West Herts Speakers Club

16/10/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers Club – 14 October 2026 Meeting Recap 🌟

✨ Theme: Kaizen – Better Than Yesterday ✨

💡 Small Steps, Big Progress!
What does it take to become a better version of ourselves? The answer may be simpler than we think — just aim to be a little better than yesterday! 🌱

At our Wednesday evening meeting, we embraced the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen (改善), meaning continuous improvement. It reminds us that personal growth doesn’t always come from giant leaps or dramatic changes. More often, it comes from small, consistent steps, a willingness to learn and the courage to step outside our comfort zones. 💪

And what better place to practise Kaizen than at Toastmasters? 🎤

Throughout the evening, we enjoyed two inspiring prepared speeches, engaging and thought-provoking Table Topics® sessions, and insightful evaluations filled with constructive feedback. Every speech delivered, every challenge embraced and every piece of feedback shared brought us one step closer to becoming more confident communicators and effective leaders. 🌟

🏆 Congratulations to Our Award Winners! 🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏

🥇 Best Table Topics Speaker: Bankole (Guest)
🥇 Best Speaker: Enrica Laprocina
🥇 Best Evaluator: Paul Mutlow

❤️ A Heartfelt Thank You!
A huge thank you to all our speakers, evaluators, role-holders, members and guests for making the evening such an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Your enthusiasm, encouragement and willingness to contribute are what make our club truly special. 🙌

🌱 Remember: Progress, Not Perfection!
Kaizen teaches us that we don’t need to be perfect today. We simply need to be better than we were yesterday.

One speech at a time. 🎤
One lesson at a time. 📖
One small improvement at a time. 🚀

✨ Because at Toastmasters, every small step forward is a victory worth celebrating 🙌

15/10/2026

🎤🌟 The Stage Is Set! Are You Ready for an Inspiring Morning of Public Speaking? 🌟🎤

🏆 Toastmasters Area 32 & Area 44 Online Speech Contest 2026 🏆

Get ready for an exciting morning of inspiring speeches, exceptional talent and friendly competition as Toastmasters from Area 32 and Area 44 come together to showcase their public speaking skills! 🎉👏

Whether you’re a seasoned Toastmaster, an aspiring public speaker or simply someone who enjoys listening to powerful speeches, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

✨ A Special Bonus — An Exclusive Workshop! ✨

We’re delighted to welcome Aaron Day, winner of the District 71 International Speech Contest, who will deliver a special workshop between the contests! 🎓🎤

It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain fresh insights, learn from an accomplished speaker and discover new ways to elevate your own public speaking skills.

📅 Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM (UK Time)
💻 Venue: Online via Zoom
🎙️ Host: Ernest Pozzoni
⚖️ Chief Judge: James Flynn

📢 Registration is now OPEN!

👉 Secure your place today.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4ykrLGN

Come along, cheer on our contestants and celebrate the power of public speaking! 🎤✨

30/09/2026

This Thursday evening, we will have the Area Humorous Speech Contest in Luton. Sujanth Sivanesan Sujanth Sivanesan, our Club’s seasoned Toastmaster will be competing.🎉🎉👍👍👏👏

Let’s give our support to Sujanth and wish him every success in the Contest 🙌

If you are around Luton, please join us and witness the Contest. It promises to be a fantastic evening with lots of laughter 🤗

26/09/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: Humorous Speech Contest — 23 Sep 2026 ✨

Laughter, courage and a little bit of friendly competition! 😂🎤🏆

What an exciting and entertaining evening we had at West Herts Speakers!

With a full house of enthusiastic members and guests, the room was buzzing with energy as we came together to celebrate public speaking, creativity, courage — and, of course, a great sense of humour! 🙌✨

🎤 Eight brave contestants stepped onto the stage for our Humorous Speech Contest, each bringing their own style, stories and comic twists. From unexpected punchlines to wonderfully imaginative observations, there was certainly no shortage of laughter throughout the evening! 😂👏

Standing in front of an audience and making people laugh is no easy task. A huge congratulations to all eight contestants for stepping up, embracing the challenge and giving us such a memorable evening. Every speech takes courage, and every contestant deserves a big round of applause! 👏👏👏

🏆 Congratulations to our winners! 🎉🎉🎉

🥇 1st Place: Nigel Manunure — “A Bad Case of Diarrhea”
🥈 2nd Place: Sujanth Sivanesan — “The Perfect Man”
🥉 3rd Place: Ged Byrne — “Meat Proxy, Reverse Centaur and Accountability Sink”

🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏

🫶 A Heartfelt Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our Club Contest such a success — our Contest Chair, judges, contestants, role-holders, members and wonderful guests.

