Toastmasters International -A Virtual Voyage

Toastmasters International President Richard E. Peck speaking in his garage

Toastmasters International held its first-ever virtual convention in the organization’s 95-year history from August 24–29. The event, which drew 66,000 registrants, was an unprecedented adventure into virtual meeting technology—complete with all the traditional convention events, from the inspiring Parade of Flags and popular Sing-Along to a dynamic World Championship of Public Speaking® competition.

Not to be deterred from serving its members, even during the ongoing effects of COVID-19, the virtual gathering ensured that Toastmasters continued its streak of holding a convention every year since World War II.

Thousands of attendees, many of whom had never been to a Toastmasters convention, watched the keynote speaker, Golden Gavel recipient, 14 education sessions, the Hall of Fame, the Annual Business Meeting, and the highly anticipated world championship contest speeches.

Here is a brief recap of the action. To view convention sessions you missed or want to watch again, visit the convention webpage. And if you didn’t get a chance to shop for this year’s convention souvenirs, you can still find pins, bears, shirts, and more in the Toastmasters Online Store.

Opening Ceremonies and Keynote Address

Attendees watched a virtual Parade of Flags and then tuned into Professional Hall of Fame speaker Dan Clark’s keynote about preserving and honoring the “Privilege of the Platform.”

The Golden Gavel

Since 1959, Toastmasters has honored an outstanding communicator with this prestigious award. Click play to watch the 2020 recipient, Julian Treasure, reveal “Secrets of Listening.”

Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking®

Rising to competing in the new virtual format, rather than in-person on the large international stage, 28 semi-finalists and eight finalists demonstrated a world-class level of skill.

With an inspiring speech titled, “The Librarian & Mrs. Montgomery,” Mike Carr, from Austin, Texas, won the 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking. Carr, along with seven other final contestants, reached the championship level after several eliminating rounds that began more than six months ago with 30,000 participants from 145 countries.

Second-place winner Linda-Marie Miller, from Durham, North Carolina, gave a deeply thought-provoking speech, “Pretending Not to Know,” enhanced by signs as props.

Third-place winner Lindy MacLaine, DTM, from Sequim, Washington, employed vocal variety, gestures, and a variety of facial expressions to share her passion for finding one’s voice in her speech, “Your Buried Story.”

Video Speech Contest (for undistricted clubs)

Congratulations to these video champions:

First Place: Carolyne Gathuru, of Nairobi, Kenya, “I Will Show You Dust”
Second Place: Carol Wakio Nderi, of Nyeri, Kenya, “The Hummingbird”
Third Place: Javed Bhatti, Karachi, Pakistan, “Shift, Delete, Average”

Accredited Speaker Program

Mohamed Ali Shukri, DTM, of Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, earned the prestigious AS designation after completing challenging program requirements and presenting his speech, “A Safe Shortcut to Safety Culture.” Watch the full Accredited Speaker Program session below.

Hall of Fame

Celebrate the successes of Distinguished Districts and individual members in the 2019-2020 program year.

Annual Business Meeting

Watch the Annual Business Meeting video here.

2020-2021 International Board of Directors:

President: Richard E. Peck, DTM, Seymour, Connecticut
President-elect: Margaret Page, DTM, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
First Vice President: Matt Kinsey, DTM, Coral Springs, Florida
Second Vice President: Morag Mathieson, DTM, Moehrendorf, Germany
Immediate Past President: Deepak Menon, DTM, New Delhi, India

International Directors seated for two-year terms:

Region 2: Karen Lucas, DTM, San Marino, California
Region 4: Harold Osmundson, DTM, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Region 6: Melissa McGavick, DTM, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Region 8: Roy Ganga, DTM, Milton, Georgia
Region 10: Elizabeth Nostedt, DTM, Gothenburg, Sweden
Region 12: Lesley Storkey, DTM, Peregian Beach, Queensland, Australia
Region 14: Dorothy Isa Du, Davao City, Philippines

Board Proposals

Proposal A

This proposal, which would have increased the maximum percentage (from 15% to 20%) of member clubs that could compose one region, did not pass. It would have kept the size of the Board the same, but allowed for seven regions, with two International Directors serving seven regions in staggered two-year terms.

Proposal B

This proposal, which allows Board members to require information from charged members be submitted 96 hours (rather than 48 hours) before international disciplinary hearings, passed.

For more information on the original proposals, visit the Toastmasters website.