THE Toastmasters Club is an internationally recognised organisation that helps persons to practise the skills they need to communicate with confidence and excellence and to advance their careers, mentor others, and learn how to present well.
In Guyana, there are a total of 13 Toastmasters Clubs, each based in Georgetown with some options to attend meetings online, according to the Toastmasters International’s website.
Speaking recently with this publication were Vice President Bindya Deokaran, who is responsible for public relations and Vice-President Bernadette Giddings who handles the education aspect of the Georgetown Toastmasters Club’s (GTC) operations. The GTC is the oldest Toastmasters Club in Guyana and the Caribbean.
The GTC was founded by Derek Adamson, and the first official public meeting was held in Georgetown on March 18, 1959.
The Toastmasters Club was described as a club that is mainly focused on public speaking and developing leadership and communication skills. More than this, the club is comparable to a family or community where a common goal is shared: improving public speaking.
Both Deokaran and Giddings emphasised that they joined the club because it allowed them to improve their leadership and communication skills, have a structured base in terms of the way they speak, and build confidence in themselves as it relates to speaking and communicating clearly.
The Georgetown Toastmasters Club has a total of 29 active members representing a wide age range from young adults to more mature professionals.
According to Toastmaster Deokaran, the Georgetown Toastmasters Club is a non-discriminatory club that is more than opened to having anyone, including persons living with disabilities, becoming members.
Meetings are held every Monday from 18:00hrs to 20:00hrs at the Red Cross Building in Georgetown. Interested individuals are free to attend as guests. After visiting approximately three times, persons may formally express interest in membership, after which the Vice President of Membership guides them through the induction process.
Underscoring the Georgetown Toastmasters Club’s achievements last year, the duo said they successfully hosted several contests including the Ewart Adams debate, Impromptu Speech, Evaluations Speech and International Speech, where the winners of each category moved on to representing the club at the area contest.
Additionally, the club hosted a fitness walk, raising over one hundred thousand dollars to support the club’s activities and inducted eight new members.
The club was able to meet the Distinguished Club Programme (DCP) Award under Toastmasters International. This is said to be the highest recognition at the club level for clubs that provide an outstanding member experience, which includes completing educational goals and achieving significant milestones.
This year, the Toastmaster International included a new level of DCP Award “Smedley Distinguished Award”, and the Georgetown Toastmasters Club intends to make every effort to achieve this award by June 2026.
In March, the club will be celebrating its 67th anniversary, which will be commemorated with a church service, brunch, media engagements and membership outreaches.
At present, the two Toastmasters revealed that the GTC is preparing for an upcoming debate competition, a speech-ah-ton and the Annual dinner and award ceremony before the end of the Toastmaster year in June 2026. At the award ceremony, members will be recognised for their outstanding contribution and performance during the toastmaster year and the new executive will be installed.
The Georgetown Toastmasters Club is one that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators, and leaders, and is committed to providing a supportive and positive learning experience, where members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, which result in greater self-confidence and personal growth.
