Toastmasters International -Celebrate the Centennial in Style!

Milestone anniversaries and birthdays—such as a whopping 100 years—call for some type of observation, big or small. With so many achievements in the last century, there is plenty to celebrate this month.

Whether you want to delve into Toastmasters’ history, gather with other members, or stir up excitement at your club meetings, there are many opportunities to commemorate this centennial. Read ahead for a list of ideas on how your club can celebrate Toastmasters’ centennial year.

Dive Into History

» Read through past issues of the Toastmaster. Go to the Explore page on the magazine’s website to browse full PDF issues dating back to 1930. Share interesting stories you find with fellow club members.

» Give a speech or ask a Table Topics® question based on a historical speech title. Find any interesting speech titles in early issues of the Toastmaster? Incorporate this into your next speech to share some history about Toastmasters.

» Host a centennial party. Celebrate the centennial by showcasing the Toastmasters 100-year logo on your meeting-room décor or placing it on a special cake or dessert. Create games based on historic facts or make personalized bingo cards so everyone can get in on the fun. Make sure to send your pictures to the Magazine Team and check the Brand Guidelines to ensure everything is in compliance.

» Explore the Toastmasters history website. Did you know Toastmasters International has a robust history website? From a historic overview to in-depth coverage of important Toastmasters events and fun photos, this look back will enlighten you during this anniversary month or any time of year.

» Stream speeches by previous World Champions of Public Speaking on YouTube. Take a step back in time and watch former winners at your leisure or with fellow members. See how topics have shifted over the years and what inspires or invokes a laugh. Consider conducting evaluations on the speeches to highlight what the champs did well and what they could have done even better.

» Watch an archival video from the Toastmasters Vault. Listen to Smedley’s thoughts and hear his voice in a compilation video of recently uncovered footage. Host a watch party during a meeting so all your club members can learn about the organization’s history.

» Research what was happening in your area during 1924 and incorporate your findings into a club meeting. Who was a leader in your state that year? What significant event took place in your city? What food was popular at the time? Share what you find with your club or create a culinary masterpiece for a taste of Toastmasters’ founding year.

Gatherings and Connections

» Host an alumni reunion. Invite past and present members to come together to celebrate the centennial year. Recognize the achievements of past members and share what current members are gaining from their Toastmasters journey. Encourage attendees to network and build relationships with one another.

» Reach out to someone you met at the International Convention or District Conference. Follow up with a message and share what you have been up to and how your club plans to celebrate Toastmasters’ anniversary.

» Host an open house. Join in the organization-wide centennial Plus One Pledge drive by asking each member to bring a guest or invite your community to the event. Have members share what they gained from Toastmasters and distribute guest packets with more information. After the open house, reach out to the prospective members and invite them back.

» Host a demonstration meeting. Introduce the Toastmasters program to nonmembers by showcasing what a club meeting looks like. Encourage the audience to join or form their own clubs.

» Combine your celebration with another club. Invite local Toastmasters to join the fun by hosting a joint meeting. Meet other members and share interesting facts about each of your clubs.

» Host a potluck for your club. What do you think Smedley’s favorite food was? What dishes were popular in the 1920s? Invite members to bring in their favorite dishes and present a Table Topics response on why they brought in that food or what its connection to the organization is.

» Get coffee with your mentor or mentee. Plan a day to meet and talk about what goals you have accomplished in the last year. Acknowledge the support your mentor has provided and the hard work you have put in to develop your skills.

» Host a Speechcraft® workshop to spread the word about Toastmasters. Invite nonmembers in your community to develop their communication skills through this condensed version of the Toastmasters program.

Spread the Word

» Use the unique centennial logo. The Graphics Team at World Headquarters designed a 100-year logo for special use during our centennial celebrations. Use it on your signs, purchase shirts from the Toastmasters Online Store showcasing it, and sport it wherever you go.

» Encourage members of online and hybrid clubs to use the centennial backgrounds during meetings. With several design options, you can mix up your club meetings by using different virtual wallpapers. You can also use these backgrounds during other meetings to help promote Toastmasters.

» Show off your limited-edition centennial memorabilia from the store. From shirts to pins and keychains to ribbons, the Toastmasters Online Store is your stop for 100th anniversary gifts. Wear and use your commemorative swag throughout the month.

» Use the centennial PowerPoint template. Do you have an upcoming presentation in your club or at work? Help promote Toastmasters and show your support by using specially designed slides featuring the organization’s 100-year logo.

» Build community awareness. Take this opportunity to spread the Toastmasters mission to those who haven’t joined yet. Try to get interviewed on your local TV news or radio station. Send a press release about the 100-year anniversary or your club’s celebration to the local paper or magazine—print or digital.

» Include your celebration information in newsletters. If you have a club or District newsletter, be sure to write up the details of any events so people can plan to attend. After the event, submit a write-up and photos to the newsletter.

» Sign off with a centennial email signature. Show your Toastmasters pride and spark others’ interest in the organization by showcasing the 100-year logo alongside your digital signature.

» Create a digital photo album. Take pictures of your club members—during speeches, meetings, and posed shots. Compile them into a digital album on your club’s Facebook page or on a Google Drive to make it easy to share the memories.

Mix Up Club Meetings

» Share your Centennial Snaps. Each month, Toastmasters is introducing a new “100 photos” social media theme to celebrate the centennial. Post your photos on social media using the hashtags #toastmasters and #Toastmasters100Years and tagging Toastmasters International.

» Host a themed club meeting. Excite your club members by adding entertaining themes to your meeting, such as the 1920s era or Ralph C. Smedley. Focus your Table Topics questions on the meeting’s theme or have the grammarian use words from 100 years ago or ones that relate to the organization’s founder.

» Listen to The Toastmasters Podcast. Have each member of your club listen to a different episode of the podcast and relay what they learned.

» Plan for the future. How does your club want to improve for the next 100 years? Ask members what goals they want the club to accomplish or that they want to reach themselves. Discuss them as a group and find a way to display them, whether through a shared document or on a vision board with pictures and phrases.

» Celebrate the club’s and members’ accomplishments. Take the opportunity to honor all your club has already achieved. Hand out ribbons and pins and ensure members are applauded for completing learning paths in Pathways or reaching personal goals. Acknowledge the hard work of the club overall and any designations earned or growth achieved throughout the year.

» Host a book club meeting or a signing party. Delve into the history of the organization and explore the people, events, and stories that have shaped Toastmasters by reading the recently published Confident Voices: The Story of Toastmasters (available on the Toastmasters Online Store). Host a book discussion sharing interesting facts you learned, and then have members sign each other’s books using the blank pages at the end.

» Use the photo booth backdrops. Print out some fun props to accompany the 100-year branded photo booth backdrops and set up a photo station for members to enjoy snapping photos together. Don’t forget to share them on social media!