Author: Runfeng Bruce Yu

Toastmasters and Rotary: Lessons from a Shanghai Partnership

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Toastmasters members and Rotarians gather for a group photo at the Career Empowerment Program Mentor Workshop.
Toastmasters and Rotarians are gathering for a group photo at the Career Empowerment Program Mentor Workshop.

We’re talking to Tilman Rieger, 2018–2021 Treasurer of Shanghai Leadership Toastmasters Club, a Toastmasters member since 2017, 2022–2026 Head of Membership, and 2026–2027 Vice President of the Rotary Club of Shanghai. He has been a Toastmasters member since 2017 and a Rotarian since 2021.

What projects did Toastmasters Leadership Shanghai and Rotary Club of Shanghai (RCS) complete together?

We organized the Career Empowerment Program (CEP), a joint service project created and facilitated by Toastmasters Leadership Shanghai and RCS. The project was designed to leverage the career experience of members from both organizations to provide mentorship and career guidance for students and community members, while also creating opportunities for members to serve as mentors.

In 2022, we started CEP with a face-to-face format involving Rotarians only. The mentees we invited were young adults from organizations supported by RCS, including Shanghai Sunrise and Shanghai Young Bakers. However, the challenge was that the mentees only spoke Chinese, while most Rotarians were foreigners who could only partially speak Chinese. A few months later, we conducted a second session online, but we encountered the same issue. We realized that it was not easy to find enough Chinese-speaking mentors to support Chinese-speaking mentees.

At the end of 2022, we planned to restart the project, but it became increasingly difficult because of the language barrier. During this period, we may have already had some selected Toastmasters members participating, as on 12 November 2022, we went to Chongming Island to work on a farm together with Toastmasters members. After a pause, we revitalized the program in 2023 and established a project group consisting of Toastmasters members and Rotarians to explore how to leverage the collaboration for CEP.

At the beginning of 2023, we founded a workgroup with Rotarians and Toastmasters members to think about how to further develop the collaboration through CEP. In February 2023, Rotarians and Toastmasters members held their first joint session, which was an online mentoring session where mentors were matched with mentees recruited through a network of students and young professionals, many of whom came from Africa and the Middle East.

After this initial session, we decided to organize a face-to-face event. The goal was to prepare potential mentors from both organizations and bring both parties together. We then organized a face-to-face mentoring workshop so that both Rotarians and Toastmasters members could understand what mentoring involves, what is important for effective mentoring, and how to better support mentees. This mentoring workshop brought together around 90 Toastmasters members and Rotarians. Trainers from Toastmasters and Rotary co-facilitated small groups, while representatives from both organizations supported the event from the stage, including Rotary Special Representative China Andrew Hill, Toastmasters Region 14 International Director Helen He, and the President of RCS. I facilitated the event representing both organizations, as I had been a member of Shanghai Leadership Toastmasters since 2017 and a Rotarian since 2021. Shortly after the workshop, we held another online mentor–mentee session.

In 2024, after a longer pause, we organized another one or two online mentor–mentee sessions. Through the program, RCS members and Toastmasters friends mentored more than 150 students and community members.

What challenges did the Toastmasters Leadership Shanghai and RCS collaboration face?

I think the biggest challenge was maintaining the momentum after the initial enthusiasm of collaborating across the boundaries of both organizations.

There simply was not enough continuity in the efforts on either side. On the RCS side, for example, we gradually became less conscious of the fact that we could reach out to Toastmasters when we needed more volunteers or wanted to increase the impact of a service project.

We had one large face-to-face event through CEP, which worked well as a joint activity because it gave both organizations a common purpose. One challenge was that Toastmasters members tend to be younger on average, and some of them were still relatively early in their own professional development. As a result, not everyone naturally saw themselves in the role of an experienced mentor. We also had Toastmasters attending Rotary meetings and Rotarians attending Toastmasters meetings.

However, once people had become familiar with the other organization, there was no longer a strong unifying factor that continuously brought the two groups together. Without people actively maintaining the connection, particularly because presidents and their Board or ExCom teams change regularly, the collaboration can easily disappear from the agenda.

Toastmasters members in Shanghai and Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Shanghai lead a joint farm service project on Chongming Island, Shanghai.
Toastmasters in Shanghai and Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Shanghai are leading a joint farm service project on Chongming Island, Shanghai.

What benefits did the Toastmasters–Rotary collaboration bring to both organizations?

It is also important that both sides see a genuine benefit. Toastmasters should not simply be seen as an additional source of volunteers for Rotary service projects, and Rotary should not simply be seen as another audience to whom Toastmasters can promote its educational program. I think the benefits of the Toastmasters–Rotary Alliance are to create:

  • Greater impact together. Particularly because service projects often depend on having enough people who are willing to get involved. Through the collaboration, we were able to bring together additional volunteers and people with different backgrounds and skills.
  • Greater awareness of both organizations. At least one Toastmaster joined Rotary after getting to know us through these activities, so the collaboration even resulted in a new member for our club.

Toastmasters–Rotary Alliance Special Representative Andrew Hills also mentioned during a joint Toastmasters–Rotary call that he appreciated the opportunity to create greater impact together through the collaboration. At the same time, he saw the potential for Rotarians to benefit from the public-speaking and communication skills that Toastmasters brings. He strongly supported the collaboration.

Toastmasters Shanghai and Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Shanghai are coming together for a bilingual mentoring workshop and lunch.

