LEADership for All — Building Stronger Clubs Through L.E.A.D.
by Gillian Sheldon, DTM, Scott Schaefer, Jeannette Kreher Heberling, DTM
Real leadership isn’t a title — it’s a mindset. In Toastmasters, leadership begins the moment you walk into your first meeting. It amplifies the moment you raise your hand to take a role, volunteer for a project, or mentor a fellow member. That’s why the Leadership Education and Development Institute are so important — they’re not just for club officers. They’re for every member who wants to grow, contribute, and help fellow members excel.
On November 22, we came together at the District 65 Leadership Summit to Connect. Compete. Celebrate. For everyone who attended — thank you. Your engagement and energy make our community stronger. And for those who couldn’t join — don’t worry! Here are some of the key takeaways and resources shared:
Key Resources from the Leadership Summit
Did you know?? If you type the Item number into the search box on the www.Toastmasters.org website you will always have the most current document!
- Tools for Quality Clubs:
- Club Quality & Growth Resources – All in one place
- Club Coach Program (Item 930CF)
- Benefits of Toastmasters Membership (Item 354INDV)
- Tips for Leadership Growth:
- Flyers for Open Houses, Meetings (Item 130, 131, 132)
- Features, Benefits and Value (Item FBV100)
- Speechcraft Program (Item 493)
- Speechcraft (to market to a company) (Item 8628)
- Youth Leadership
- How to Start a New Club
- Tricks for Member Engagement:
- Moments of Truth Overview (Item 290B)
- DTM in Pathways (Item 8003)
I facilitated a session: Growing Stronger Clubs: Begins with ME! During this session, we discussed that we all have our “why” which keeps us in Toastmasters. How the ME in Member Experience is everyone’s responsibility for club, area, division and district success. If you mirror ME it becomes WE because it takes a village to make Toastmasters successful. Then each group had 5 minutes to brainstorm on 5 different topics. The feedback attached is to help your clubs succeed!
We are starting a Toastmasters District 65 Leadership and Communication Blog!
To keep this momentum going, we’re launching a blog series which will release on the 10th, 20th and 30th of each month — featuring practical tools, tips, and tricks to strengthen personal leadership development, club leadership skills and enhance club quality.
Let’s move forward together – because together WE make a difference!