Your time, enthusiasm and support make a tremendous difference. Most importantly, you help create an environment where everyone feels encouraged to step up, speak out, try something new — and grow together. 💪✨

Congratulations once again to all our contestants and winners. Thank you for giving us an evening filled with laughter, inspiration and unforgettable moments! 😂❤️🎤

12/09/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: 9 September Meeting Recap — Theme: Teddy Bear 🧸✨

What better way to celebrate 9 September — National Teddy Bear Day 🧸 than with an evening of warmth, friendship, courage and shared learning at West Herts Speakers?

Our meeting theme, “Teddy Bear,” reminded us of the comfort, warmth and sense of security that a teddy bear can represent. From childhood memories to moments when we simply need a little reassurance, a teddy bear can symbolise friendship, courage and the importance of having someone — or something — by our side.

And perhaps that is also what Toastmasters is about: creating a supportive space where we can step outside our comfort zones, try something new, make mistakes, learn from one another, and grow with confidence. 🤗🎤

This evening, our members embraced the theme with enthusiasm, bringing energy, humour and thoughtful ideas to the meeting. From prepared speeches to impromptu Table Topics and constructive evaluations, there were plenty of opportunities to speak, listen, learn and grow. 🌱

🎉 Congratulations to our Award Winners! 👏👏

🏆 Best Speaker: Tracey Whitmore — “To Solar or Not Solar”
🏆 Best Table Topics Speaker: Matt F**t
🏆 Best Evaluator: Joab

☀️ A Spotlight on Tracey’s Speech

Tracey shared her research into the installation of solar panels and how they can help domestic households reduce energy costs over the long term.

Her speech was supported by real-life examples, statistics and financial calculations, providing a practical and evidence-based perspective on the benefits and considerations of going solar.

Adding another layer of challenge, Tracey also responded confidently to impromptu and challenging questions from the audience, demonstrating not only her preparation but also her ability to think on her feet. 👏☀️

🫶 A Heartfelt Thank You

A huge thank you to all our speakers, evaluators, role-holders and wonderful guests. Your enthusiasm, encouragement and willingness to participate are what make West Herts Speakers such a warm and welcoming community. 🙌

Every meeting is another opportunity to find our voice, build confidence, support others and take one more step beyond our comfort zone.

And just like a teddy bear reminds us — we don’t have to face every challenge alone. 🧸❤️

🤗 Thinking of Visiting Us?

📅 Wednesday, 23 September | 7:30–9:30 pm
📍 The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, AL1 3AG

Come along, bring a friend, and take that first step. You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to be willing to begin. 🎤✨

We look forward to welcoming you! 🌟

29/08/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: 26 August Meeting Recap — Theme: Being Good Enough ✨

What does it really mean to be “good enough”?

In a world that constantly encourages us to achieve more and do more, it’s easy to feel that we are never quite enough. But perhaps “being good enough” isn’t about perfection. It’s about recognising where we are today, having the courage to keep learning, and taking the next step. 🌱

At Toastmasters, every speech, evaluation and Table Topics® response reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to make progress. Sometimes, being good enough simply means having the courage to step forward and try. 🎤✨

🌟 Meeting Highlights

Our human-canine bond practitioner, Ernest Pozzoni, took us inside a real kennel incident — from the dog’s perspective. 🐕

His thought-provoking speech challenged us to reconsider what we call a “behaviour issue” when a dog may actually be communicating overwhelming stress.

It explored a powerful truth: genuine love for dogs, without the knowledge and skills to understand them, can unintentionally cause harm.