What types of projects can Toastmasters and Rotary collaborate on?

I think almost any service project where people can simply come together and contribute their time, presence, and helping hands can become a joint Toastmasters–Rotary project. This could include playing with children in a hospital, helping on a farm or with an environmental project, or collecting and distributing second-hand clothes to people in need.

Even social or fundraising activities can provide opportunities. For example, we have a football competition in Shanghai involving companies and Rotary clubs, the Butterfly Cup. Toastmasters could participate with their own team, or individual Toastmasters could join a Rotary team if they enjoy playing football.

There are also opportunities that draw more directly on Toastmasters’ strengths. On one occasion, Toastmasters were invited to a Rotary meeting to run an impromptu-speaking evening instead of our usual keynote speech. Similar activities around public speaking, communication, facilitation, or storytelling could easily be organized.

2022–2024 Toastmasters Region 14 International Director Helen He presents the Best Table Topics ribbon to Rotary International Special Representative to China Andrew Hill.
2022–2024 Toastmasters Region 14 International Director Helen He is presenting the Best Table Topics ribbon to Rotary International Special Representative to China Andrew Hill.

How can the Toastmasters and Rotary collaboration remain sustainable long term?

I think sustainability requires both institutional support and committed individuals. My advice would be not to rely solely on the enthusiasm of individual presidents or leadership teams. The partnership should be brought to the attention of every incoming president as an opportunity, and ideally there should be at least one recurring Toastmasters–Rotary activity each year, supported by both organizations and carried forward regardless of who happens to be president. This kind of regular touchpoint could gradually become part of the culture rather than remaining a one-off initiative, helping keep the relationship alive despite leadership changes.

Care Drop-Off: Nanshan Social Welfare Center, Shenzhen

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Dylan Guo communicates with the front desk staff at the Shenzhen Nanshan District Social Welfare Center PII.

Fruit. Flowers. Letters. Don’t forget anything.

Those were the three things Vice President of Sea Dragons Gavel Club Mingbo Dylan Guo kept reminding himself as he prepared for a visit to a social welfare center. Behind each item was a small gesture he hoped would bring warmth to seniors.

The letters were the first thing prepared. Sitting at his desk until nearly midnight, he carefully wrote each message, every one beginning with a different greeting to reflect the personal care behind each word. The messages all carried the same hope: he and his fellow club members wanted to remind the seniors that they were cared for—that the fruit, flowers, and handwritten letters might bring a little happiness to their day. Each club member added their signature, creating a colorful row of handwritten names that made every letter feel personal.

Fruit Gift Baskets that are donated to the Shenzhen Nanshan District Social Welfare Center PII.

The next task was arranging the fruit. The order had been placed a day earlier, but when the shop owner told him that delivery for ten boxes would cost extra, Dylan explained that the fruit was for a welfare home and asked if there was any way to reduce the cost. He wanted to make sure that more of the support could go toward the gifts themselves, and the shop owner agreed to waive the delivery fee. The order was not small: four boxes of apples, four boxes of pears, and two boxes of kiwis. As the owner helped stack them, he looked at the pile and said, “That’s a lot for one kid.” Dylan simply nodded. He carefully loaded the fruit into the car. Stacked together, the ten boxes stood almost half a head taller than him. The driver looked over and asked, “Kid, are you sure you can handle that?” He simply nodded again.

The final item on his list was the flowers. On the way to the welfare center, Dylan stopped near the subway station and entered a small flower shop. When the owner learned that the flowers were going to a welfare home, she added a few extra carnations for free. “They’d just wilt here anyway,” she told him. “You take them.” It was a small act of kindness that echoed his own—proof that when one person decides to care, it has a way of spreading to others. Upon arriving at the Shenzhen Nanshan District Social Welfare Center, he carried the flowers and letters while the driver helped bring in the fruit. The receptionist, a woman in her thirties wearing glasses, looked surprised as she watched them bring in the many gifts. Dylan handed her the flowers. She smelled them and smiled. “They smell really nice,” she said. Then he showed her the letters one by one. She carefully looked through each envelope and read every message. When she reached the third letter, she smiled again. “You guys really put your heart into this,” she said.

Dylan Guo poses with a staff member at the Shenzhen Nanshan District Social Welfare Center PII while holding a fruit gift basket with her.

The staff explained that visiting the elderly residents directly was not possible because of current visitor restrictions. Instead, the fruit would be distributed, and the letters would be delivered to seniors over the following days. Standing by the front desk, Dylan watched as the receptionist carefully placed the letters into a folder. At that moment, he felt that the late nights spent writing and the effort of hauling those heavy boxes had been worthwhile. Before leaving, he met the director of the center, who repeatedly thanked him and praised the thoughtfulness of young people, shaking his hand firmly with a palm warm and reassuring. The director’s gratitude was genuine, but the real reward wasn’t the praise—it was the quiet certainty that his small efforts would reach someone who needed them.

When Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu asked how the visit went, Dylan typed a few words, deleted them, and finally replied: “It was good.” And in those two simple words, he carried everything—the late nights, the heavy boxes, the florist’s kindness, the director’s handshake, and the quiet knowledge that somewhere, seniors would soon open letters written just for them. Because sometimes, the smallest gestures leave the deepest marks.

District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026-2027

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  • George Yang gives the opening remarks at the District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026–2027.
  • Members listen as Conan Li evaluates Cindy Zhang's speech at the District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026–2027.
  • Cindy Zhang (third place), Eric Zhou (second place), and Chloe Liu (first place) receive their International Speech Contest awards at the District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026–2027.

