Toastmasters BC : District 21

About Toastmasters

Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization dedicated to helping people become more effective communicators. Toastmasters helps men and women learn the art of effective speaking and listening, the two most vital skills that promote better self-esteem and enhance leadership potential.

A Brief History of Toastmasters International

Since the Toastmasters organization began in 1924, more than three million men and women have benefited from the communication and leadership programs that are constantly being revised to suit its membership.

The first club was formed in October 1924, when a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the Santa Ana, California YMCA practice to train in the art of public speaking. The group decided to form a club and the name 'Toastmasters' was decided upon.  A year later, a second club was started in Anaheim, California, followed by a third in Los Angeles.

By 1930, there were a dozen Toastmasters clubs on the west coast, all operating within the YMCA movement, and their members were starting to think of organizing a federation. A meeting was held during the Y's Summer School in Whittier, California that summer, and Frank Paulding attended with the idea of affiliating his Spokes Club in New Westminster (though they never actually applied for a charter). Apparently it was on Frank's suggestion that the new federation chose the name "Toastmasters International." Rotary International may have had some influence on the name too, because many of the men were Rotarians!

In 1932, the federation was incorporated as Toastmasters International. By that time, Frank Paulding had taken charge of the Victoria YMCA, and had brought the "Spokes Club" with him. The Victoria Club seems to have been included among the original 18 clubs when T.I. was incorporated in December 1932, but there is no record of a separately chartered Toastmasters Club in Victoria until October 24th, 1935, when fifteen members of the Victoria Speakers' Club became charter members of Club No. 38. The second club to be formed in British Columbia was formed in Vancouver and is now known as Vancouver 59. The beginning of District 21 had begun. It now comprises of over 260 clubs in 10 Divisions spread across British Columbia.

The forerunner of today's Communication and Leadership program, the basic training manual, was introduced in 1942. It is constantly modified and updated.

By 1954, the number of Toastmasters clubs had approached 1,500. Today there are over 210,000 Toastmasters worldwide, in over 10,500 clubs in over 90 countries. Toastmasters International continues to make effective communication a worldwide reality.