The Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club heralds in its thirteenth anniversary on the 22nd of October 2021, under the theme “13 Years Of Fostering Growth Through Leadership Development.” The club is one of four Toastmasters clubs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that is a part of the global network of Toastmasters International.
The members will be commemorating the club’s 13th anniversary with a week of celebration during October 17th – 23rd. The festivities will commence with Toastmasters attending church service at Highpoint Church on Sunday, 17th October. The other events will be held via Zoom, and comprise karaoke, movie night, games night, anniversary club meeting, gifts showcase and a reunion.
Furthermore, the club kicked off its anniversary celebrations with its first-ever debate competition, held under the auspices of chief judge Area Director, Cecilia Christmas, on the 7th October 2021. The objectives of this celebration include to foster camaraderie among Toastmasters, and to showcase the club to the general public.
As the Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club commemorates its 13th anniversary, they will look back from ‘whence we came’. The club’s chartered year with twenty two chartered members, was headed in 2008, by President Sherrika Shallow-John for a short stint, followed by President Monica Thomas-Woodley, then President elect Nigel Scott.
Imperially, the club culminated its 1st anniversary with trailblazing pioneers. For instance, in 2009, Toastmaster Anika Stapleton was the first Vincentian to win the Caribbean Toastmasters International Speech Contest. Additionally, she was the first regional Toastmaster to compete at the International level. Sequentially, Distinguished Toastmaster Monica Thomas-Woodley in the district’s capacity of secretary, was the sole Vincentian to sit on the District Council.
The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award represents the highest level of educational achievement in Toastmasters, and less than 1% of all Toastmasters ever achieve their DTM award. However, this club’s laurel of six Distinguished Toastmasters, comprise: Jo Thomas-Elliott, Kenneth Onu, Monica Thomas-Woodley, Nigel Scott, Tamira Browne, and Wendie Edwards-Wilson.
Over the years, the club’s meetings have transformed from its inaugural venue at the Chamber of Commerce Conference Room; to its latest venue at Girls Guides Headquarters, and now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, via Zoom on the first and third Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. This new norm Toastmasters experience, has expanded networking and exposure to varying styles of presentations, as persons can now attend Toastmasters sessions anywhere in the world.
During 2020-2021, the Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club has once again lived up to its regal name. Where it has strived for success in communication and leadership, by achieving President’s Distinguished status, fourteen education awards, over five new members, and Meeting Excellence Award.
This year, at the executive’s handover retreat, the club’s president Jacqui English-Jacobs declared that “As a team we not only endorsed our club success plan, but we also visibly stamped our club and invisibly sealed it, with our retreat’s theme “Champions Signature President’s Distinguished.”
The additional 2021-2022 executive members are VP Education Jenieve Cato, VP Membership Adinga Findlay, VP Public Relations Moureeze Franklyn, Secretary Jackleen Leech-Wyllie, Treasurer Leanna Sutherland, Sergeant at Arms Kevie Frederick, and Immediate Past President Natalie Cummings.
The executive and members extend an invitation to interested persons, to join in the celebration of their club’s 13th anniversary, which coincides with Toastmasters International 97th Anniversary.
To learn more about Imperial Champions Toastmasters Club email [email protected] or visit https://www.facebook.com/ImperialChampions https://www.instagram.com/imperialchampionstoastmasters/
About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 358,000 in more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.