Bringing together new voices, experienced speakers, and meaningful conversations, the Toastmasters District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026–2027 was more than a competition—it was also a Division A Open House that welcomed over 120 members. Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu participated in the event, where 13 new members competed in either the International Speech Contest or the Mandarin Speech Contest, receiving constructive evaluations from one of the 13 randomly assigned district-level senior speakers. The event also included a roundtable discussion about how a seven-minute prepared speech can impact people’s daily lives and work.

Meet the Top Three Contestants

Don’t Fall into the Trap of Delayed Gratification

Chloe Liu challenges the idea that delayed gratification is always the best choice. She begins by asking the audience: if someone was extremely hungry, would they choose 20 yuan immediately or wait longer for a larger reward? Through this question, Chloe introduces her main message: delaying gratification is only valuable when the future reward is achievable and the cost is reasonable.

Chloe develops her idea through two points. First, she shares her experience as an auditor, where she gave up the chance to visit Huangshan Mountain because she hoped her hard work would lead to recognition, but the expected reward never came. Second, she explains that the cost of waiting should always be considered, as some sacrifices may not be worthwhile.

Chloe concludes that people should not blindly pursue delayed gratification. Instead, they should carefully evaluate the promise, the cost, and learn to appreciate the present moment.

Go Ahead or Go Back?

Eric Zhou uses his hiking experience at Gupo Mountain as a metaphor for facing challenges in life. He begins by sharing a difficult moment during the climb when he and his friend had to decide whether to continue or turn back after realizing the mountain was much higher and more challenging than expected.

Eric develops his message through the idea of taking “one more step.” Although they were hesitant and worried about the difficulties ahead, continuing the journey allowed them to experience one of the most beautiful views of their lives. He connects this experience to everyday choices, such as facing pressure, uncertainty, and personal challenges.

Eric concludes that when people find themselves in the middle of their own journey, they should not give up too quickly. Instead, they should take one more step forward and keep moving toward the top.

Rising Star? Never Too Late

Cindy Zhang shares her journey of returning to Toastmasters after 22 years and overcoming her hesitation to step back onto the stage. She begins by describing her first meeting after decades away, where she hesitated during Table Topics but eventually pushed herself to raise her hand and participate.

Cindy highlights how that small decision changed her perspective. Through her impromptu speech experience, she rediscovered her confidence and found a renewed sense of belonging in the Toastmasters community. Within one month, she joined the club, completed her Icebreaker Speech, and began taking on leadership opportunities.

Cindy concludes with an encouraging message: the places people fear entering may be the places where they are needed most. It is never too late to take a new step, find one’s voice, and begin again.

Roundtable Discussion: Prepared Speeches, Brighter Lives

In the Roundtable Discussion Prepared Speeches, Brighter Lives, Catherina explored with Jonathan, Townsend Ye, and Chunhui Zhao how seven minutes on stage delivering a prepared speech can create a lasting impact that extends far beyond the stage and into daily life. Key points from their discussion include:

  • Break through self‑imposed mental limits and learn to use ample body movements on stage; step out to connect with more people.
  • A mishap experience: I corrected my grammatical errors three times within just two minutes. Only after you gain prominence will people dig up your old missteps.
  • Could you tell me what you have done for the company? (Pre‑salary‑raise conversation: total‑point‑total structure, clear logic)
  • Preparing a speech is a process of reconciling with yourself; you deliver it first for your own sake.

Toastmasters and Rotary: Taiwan’s Blueprint for Alliance Success

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Toastmasters District 67 leaders, including Scott Su (first from left), running a booth at the Rotary International Convention 2026 in Taipei, with around 100 guests stopping by.

We’re talking to Scott Su, the 2026–2027 Club Growth Director for Toastmasters District 67 and Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of Nanbai, a strategic advocate for the Toastmasters–Rotary Alliance in Taiwan.

How did the Toastmasters–Rotary Alliance begin in Taiwan, and what does the current ecosystem look like?

Before the formal global alliance announced in 2019, collaboration already existed in Taiwan through dual members, club visits, speech workshops, and informal relationships. Several Rotary leaders appreciated the value of communication and leadership education. During 2025–2026, preparation for the Rotary International Convention in Taipei accelerated collaboration. Toastmasters District leaders began engaging Rotary leaders across Taiwan, and discussions expanded from event support into long-term strategic partnership models.

Rotary Taiwan has approximately 37,000 members and a broad network connecting business, government, academia, and nonprofits. Toastmasters Taiwan has roughly 2,300 members with deep expertise in communication and leadership education. Globally there are roughly four to five Rotarians for every Toastmaster; in Taiwan the ratio is closer to sixteen to one. The scale difference creates opportunities for visibility and growth while also requiring thoughtful governance models.

What was the first major collaboration, and what does the model look like?

One of the flagship collaborations emerged from a youth-focused English-language contest that has been running for 77 years. The Rotary Club of Taipei — Taiwan’s first Rotary club, founded in 1948 — began this contest in 1955 as the English Speech Contest, and in 2018 it was renamed to focus on youth-designed solutions to social issues. For 2026 the contest drew 21 teams — 7 high schools, 13 universities, and one mixed team — through three rounds: a video preliminary, a semifinal, and a final — on a total budget of roughly NT$290,000 covering top prizes and sponsor-backed special awards.

