FD Newsletter Message - Feb. 2014

The year 2014 is a major milestone for Founder's District and Toastmasters International. 90 years ago on October 1924, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley held the first meeting of the Number One Toastmasters Club in the basement of the YMCA building in Santa Ana which eventually became Toastmasters International. 70 years ago on July 1, 1944 the Eastern Division of District 1 began operations as Founder's District with 3 Areas and 18 clubs. The name "Founder's" for the new District is said to have come in a dream to Graham J. Albright, the first District Governor of Founder's District. Today, there are more than 200 clubs in 44 Areas with more than 4,000 memberships in Founder's District.

Learn More

Just a bit of trivia, the year 2014 is also the 20th anniversary of LACE and the 40th anniversary of my home club, Irvine Lunchtime Toastmasters Club 219. This is truly a year to celebrate with gusto. We will kick off the celebration at our Spring District Conference scheduled for May 3, 2014 with Toastmasters International World Headquarters CEO, Dan Rex as our keynote speaker. So mark your calendar and don't miss out on this exciting jubilee.

What is most amazing about Toastmasters is Dr. Smedley's vision 90 years ago to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders in a fun and friendly environment remains relevant today. In fact, it is the driving force that is rapidly creating clubs all over the world. There are now more than 14,000 clubs with about 300,000 memberships in 122 countries all over the world.

Each one of you are a part of this driving force. Your progress and your transformation through the Toastmasters program is a living testimony of the power and the benefits of the Toastmasters program. Let us all celebrate the success of the Toastmasters program throughout the year by passionately sharing the benefits we have received with others in our family, in our community and in our work place. For in doing so, we enrich our own lives and play a part in promoting peace in the world.

"Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people." -Jim Rohn

"Understanding comes through communication, and through communication we find the way to peace." - Dr. Ralph C. Smedley