Good morning, London Victorians! ☀️

It’s been a scorcher this week, the Olympics are on, and we’re in full holiday mode. Finding it hard to say, “Sorry I can’t stay for one more drink; I must go to Toastmasters”? Me too…

But here’s a thought – what if we took our meetings outside this summer?

We’d save on room fees and echo the noble traditions of the Ancient Athenians, the original OGs of outdoor public speaking.

In the original form of table topics, Greek citizens, including potters, sculptors, and blacksmiths, would proudly challenge their leaders, calling out, “Why should we go to war with Sparta?” and “Why aren’t citizens given voting rights?”

Standing on a small but mighty platform in the shadows of the Acropolis, the orators would then battle to win the hearts and minds of the Greek populace, forever reshaping and remoulding our democratic values.

If that seems a bit radical, there are plenty more reasons to keep attending. Just check out what we got up to in June and July…

📢 Club Update 📢

Just over a month ago, Mohammad Qahtani gave an inspiring talk on "When to Quit" to a crowd of 50 at London Victorians. He shared key insights:

• Embrace Nervousness: Even top speakers get nervous; it's part of the process.

• Authenticity Matters: Share what you truly believe in and focus on the audience's takeaway.

• Stay True to Your Mission: Don’t let the ego get in the way; stick to your true calling and remember why you started.

We look forward to Mohammad's third visit to Victorians!

🔦 Member Spotlight 🔦

This month, we spotlight Rory, someone who has thrown themselves into the community by taking on the VP of Events role. Here's what Rory had to say…

• How did you first hear about Toastmasters, and what motivated you to join?

  I was introduced to Toastmasters by a mate who also hadn’t been before but had been told great things about the club. We went along together for the first time and haven’t looked back since! I’m a big fan of self improvement but the thing that keeps me coming back is the incredibly positive and supportive atmosphere as well as seeing everyone else improve week on week.

• What has been your most memorable experience or speech at Toastmasters so far?

  There are a lot of moments that stick out when I think back but one that really comes to mind is one the members’ icebreaker. I remember first meeting them when they joined and the difference in their confidence and ability to express themselves in front of a group of people between then and now is amazing. I remember being blown away by their speech and I think this really summed up what Toastmasters is all about.

• Outside of Toastmasters, what are some of your hobbies or interests?

  Outside of Toastmasters my main hobbies are sports, mostly rugby, tennis and triathlon, learning languages and wine tasting!

👥 New Members 👥

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce:

• Thomas Pilkington

• Krishna Govada

• David Thompson

🚀 What’s Next 🚀

Upcoming speech contest…

Mark September 17th in your diaries—London Victorians are hosting a Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest! It's the perfect chance to showcase your speaking skills in a friendly but competitive setting and represent the club at the area, division, and district levels.

Anyone can take part…remember to put your name down on EasySpeak and take a look at these guidelines to help you prepare for that contest winning speech.

September membership renewals…

Fellow members, we’re now in renewals season and all of you need to renew your membership for another 6 months from October until March 2025. We hope that you’ll continue to remain a part of our Club and continue to develop your skills.

Renewals for the next 6 months will be £210.

Further payments options include Credit/Debit Card, instalments via Klarna, Google Pay and more HERE!

🎓 Enlightening Insights 🎓

Need some inspiration for your next speech, why not consider going to a TEDx event?

TEDx events are held all around London and usually have 5-6 different speeches from leaders in their respective fields.

The next London based on is in Shoreditich and the theme is Be True To Who You Are on the 28th September.

Grab your tickets here.

📣 Feedback Zone 📣

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at [email protected] and help shape our future!