What made this a natural collaboration point was the contest’s judging rubric itself: Presentation carries 50% of the total score, more than Concept (25%) and Execution (25%) combined. Yet the current judge panel is composed entirely of Rotarians, professors, and sponsor representatives, with no dedicated speech or communication coach. The contestant feedback survey still asks only whether students received “guidance from your instructors,” reflecting reliance on ad hoc, school-level coaching rather than a structured resource.

Interestingly, the Rotary club’s own 2023 post-contest review meeting had already identified this gap and proposed “Toastmasters (could be handled by Athena, Helen)” as an outreach and coaching channel — a recommendation that was never formalized or assigned an owner. This illustrates a key governance challenge: a good idea surfaced by an individual champion, with no committee structure to carry it forward across leadership terms.

A concrete five-part collaboration model has since been proposed to close this gap: a pre-contest presentation workshop delivered by Toastmasters, timed to the December–January video-round preparation window; one-on-one speaker coaching pairing Toastmasters members with contest teams ahead of the Semifinal and Final; an independent, non-scoring Communication Evaluator role at the live rounds, modeled on Toastmasters’ structured “Evaluate to Motivate” feedback method; expanded recruitment through Toastmasters’ club and campus-club networks; and a co-branded “Best Communicator Award” presented alongside the Rotary club’s existing cash prizes.

What collaboration project offers the most potential?

Youth engagement represents the strongest opportunity for long-term collaboration. Rotary programs such as Interact, Rotaract, and Youth Exchange complement Toastmasters initiatives including the Youth Leadership Program and Gavel Clubs. Together these programs can provide leadership pathways from adolescence through professional adulthood. Future collaboration should focus on communication, leadership, employability, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. By combining Rotary’s service infrastructure and community reach with Toastmasters’ structured communication training, we can create a complete leadership journey for young people — from learning the skills to applying them in real-world service projects.

Scott Su and Carrie holding a card featuring both of their quotes in front of the Rotary booth at the Toastmasters International Convention 2026.

What role do dual members play?

Dual members understand both cultures, terminology, priorities, and governance structures. They act as translators, relationship builders, and innovation catalysts. Districts should intentionally identify and develop dual members who can serve on alliance committees and facilitate cross-organizational collaboration.

What is your vision and what recommendations would you make?

Taiwan has the potential to become a global demonstration site for Toastmasters–Rotary collaboration. By combining communication excellence, leadership education, service, business networks, and international engagement, both organizations can create meaningful development opportunities for future generations.

My recommendations for Rotary International and Toastmasters International are to develop alliance frameworks, share best practices globally, encourage committee structures, create leadership positions focused on collaboration, support youth-development initiatives, and measure outcomes beyond membership growth. Global support combined with local innovation can scale successful models internationally.

I would also note that Toastmasters International has already published ready-made outreach materials — a PowerPoint template and an email template for approaching a local Rotary club — but they exist only in English and are not widely localized or promoted among Taiwan clubs. Translating and actively distributing these materials through District 67, alongside a documented local case study such as the ESSC model, would lower the barrier for other Taiwan clubs to replicate a working model rather than starting from a blank page.

Toastmasters and Rotary: From Speaking Skills to Service

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We’re talking to Peggy Chan, a member of Hong Kong Island Toastmasters Club (HKITC) and Rotary Club of Hong Kong North Point (RCHKNP). A Past President of Hong Kong Island Toastmasters Club, she currently serves as an administrator on the Rotary club’s committee. She has been instrumental in strengthening the partnership between the two organizations.

How did your connection with RCHKNP begin, and what led you to join Rotary?

I was the President of HKITC in 2022–23. The collaboration between HKITC and RCHKNP was established in 2021 by Mr. John Poon, who was the President of HKITC at that time and a dual member of both clubs, while I was not yet a Rotarian.

Because of this partnership, I became friends with Dr. Eric Chin, a founding member and past president of RCHKNP. I was impressed by his good deeds and vision. I then decided to join Rotary in 2024. I was invited to join the RCHKNP committee last year and have been serving as its administrator since then.

What makes HKITC and RCHKNP a good match for collaboration?

Though the partnership was not initiated by me, I saw a strong complementarity between the two organizations. HKITC brings structured public-speaking and leadership training, ranging from delivering an inspirational prepared speech to giving an impressive toast, and from running a formal meeting to holding a social event. RCHKNP brings community reach, people connections, project leadership, and potential funding.

I envisioned that the partnership would give Rotary stronger program delivery and enable its members to become more confident public speakers, especially in English, while giving Toastmasters a broader community impact. With a close bond, RCHKNP is able to recruit non-members to support its community projects, while HKITC can recruit more Rotarians as members. In short, this partnership is a win-win opportunity to attract high-caliber members for both clubs.

How does the partnership benefit HKITC members?

Members from the two clubs meet in April and November by attending the regular club meetings of the sister clubs to establish social networks and learn from each other. Besides formal meetings, if RCHKNP organizes community projects, such as visiting elderly homes or cleaning beaches, that require extra pairs of hands, it invites HKITC members to volunteer.

The partnership also provides HKITC members with opportunities to develop their coaching, mentoring, program-design, project-management, and team-leadership skills. Successful projects and recognition can raise the club’s profile and attract prospective members to join and contribute. More broadly, helping underserved communities demonstrates Toastmasters’ value beyond regular club meetings.

