Toastmasters is a non-profit, educational organisation. More than four million men and women have so far benefited from its communication and leadership programs.
In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club "to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members." The group took the name "Toastmasters." Soon men in other communities and states asked for permission and help to start their own Toastmasters clubs. By 1930, a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the many clubs and to provide a standard program. When a speaking club in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada , expressed interest in forming a Toastmasters club, the group became known as Toastmasters International.
For many years the "Home Office" of Toastmasters International was based in a series of rented office spaces. In 1962, the Toastmasters International staff moved to its first World Headquarters building in Santa Ana, California, not far from where the first club began. By the late 1980s, however, this building could no longer adequately house the increased staff needed to provide services to the growing number of Toastmasters. In 1990 World Headquarters relocated to a new building in Rancho Santa Margarita, approximately 20 miles south of Santa Ana, designed to accommodate Toastmasters International's expected growth well into the 21st century.
Toastmasters International's success and growth is due in large part to the continued development of its educational programs. The organization has come a long way since the first speech manual, Basic Training, was developed more than 50 years ago. The current manual, now called Competent Communication, was most recently updated in 2006. After members of Toastmasters complete all 10 speech projects in that manual, they may apply for their Competent Communicator (CC) award and then choose from any combination of 15 advanced manuals.
Toastmasters International's education system includes both a communication track and a leadership track, with Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) being the highest award.
Toastmasters International is the undisputed world leader in public speaking training, with over 10,500 clubs and more than 200,000 members in approximately 90 countries.
Northavon Speakers Club
Chartered early 1992.
Dave Hobson moved to Yate from Lancashire and in 1990, whilst revamping his garden, found a neighbour advertising "soil – help yourself." With a hole to be filled, Dave met Adrian Young and an idea also was planted!
Adrian was a member of a TM Club in Queensland, Australia and Dave had been a member of a non TM Speakers Club before moving to Yate. Adrian was keen to start a TM Club in the area and suggested to Dave that he help with a Speechcraft Course to be run through an Evening Class. As a facilitator, Dave would need to become a member of TI (Toastmasters International) and eagerly signed on the dotted line. After a few "hiccups" entailing running the Course privately at Poole Court, they had a sufficient number to pre-charter with TI. A committee was formed with Dave as President/Treasurer, Adrian as VP Education and a few others, between them all the roles were covered.
The following 2 years were 'hit and miss' but in Feb. 1992 with a bit of creative accounting the magic number of 20 was achieved and Northavon Speakers Club was formally Chartered. Undaunted by their early problems they decided to run another Speechcraft Course in Poole Court and thus gained more members. Dave had planned to hand over the Presidency at the end of 1992 but TI decided to change the end of the TI year from December to June so he did another 6 months. However, by the end of June 1993, and after running another Speechcraft Course, the Club numbers had genuinely increased so a new Committee was formed and as they say, "the rest is history".
In 1994, Adrian Young was awarded "Outstanding Toastmaster of the Year for District 71" well deserved and since then both Adrian and Dave have achieved their DTM.
Dave Hobson emigrated to Canada in 1999 and continues with his TM career. When he left, Dave presented the Club with a Cup to be awarded annually to the member who had achieved the highest number of Table Topic wins. Adrian Young moved away from the area a few years before Dave and decided to seek his fortune elsewhere but they still keep in touch from time to time with the older members of the Club. Robin Chawner, another active member returned to Fareham in 2001 and started his own Club – Solent Speakers. When Robin left Northavon he presented the Club with a magnificent Award, to be presented to the overall best General Evaluator during the year. In the late 1990's the Club had an 'Open Evening' and several members from the McGuire Programme – a very strict and intense method of helping stammerers to overcome their affliction – joined us. As a result of this they joined Northavon Speakers Club as they identified it as a move forward and a platform to allow them to speak in front of an audience in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. This was so successful that the McGuire Plate was presented to the Club to be awarded annually to the member who had most improved during the year. In 2006 Phil Barber, who travelled from Torquay every 2 weeks, started a Club in his area – Southwest Speakers which is proving to be very successful.
Over the years we have tried to start Clubs in Exeter and Cardiff but despite all the hard work our efforts did not produce a Club which could be sustained. Northavon Speakers have set a very high standard and one which is difficult to replicate.
Northavon Speakers Club always has significant representation at all levels of District 71 Competitions and various members have moved on to serve as Area Governors and District 71 Secretary; it continues an exceptional record of achievement and enjoys a reputation for the professionalism and discipline originally instigated when Dave and Adrian first formed it. We should be indebted to them for the standards they have set down.
Margo Cevik
October 2006
