Toastmasters International -Exploring New Horizons

Members of Toastmasters and Rotary International pose together for a group photo during their hybrid joint meeting in November 2020.

In November 2020 in the Republic of Mauritius, Ace Speakers Toastmasters Club teamed up with the Rotary Club of Phoenix as co-hosts to historian Dr. Sudhir Hazareesingh. This internationally acclaimed professor at the prestigious Oxford University of the United Kingdom presented his new book Black Spartacus at this joint meeting. With more than 60 people attending in-person and others online, this hybrid session made history as the first joint meeting in the country inspired by the Rotary/Toastmasters alliance.

“Opening up to new horizons is what the Rotary/Toastmasters alliance enables,” says Club President Madhav Meetarbhan. He explains that even though Mauritius is a small island, Toastmasters has touched many people who have joined to become better communicators and leaders.

This initiative was aligned with a common desire of club leaders of the island to expand knowledge of Toastmasters in the country and thus facilitate the transition to joining District 74 in the coming months.

Chartered in March 2018, Ace Speakers Toastmasters Club has been awarded the Distinguished Club status three times already (Distinguished 2018-2019, President Distinguished 2019-2020, President Distinguished 2020-2021). Toastmasters has been present in the country since 2000 and celebrated its 20 years with 12 active clubs.