Can you share a project that demonstrates the impact of the partnership?

One of our signature projects was carried out in 2025, when RCHKNP and HKITC partnered to deliver targeted youth public-speaking training at CCC Kwei Wah Shan College, a resource-limited secondary school with many students from ethnic minority backgrounds whose mother tongue is not English.

Four HKITC members used Toastmasters training materials to run an eight-class course, working closely with the school’s English teacher and principal, who is a Rotary member. The focused training, dedication of the students, and classroom support produced outstanding results: two of the three members of the school’s debate team who joined the Toastmasters youth program helped the team defeat five other secondary schools across multiple topics and ultimately win the Secondary Division 3 Championship and the Best Debater Team award at 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition. This collaboration demonstrates how structured speaking training, community partnership, and school commitment can significantly boost confidence and competitive performance for underserved students.

For RCHKNP, the project also strengthened its community-service portfolio. Rotary provided the school connection, logistical support, and potential funding, while Toastmasters provided the training. The success strengthened Rotary’s reputation for impactful youth projects and attracted new volunteer talent.

What advice would you give other Toastmasters clubs interested in building Rotary partnerships?

The critical factors are clearly defined mutual goals, complementary roles—Toastmasters for training, and Rotary for access, funding, and implementation—a designated liaison from each organization, measurable outcomes, and a pilot project to test the model. My most important advice is: Start with a small, well-scoped, measurable joint activity, such as a speaking course or a single community workshop. Use it to prove value, clarify responsibilities, capture outcomes, and then scale.

District 118 Corporate Open House 2026–2027 | Simone Nash

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“Hi Bruce, I have told Simone about you,” a smiling Alion Zheng, the 2026–2027 Club Growth Director of District 118, said. “Come and shake hands.”

“You are a teenager, right?” Simone Nash, the 2026–2027 Region Advisor of Region 14, asked while shaking hands with Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu. Through Alion’s warm introduction — “He went to teach adult members about Toastmasters history in NMO a couple of days ago…” — Bruce first met Simone at the Toastmasters District 118 Corporate Open House 2026–2027 in Shenzhen, China.

The handshake lasted only a moment, but it represented something much larger — a community built on people opening doors for one another.

Bruce stepped into a room where experience was constantly being passed from one member to another. Viola Lee, the 2024–2026 International Director, opened the first workshop with a vivid yet professional sharing session for company employees about Toastmasters, concluding with the idea of “Power” as what Toastmasters can bring. The exchange continued during the Roundtable Interview session, where Chloe Zhang interviewed Alion Zheng, Suki Lv, and Nana Yuan. They shared how they first discovered Toastmasters, the skills they gained from the organization, and how Toastmasters supported their career development.

“Bruce, I think you are smart. What’s the difference between…?” Simone asked Bruce during her workshop.

“This young man’s English is so 高级,” Simone said. Before the event, Bruce was already impressed by Simone’s language skills as an Australian living in Taiwan who can speak both English and Mandarin. Her sharing of two stories from her career journey showed Bruce that communication goes beyond speaking; it involves asking, listening, sharing, and respecting each other. In the age of AI, communication remains difficult to replace.

The opportunity to learn soon became an opportunity to contribute. Throughout the Open House, Bruce shared information about Gavel Clubs with members whose children could participate, introduced himself to new members during the Warm-Up Activities section, learned about an online Toastmasters Club in District 89 that runs meetings every day at 6:30 a.m., and shook hands with many peers.

“See you at the club tonight!” Simone said.

Following Simone’s invitation, Bruce joined the 481st English meeting of Presidents Advanced Toastmasters Club after the Open House. As the first speaker to deliver a Table Topics speech, Bruce shared his experience in running a Gavel Club. He talked about the time he spent recruiting volunteers through online platforms and working remotely with club committee members from more than 10 countries. His sharing earned him the title of Best Table Topics Speaker of the meeting.

Behind Simone’s encouragement for others was also her own story of learning and connecting across cultures. Simone introduced herself further during the Roundtable Interview session with James Wu, the 2026–2027 Division A Director of District 118. She comes from Melbourne, Australia, with an Australian mother and a father from Suzhou, China. She also lived in Hong Kong for 10 years during her childhood. When James asked her, “I heard you can speak Mandarin,” she answered, “会呀.” Simone learned Mandarin in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, by studying with a Mandarin tutor every Saturday. She further improved her Mandarin skills after joining a Mandarin Toastmasters Club there. According to Simone, “I spoke, listened, and interacted with people through Mandarin.”

For Simone, English is important for an international city like Shenzhen. Being a club officer and a member of the District Trio also come with different responsibilities.

During the interview Q&A section, Bruce asked Simone to share more about her experience coaching the first Toastmasters club — Smedley Chapter One Toastmasters Club — through online meetings, because Bruce had previously seen this story in the Toastmaster Magazine.

Simone explained that when she coached the club, she had already joined the founding district where the club belongs. It was very close to the centennial celebration of Toastmasters International, and Toastmasters was reaching its one hundredth anniversary. However, the club was not in a good situation at that time, especially after the pandemic, and it would have been a shame for the centennial celebration if the club could not recover. Therefore, Simone volunteered to become the club coach. She participated in every online club meeting, observed the meetings to identify problems within the club, and reported them to the club president.

