Achieving Excellence Magazine - June 2026 edition now available. Toastmasters International is delighted to announce the release of the June 2026 edition of Achieving Excellence Magazine, the final issue of the 2025/2026 Toastmasters year. This special edition celebrates the people behind the publication - the dedicated editorial team whose passion, creativity, and commitment have brought inspiring stories to life throughout the year. Through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes stories, its editors share how the magazine became a platform for learning, growth, leadership, and service. This edition also features two powerful stories that showcase the impact of Toastmasters beyond the club meeting: - Small Team. Big Dreams: How Africa Leads the Way Became a Movement - International President Aletta Rochat, DTM, shares the remarkable journey behind a movement that united Toastmasters across Africa and demonstrated what is possible when ordinary people work together toward an extraordinary vision. - The Double Victory That Redefined a Toastmaster - Discover the inspiring story of Dr. James Ramakau, whose journey of perseverance, growth, and achievement serves as a reminder that success is often found beyond its comfort zones. You will also find leadership insights, communication lessons, personal growth stories, member profiles, Triple Crown spotlights, and inspiring journeys from Toastmasters across District 74. As Toastmasters International reflect on a year guided by the theme Catalyst of Success, this edition captures the achievements, milestones, and transformations that have defined its district. It is a celebration of the members, leaders, and volunteers who have invested their time and talents to help others grow. Thank you to every contributor, editor, club leader, and member who shared their story and supported the magazine throughout the year. Your voices have helped make Achieving Excellence a platform that informs, inspires, and connects its Toastmasters community. Toastmasters International invite you to read, enjoy, and share this edition with fellow members, guests, friends, and colleagues. The next story that inspires someone to begin their Toastmasters journey may be found within these pages. Happy reading!

Fermanagh club announces closure with 'immediate effect' A previous meeting of the Island Voices Toastmasters. (Image: Supplied) A recently established Toastmasters club in Fermanagh has announced its immediate closure following concerns relating to its chartering process. In a statement issued on June 3, Island Voices Toastmasters confirmed that the club would cease operating with immediate effect after what it described as a "thorough review of circumstances surrounding its formation and subsequent events". The club said concerns had been identified regarding documentation completed and submitted during the chartering process, including questions over the authorisation and validity of certain signatures and supporting information. According to the statement, these concerns were raised with Toastmasters International Headquarters and subsequently affected confidence in the integrity of the process and the club's ability to continue operating. The statement, issued by founder and president Shelley Cowan, said every effort had been made to explore options that would allow the club to continue. "However, following extensive reflection, discussions with relevant parties, and consideration of the wider implications for members and the community, it became clear that continuing the club would not be in the best interests of those involved," it said. The statement also referred to the level of support available to the club at District level during the period under review, which it said contributed to the assessment of the club's future viability. Island Voices Toastmasters said the organisation's core values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence had guided its approach throughout the process. "It is precisely because of our commitment to these values that we have reached this difficult decision," the statement continued. "The integrity, transparency, and trust that underpin any successful organisation are essential to its continued operation. Once confidence in those principles had been compromised, we no longer believed that the club could continue in a manner consistent with the environment, culture, and standards we had hoped to establish for our members." The club said it respected the governance processes of Toastmasters International and acknowledged the contributions of those who had supported the organisation since its formation. Describing the decision as difficult but necessary, the statement said closure was considered the most appropriate and responsible course of action and would allow those involved to move forward constructively and professionally. The club concluded by thanking its members, supporters and guests for their commitment and participation, and wished them success in the future. More Stories

Pathways additions on their way. May 21, 2026 As the Pathways learning experience approaches its first decade, Toastmasters International continues to evolve its educational offerings to meet the dynamic needs of its global community. This year brings an exciting blend of the old and the new: D101tm is thrilled to introduce "vintage paths" that celebrate our rich history, launch innovative bite-sized learnings called "explorations," and implement necessary pricing updates to support the program's continued growth. Revisit its roots with vintage paths. For the first time in years, Toastmasters is unlocking the vault to bring back foundational educational content. Available since mid-April, vintage paths offer members a unique opportunity to experience the timeless wisdom that shaped its organization, now seamlessly integrated into the modern Base Camp platform. Currently, members can choose from two vintage options: * Basic Training for Toastmasters: Based on the original 1943 manual crafted by founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, this path takes you back to the very origins of its public speaking curriculum. Completing this path earns you the new BT credential. * The Communication Series (Entertaining Speaker + Storytelling): This path resurrects three beloved manuals from the 1980s that were retired in 2018: Competent Communication, The Entertaining Speaker, and Storytelling. Finishing this track rewards you with the CES credential. Just like its six specialized learning paths, the projects within vintage paths - such as "The Ice Breaker" - are structured across five levels, and you will earn Distinguished Club Program (DCP) credit and badges along the way. You can access all materials online or download and print them. Because these paths are designed as specialized historical journeys, members must first complete Level 1 in any standard learning path before purchasing a vintage path. Each vintage path is available for $60 USD. Expand your skills with Explorations. Looking to master a specific topic without committing to a full path? Later this year, Toastmasters will launch Explorations - a brand-new educational product consisting of three focused projects. Its inaugural exploration, Online Meeting Mastery, is designed for the modern communicator. It features three targeted projects: * Attending Online Meetings * Delivering Online Presentations * Leading Online Meetings Completing an exploration not only sharpens your skills but also earns you DCP credit equivalent to finishing Level 2 in a standard learning path. Building on recent enhancements. These exciting additions build upon the sweeping enhancements made to all Pathways in 2025, which were designed to boost club engagement and meeting quality: * Level 1 Meeting Roles: The first project in every path now requires members to fulfill standard club meeting roles, ensuring all participants are actively involved in club operations. * Levels 3-5 Presentations: Advanced levels now require members to deliver 10-to-15-minute presentations from the Toastmasters Education Series. By sharing these educational tips, members actively elevate the quality of their home clubs while mastering longer-form speaking. Important pricing updates. Since Pathways originally launched, the cost of a standard learning path has remained flat at $20 USD, even as the organization has invested in numerous member-driven improvements to the platform. To sustain this high standard of quality, the price for the six standard learning paths will increase to $35 USD starting July 1, coinciding with the beginning of the new program year. Take advantage of the current rate: Members are highly encouraged to log into Base Camp and purchase their next path at the $20 price point before the July 1 transition goes into effect! District 101 PRM Team