your people, and an experience you won’t forget.

  • Keynote: Packie Bonner – from Italia ’90 to the ROSE stage! ⚽
  • Guest Speakers: Liam Moggan & Roger Caesar – coaching, performance, and speaking mastery.
  • Workshops: Full line-up to be revealed – learn, grow, and connect.
  • Contests & Fun: Fancy dress and more surprises!
  • The Kingdom:Stunning Tralee & surrounding beauty – inspiration at every turn.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of ROSE 2026 - your place, your people, your voice.

Upcoming Events

Rose Conference Update

The Rose Conference Continues to Bloom You will not be surprised to know that the work for the Rose Conference

Read More

Communication & Leadership Articles

Dundee Toastmasters Speechcraft Programme at NCR Atleos

In November 2025, Dundee Toastmasters successfully delivered a Speechcraft programme for international ATM company NCR Atleos at their UK offices

Read More

Starting a new club at the BBC

Building Our New Corporate Toastmasters Club: A Journey Worth Taking Over the last 18 months, I’ve had the privilege of

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The Power of a Good Mentor

When I first joined Toastmasters. I thought the hardest part would be standing up and giving a Speech. But I

Read More

Toastmasters Interview Tips

The countdown to that decisive interview is only hours away. Success in the interview can open up a vista of

Read More

Poet in Residence

Pogoing to Dearg Doom

at the junior disco,

you suggest taking a breather.

Blaming your Aran jumper,

but I know what you're really up to,

when you sneak a snaky arm around my shoulder.

My first kiss – your brace bumping

against my teeth,

a tangle of tongues.

We come up for air,

and wonder if anyone

has witnessed this milestone.

I glimpse you in the intervening years

- with your wife in a Limerick hotel at breakfast,

evanescing into your car

at the Applegreen petrol pumps,

squinching into the courtroom

where I am working.

At the banklink en route

to where my life is now,

I realise that the middle-aged man

who doesn't recognise the woman,

I don't recognise myself anymore,

is you.

Christina Hession

D71 Poet in Residence

Recognition Stories

Dublin Toastmasters- Buswell Hotel

Aileen Tighe has had a deeply meaningful impact on my Toastmasters journey, both as a speaker and as a person.

Read The Full Story
Hertfordshire Speakers

Club Sergeant at Arms – Vince Hill, for his diligence and professionalism in the role of SAA. Even when he

Read The Full Story
Tara Toastmasters

Tara Toastmasters was founded in December 1985 and has been meeting for 40 years. Currently meetings are held on the

Read The Full Story
Luton Toastmasters

How Communication and Teamwork Are Growing Luton Toastmasters At Luton Toastmasters, we have seen real growth by focusing on proactive

Read The Full Story
Liverpool City TM

This year has been nothing short of extraordinary for Liverpool City Toastmasters. Built on the foundation of a committed and

Read The Full Story
Tralee Toastmasters

When I first stepped into a Tralee Toastmasters meeting, Vicky McCarthy as club President was in the Chair. Only in

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Area 48 is proud to celebrate an exceptional result from the recent Magnificent Seven incentive. Three of our six clubs

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Chester Speaking Club

We introduced a new role at the start of the year – Awardsmaster. The role holder identifies a member who

Read The Full Story

Featured Events

Are you coming to ROSE 2026?

The Kingdom awaits! Your place, your people, and an experience you won’t forget.

  • Keynote: Packie Bonner – from Italia ’90 to the ROSE stage! ⚽
  • Guest Speakers: Liam Moggan & Roger Caesar – coaching, performance, and speaking mastery.
  • Workshops: Full line-up to be revealed – learn, grow, and connect.
  • Contests & Fun: Fancy dress and more surprises!
  • The Kingdom:Stunning Tralee & surrounding beauty – inspiration at every turn.
Secure your ticket now
Click here
Don’t miss your chance to be part of ROSE 2026 - your place, your people, your voice.

From the Editor’s Desk

John Leech

D71 Newsletter Editor

Welcome to the refreshed District Newsletter, and Congratulations, you have read this far. Over the past month, we’ve shifted to a new web‑based format to make reading easier across all devices. As with any first edition, it may not be perfect, but we think it’s a good foundation and one we’ll continue to build on in the coming months.

We’ve also launched a simple form for all Officers and Members to submit news stories. Thank you for the tremendous response this month, please keep the momentum going! Your contributions ensure that this truly becomes your newsletter. With so many great things happening across our clubs, we want to keep sharing and celebrating them.

Here’s the link again, in case you need it:

https://forms.d71toastmasters.org/share-news

A special call‑out to all Area Directors: I’d love to see every Area submit at least one article, recognition piece, or highlight for the March edition. And remember a picture tells a thousand words, so the more images and photos you can provide, the better.

A little teaser for the future: we’re exploring additional content formats and ideas to keep things fresh.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to the District PR Team we’re looking to expand the team.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter.

John Leech
– D71 Newsletter Editor

 

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