“I did not speak too much in the club officer meetings. The club president is the leader of the club. I also reported the problems privately to each club officer who was responsible for them,” Simone reflected. Due to Simone’s efforts and the dedication of the entire club, the club eventually recovered. A member found the church that Toastmasters founder Ralph C. Smedley used to visit, and Smedley Chapter One hosted a celebration there during the week of the 2024 International Convention.

Bruce was amazed by Simone’s selflessness and even more impressed by her humor when sharing her story. Before leaving the room, he continued his conversation with Simone at the back of the room about his story of being featured in Toastmasters Magazine, which Simone had happily read a day earlier after Alion shared it with her, as well as Rotary–Toastmasters collaborations in China.

What started as an introduction became a meaningful connection, showing the lasting impact of a community that grows together.

District 118 Division I New Member Orientation 2026–2027

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You would never expect a non-adult student—who still has two years before becoming an official Toastmasters member—to become a workshop presenter at a Toastmasters Division New Member Orientation (NMO). Yet this is exactly what happened to Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu in District 118, Division I.

“Let them guess your age,” said Alion Zheng, Club Growth Director of District 118. “Congratulations, Presenter Bruce.”

Bruce first heard about NMO from James Wu, then Administration Manager of District 118, about a year ago. After James read Bruce’s WeChat Official Account article about the complete timeline of Toastmasters history, he came up with the idea of inviting Bruce to present Toastmasters History as a workshop presenter at Division A’s NMO. However, this opportunity remained an unfinished dream for Bruce due to his busy schedule at the time.

Fortunately, the same opportunity came back to Bruce one year later.

During a phone call with Lindsay Luo, Area 1 Director of Division I, Lindsay thanked Bruce for his help with Division I’s Club Officer Training and introduced one of the upcoming events—the New Member Orientation. The event was designed as an interactive presentation to help new Toastmasters understand club meeting roles, the Pathways learning experience, Toastmasters leadership opportunities, and more. Bruce immediately introduced himself and shared his knowledge of Toastmasters history with Lindsay. After hearing about his passion and experience, Lindsay invited Bruce to become a workshop presenter at the event.

Bruce prepared his NMO workshop presentation by reading, summarizing, and selecting essential information from Confident Voice: The Story of Toastmasters. Most of the historical moments he selected carried inspiring messages: from the chartering of Bloomington Toastmasters Club in 1903 to the chartering of Toastmasters International in 1924; from Dr. Smedley’s early period, when there were fewer than 500 clubs in America, to Toastmasters’ growth and reach in countries such as China, India, and Australia. Bruce presented his workshop to the Division I Trio twice. The first presentation was to confirm his role as a workshop presenter at NMO, while the second was to receive feedback and further improve the workshop.

It was not an easy journey. Bruce only had 15 minutes, but he needed to cover the most important turning points and visions in Toastmasters history. After those two practice sessions with the Division Trio and the NMO organizing team, Bruce made his presentation more concise by removing some content while adding new elements. He highlighted important messages that new members could take away and showed the growing influence of Toastmasters in China today.

On the day of the NMO, Bruce arrived early as usual, helping prepare the agenda, place bottles of water, and arrange snacks on the tables. What surprised Bruce was that many people immediately called out his name after seeing how tall he was. With nervousness and excitement, Bruce stepped onto the stage and presented the workshop he had hoped to deliver for more than a year. Through interactions with new members, encouragement from the NMO organizing team, and the audience’s attentive eyes, Bruce completed his workshop in a supportive atmosphere.

During the “Moment of Truth” section, Bruce showed everyone his article “From Inspiration to Action” and his Traveling Toastmasters photo on the online Toastmaster magazine page through the big screen. It was a passionate moment. Everyone looked at the screen as Bruce said, “Scroll down, scroll down, stop. Can you guys see where I am? Where am I?” “There!” everyone shouted.

At the end of the meeting, many new members connected with Bruce on WeChat. Some hoped Bruce could visit their clubs and empower their members, while others wanted to learn more about Gavel Clubs in China and explore whether their children could participate. Among all those moments, Bruce expressed his gratitude to everyone on the NMO organizing team who made this NMO a success.

“New members are so fortunate that they can have the orientation with you, Bruce,” said Demir Huang, Division I Director of District 118. “Many members, even after becoming club presidents or district leaders, do not know the story of Toastmasters. When we joined Toastmasters, all we knew was that Toastmasters was founded by Dr. Smedley in 1924.” Bruce received a beautiful set of teacups and a Workshop Presenter Certificate from Demir, the same recognition given to the other presenters.

The Story of Gavel Clubs

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Serving Special Groups

Few Toastmasters clubs could offer such an impressive charter night program as the one held for the Los Caballeros Toastmasters of Santa Monica (Charter No. 322) when they recently received their charter. The program featured the participation of Leo Carrillo, a well-known star of film and radio, and Ferde Grofé, an orchestra conductor and composer.

A twenty-minute speech by Leo Carrillo was filled with valuable suggestions on public speaking, enhanced by his wit and humor. Ferde Grofé shared how he came to compose the “Grand Canyon Suite” and then performed selections from the work. Hon. Leland M. Ford, a former Member of Congress from Los Angeles, praised the important work being carried out by Toastmasters clubs. Everett W. Morgan, a member of Santa Monica Toastmasters Club No. 21 and a remarkable amateur magician, also contributed to the evening’s entertainment. All four distinguished guests were made honorary members of Los Caballeros Toastmasters and expressed their intention to attend future meetings. For those unfamiliar with the pronunciation, Los Caballeros is pronounced “Los” (with a long “O” sound) and “Cabalyairos” (with emphasis on the “yair” sound).

