Happy 85th Birthday, Toastmaster Magazine!

Back in April 1933, a publication measuring no more than 6 inches by 3.5 inches (about 15 by 9 centimeters) was circulated among members belonging to each of the 20 Toastmasters clubs in the United States and Canada.

Printed in orange stock and displaying a copyrighted title, logo and the inscription “Vol. 1, No. 1,” it offered 18 pages of club information and news, including updates on club attendance and new officers.

The Toastmaster magazine has come a long way in the 85 years since that debut issue. Now with 32 pages in full color, it features articles on communication, leadership, humor, cross-cultural communication, mentoring, member successes and more. The print edition of the Toastmaster continues to be a staple for many readers, but with the fast pace of the digital era, more options were needed over time. By 2011, a “flipbook” version of the magazine emerged online, followed by a tablet edition two years later. However, it was soon determined that an online magazine option that didn’t require readers to download an app was necessary.

After the magazine tablet app was discontinued in June 2016, the first web-based edition made its debut in October of that year on the Toastmasters website, with online extras that can’t be found in print. Members can now visit www.toastmasters.org/Magazine and click on hyperlinks within articles for additional resources; view photo galleries of fellow members and fun club photos; and watch both feature and tips videos anytime, anywhere. Readers can also access PDF issues from 2012 to present in a comprehensive magazine archive on the magazine webpage. In addition, issues from 1930 to 2011 are now available for download in the Toastmasters Gallery.

Change remains a constant for the 85-year-old magazine. As it continues to evolve, the Toastmaster will keep publishing content that best serves you, its reader.