The Traveling Toastmaster

Step 1: Start Close to Home

When I first joined Toastmasters in Bangalore, my top priority was location. After all, we spend hours commuting for our professions – the last thing I wanted was another long journey a personal passion. So, like many others, I chose a club near home. It was convenient and easy to commit to.

And for a while, that was enough.

Step 2: Step Out and Look Around

Then came year two. Somewhere between completing speech projects and taking up meeting roles, I heard about an Area, then a Division event. Curious, I attended both followed by the District conference.

That one step changed everything.

Suddenly, I was meeting Toastmasters from other clubs – people who inspired me with their eloquence, amazed me with their leadership, and welcomed me with warmth. It felt like stepping into a buzzing constellation of passionate individuals orbiting around personal growth.

Step 3: Say Yes More Often

The invitations started coming in – “Can you judge a contest this weekend?” “We need a test speaker for the evaluation contest.” “Would you like to be a demo speaker for a new club we’re chartering?”

The distances were longer – 20, sometimes 30 kilometers. The events often swallowed entire Saturdays or Sundays. But it never felt like a chore. In fact, those weekends became the highlight of my week.

I wasn’t just growing. I was thriving.

Step 4: Cross Borders, Even Virtually

And then, I went international – virtually.

I took up the role of Area Director for Area C1 in District 123, Ontario, Canada. I also joined a club in Toronto. The time zones were brutal – I jokingly called it my second job or my night shift – but the experience was invaluable.

I learned how Toastmasters operates across cultures, how leadership and communication transcend borders, and how, no matter where you go in the world, a Toastmasters meeting always feels like home.

Step 5: Choose Growth Over Convenience

Today, my current club is twice the distance of my original one. But the leaner Sunday morning traffic means I whiz there in a jiffy.

This is the club where I grew into a Distinguished Toastmaster. And from where I’m constantly invited now to deliver keynotes, education sessions, workshops, evaluations and demo speeches for chartering new clubs, to be part of the District Leadership Council to vet the next set of District leaders.

Step 6: Go Beyond the Club (Seriously, Do It)

If you're new to Toastmasters – or thinking of joining – here's my biggest advice: Don’t stop at your home club.

• Visit other clubs – you’ll hear new styles and stories.

• Sign up as a timer, tally counter, or contest master at a contest – even small roles teach you a lot.

• Train as a judge and vote for selecting the next speech champions at Area, Division and District levels.

• Volunteer for big events like Coronation, our District conference – the energy is electric, and the networking is priceless.

• Say yes, even when it feels a little scary.

Step 7: Realize It’s a World Waiting for You

Toastmasters has over 14,000 clubs and 272,000 members worldwide. When you join a single club, you're opening the door to a global community.

So don’t just join Toastmasters. Travel across Toastmasters.

Every speech, every meeting, every new role is a journey—not just across towns or time zones, but deeper into discovering yourself.

And who knows? Someday, you’ll be writing your own travelogue of transformation.