Serving a group of accomplished men at the California Institute for Men near Pomona was the Institute Speakers’ Club, sponsored and supervised by the Pomona Toastmasters Club. In this remarkable correctional institution, speech training proved to be a valuable tool in encouraging clear thinking, helping individuals develop personally, and preparing them to return to their normal roles in society. The Toastmasters program and methods appeared to be especially suited for this purpose.

A Toastmasters club that truly deserved the description “unique” was being formed in Los Angeles among men who had lost their sight. This chapter was sponsored by the Toastmasters Club of Alhambra No. 34, whose members worked diligently to help the visually impaired men attend meetings and understand Toastmasters methods. The members converted a considerable amount of material into Braille so they could read it, and they were learning how to participate despite their visual limitations. It was expected that they would be ready by September to receive a regular charter, creating a new opportunity for men who were unable to take part in many usual activities because of their loss of sight.

The Toastmasters Club of Alhambra continued assisting with the organization of this Toastmasters club for a group of men in Los Angeles who had lost their sight. Difficulties with transportation and other challenges related to visual impairment affected the progress of the work, but the effort was actively continuing. Pictured at a recent meeting of the group were M. X. Dahlstrom, President of Alhambra Toastmasters; Bob Anderson, organizer of the new group; Al Stolliker, Deputy Governor of Alhambra Toastmasters; and Jack Felthouse, a member of the new group who was studying law. Bob Anderson had been active in promoting opportunities for people with visual impairments and was a world champion blind bowler.

The immediate reason for this discussion was the report that the Pomona Toastmasters Club had sponsored a speech club at the California Institute for Men in Chino, which was operating successfully. The Pomona Toastmasters Club requested guidance on how to continue this work. At the same time, requests were received to bring the Toastmasters program to Birmingham Hospital in Los Angeles, where many service members needed this type of training.

Another unusual application of Toastmasters’ work developed through a club for men who had lost their sight. This club was sponsored by the Alhambra Toastmasters Club for a group of men in the area who faced challenges due to visual impairment. The club adopted the name “Men of Vision Toastmasters Club,” and in time received a regular charter. It operated successfully for several years but was eventually forced to close due to local difficulties, most importantly the challenge of transporting members to meetings.

The Creation of Gavel Clubs

A question arose that would influence Toastmasters International’s policy for years to come and, by 1959, would open the way for expanded service. Special clubs were being organized in schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and state and federal institutions under the sponsorship of local Toastmasters clubs.

The question was whether these groups could be officially authorized. Since “Toastmasters” was a registered trademark and these groups did not meet the requirements for a chartered club, they could not use the name Toastmasters clubs. The Board of Directors decided that while Toastmasters International was willing to support these special groups, they should operate under another distinctive name, such as “Gavel Club,” with the added designation “Sponsored by [Name of Club].” This approach to supporting special groups proved successful and allowed Toastmasters International to provide valuable service to a wider range of communities.

The immediate reason for this discussion was a report that the Pomona Toastmasters Club had sponsored a speech club at the California Institute for Men in Chino, which was operating successfully. The Pomona Toastmasters Club requested guidance on how to continue supporting this initiative. At the same time, requests were received to introduce the Toastmasters program at Birmingham Hospital in Los Angeles, where many service members could benefit from the training.

Another unique application of Toastmasters’ work developed through a club for men who had lost their sight. Sponsored by the Alhambra Toastmasters Club, this group was created for men in the area who faced challenges due to visual impairment. The club adopted the name “Men of Vision Toastmasters Club” and eventually received a regular charter. It operated successfully for several years but was ultimately forced to close due to local challenges, especially the difficulty of transporting members to meetings.

The broad adaptability of the Toastmasters training program, along with the positive impact created through the dedication and efforts of its members, continued to inspire new opportunities for service. In 1959, this expanding need led Toastmasters International to adopt a formal policy for establishing and supporting groups in various types of institutions. The name “Gavel Club” was officially adopted for these affiliated groups, which could be connected with Toastmasters International without receiving a formal charter. Through this approach, Toastmasters International could extend its support to many more people who could benefit from its programs but were not able to become members of regular Toastmasters clubs.

How to Build Confidence and Win Speech Contests

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Mike Carr is the 2020 World Champion of Public Speaking, standing out among 30,000 contestants from 146 countries. He is an economist, entrepreneur, and international speaker who launched his first business at age 14 and has worked with U.S. senators and global financial firms.

Mike’s speaking journey began when he was ten years old in a group similar to a Gavel Club. He immediately developed a passion for speaking, but his enthusiasm also created challenges: he often spoke too long and used too many filler words. Eventually, someone introduced him to Toastmasters, which helped him improve those weaknesses and develop his speaking skills.

Throughout his journey, one of the most important lessons Mike learned was about confidence. He explained that everything in life can be divided into two categories: things you can control and things you cannot control. According to Mike, confidence grows when we focus only on what we can control and detach ourselves from what we cannot.

Mike shared that this lesson came from his eighteen-year journey competing in Toastmasters contests. He lost many times, and in 2015, he gave what he considered his favorite speech but did not even place, which was devastating. Later, he realized his confidence was low because he was focused on whether the judges liked his speech, something completely outside of his control. Instead, he changed his mindset and began judging his success based only on whether he had prepared as well as he could and served the audience as effectively as possible. After making this shift, his confidence increased, and he eventually won the World Championship in 2020.

When discussing preparation, Mike emphasized the importance of consistent writing and practice. He suggested writing for fifteen minutes every day to keep the creative mind flowing. For his speeches, he wrote out the entire script. At his speaking speed of 114 words per minute, a seven-minute speech required around 800 words. When he first wrote his championship speech, it was 1,500 words, so he carefully cut it down. He then created a mental outline by imagining walking through his house, with pictures representing each point of his speech. This helped him remember the structure and speak without notes. Before the finals, he practiced his speeches out loud at least 500 times, even practicing in distracting environments such as walking on a downtown trail.

Beyond preparation, Mike emphasized the importance of gratitude as a mindset. After his disappointment in 2015, he decided he no longer cared about winning as much. Instead, his focus became delivering a speech that could help someone in the audience. Before every speech, he says a prayer of gratitude, reminding himself that he has the opportunity to help at least one person. This allows him to focus less on himself and increases his confidence.

Mike also stressed the importance of having a strong vision while holding it lightly. He referenced Admiral Stockdale, who survived a prison camp by believing he would eventually get out while still focusing on surviving each day. For Mike, this means maintaining a long-term goal while staying focused on the present.

When sharing advice about creating interesting speeches, Mike suggested starting like a great movie that immediately drops the audience into the middle of a scene. A surprising statement, question, or moment can quickly capture attention. For impactful speeches, he recommended using stories instead of simple declarations, adding humor to build rapport, and constantly reading and writing so speakers can recognize ideas that create emotional responses.

For speaking without notes, Mike recommended progressing step by step: start with notes, turn information into stories, develop mental outlines, and practice until fewer notes are needed. He explained that confidence without notes comes from repeated preparation.

To connect with an audience, Mike emphasized the importance of eye contact. Instead of scanning across the room, speakers should look at one person at a time to create a stronger connection. When answering questions they cannot answer, he recommended honesty, saying, “I don’t know, but I’ll research it,” because authenticity builds trust.

Throughout his talk, Mike shared several quotes that reflected his speaking philosophy. A beginner speaker focuses on himself, an average speaker focuses on the speech, and an expert speaker focuses on the audience. He also explained that whenever someone does not share their authentic self, they waste their audience’s time. His advice to his younger self was simple: lighten up and have fun, because even if you trip and fall, you may have just created a great story.

The key takeaway from Mike is that public speaking is a skill developed through consistent practice, focusing on what you can control, and serving your audience with gratitude and authenticity.

PRO 777th Meeting | What Are You Eating?

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PRO Toastmasters Club was the third club Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Runfeng Bruce Yu visited when he was first introduced to Toastmasters. Around the same time in 2025, PRO left a lasting impression on Bruce—the club represented professionalism, progress, and promise.

On July 21, 2026, Bruce revisited PRO together with District 118 Division I Director Demir Huang. Before the meeting began, Bruce and Demir exchanged books with each other, with Bruce sharing The Story of Toastmasters.

While many things can change over time, the people at PRO remained the same source of warmth and connection. Nora Wang, Vice President Education, welcomed members with her humor and thoughtful support. Before the meeting, she helped arrange chairs and tables and prepared drinks and snacks for attendees. Her personality was also reflected in her individual speech evaluations, where she introduced memorable phrases such as “Nora officially,” “First Fish, Second Fish, Third Fish,” and others. Her kindness and dedication demonstrated the spirit of a Toastmaster.

Nora Wang serving as the evaluator for an International Speech Contest contestant at the District 118 Division A New Member Speech Contest 2026–2027.

With “Yummy” as the Word of the Day, members shared stories about their favorite dishes. Behind each dish was a personal memory, cultural experience, or meaningful story.

  1. Sam, a member from Dubai, shared his appreciation for a traditional Chinese home dish—fried eggs with tomatoes. “A dish with eggs and tomatoes is something I rarely had in my culture, and I loved it after coming to China,” he shared.
  2. Nora Wang talked about her preference for milder flavors, explaining that she cannot handle very spicy food. She recalled a time when she ate a spicy dish with others and was surprised when they said, “It’s not spicy.” She enjoys tomato fried eggs because it is not spicy and also prefers noodles with lighter flavors.
  3. Liz Zhang shared a dish from her hometown of Gansu, China—Stir-Fried Dongxiang Potato Slices. The dish features crisp and tender potato slices seasoned with bold cumin flavors and a spicy, savory aroma. She mentioned that it is rarely available in Shenzhen, so she usually prepares the dish herself whenever she wants to enjoy a taste of home.

Chelsea Cheng, a new Toastmasters member, delivered her second prepared speech, sharing a story about her pet fish. She recalled how her fish survived a hot summer while she was away on a trip and how she had planned to provide them with a larger water tank after returning.

Bruce found a connection between Chelsea’s story and his own experience. When he was in Grade 7, his biology teacher Zoltan Nemes-Nagy gave him two salamanders at the end of the school year. Unfortunately, they did not survive the summer heat. Bruce shared this memory during the Moment of Truth segment of the meeting.

Through familiar faces, new connections, and shared stories, the meeting reflected the family-like atmosphere of Toastmasters. Even after nearly a year since his first visit, Bruce was still warmly remembered by members, while new participants found a welcoming community from their very first meeting. In Toastmasters, every connection has the potential to become a lifelong fellowship.