Its central message was simple yet profound:

Love is enormously important — but love without knowledge can still hurt. ❤️📖

A timely reminder that good intentions are not always enough. Whether caring for animals, supporting others, or developing ourselves, knowledge and continuous learning matter.

🎉 Congratulations to our Award Winners! 👏👏

🏆 Best Speaker: Ernest Pozzoni — “Love, Without Knowledge”
🏆 Best Table Topics Speakers: Ryan (guest) & Claire (guest)
🏆 Best Evaluator: Paul Mutlow

🫶 A Heartfelt Thank You

Thank you to our speakers, evaluators, role-holders and wonderful guests. Your enthusiasm and encouragement make West Herts Speakers such a warm and welcoming community. 🙌

Every meeting is another opportunity to speak, listen, learn and grow — and perhaps discover that we are already good enough to take the next step. 🌟

🤗 Thinking of Visiting Us?

📅 Wednesday, 9 September | 7:30–9:30 pm
📍 The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, AL1 3AG

Come along, bring a friend, and take that first step. You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to be willing to begin. 🎤✨

15/08/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: 12 August Meeting Recap — Theme: A Bird in the Hand 🐦✨

There’s an old saying: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” It reminds us to value the opportunities already in front of us.

At Toastmasters, we take it one step further: sometimes, you simply have to take the opportunity, step onto the stage, and give it a go! 🎤

This evening, we enjoyed three inspiring prepared speeches and a lively Table Topics® session, where members and guests embraced the challenge of thinking on their feet.

🌟 Meeting Highlights

Six brave guests took on the challenge of delivering two-minute impromptu speeches during our Table Topics® session, expertly facilitated by Judy Mallinson — who quite literally had a bird in her hand to bring our theme to life! 🐦😄

It was wonderful to see our guests step outside their comfort zones and fly with the opportunity!

🎉 Congratulations to our Award Winners! 👏👏

🏆 Best Table Topics Speakers: Matt Barrett & Tracey Whitmore
🏆 Best Evaluator: Jan Ross
🏆 Best Speaker: Joseph Firth — “Mitigating Circumstances”

Joe delivered his speech in a wonderfully creative way, adopting the style of a legal court debate to defend his recent absence from Toastmasters, citing work commitments and World Cup tournament tours as evidence for the defence! ⚖️🎤 A creative concept, confident delivery, and plenty of humour made for a memorable speech. The jury is still out… but the audience delivered its verdict! 👏😄

🫶 A Heartfelt Thank You

A sincere thank you to our speakers, evaluators, role-holders, and wonderful guests. Your enthusiasm and encouragement make West Herts Speakers such a welcoming community. 🙌

Perhaps that is another lesson from tonight’s theme: opportunities don’t always come looking as we expect. Sometimes, they simply land in our hands — and we just need the courage to take them. 🐦✨

🤗 Thinking of Visiting Us?

📅 Wednesday, 26 August | 7:30–9:30 pm
📍 The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, AL1 3AG

Mark your calendars, bring a friend, and come along — your next opportunity could be right in front of you! 🙌🐦

23/07/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: 22 July Meeting Recap — Theme: Wonderland ✨

When we hear the word Wonderland, many of us picture magical adventures and unexpected discoveries. But perhaps Wonderland isn’t a place we visit—it’s a mindset. It’s about staying curious, embracing the unexpected, and seeing possibilities where others see obstacles. Life becomes richer when we approach it with curiosity and a sense of wonder.

This evening, we enjoyed two inspiring prepared speeches and a lively Table Topics® session that encouraged participants to think creatively, embrace new ideas, and view ordinary moments from an extraordinary perspective.

🌟 Meeting Highlights
• Judy Mallinson delivered her third Ice Breaker speech, marking the exciting start of her third Toastmasters Pathway. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone!
• Sujanth Sivanesan delivered an inspiring 12-minute speech, sharing his Toastmasters journey, personal growth, and achievements over the years.
• Three guests bravely took on the challenge of delivering two-minute impromptu speeches during our lively Table Topics® session, expertly facilitated by Nigel Manunure.

🎉 Congratulations to our award winners! 👏👏

🏆 Best Evaluator: Matt F**t
🏆 Best Table Topics Speakers: Julia Philips & Viktoryia Young

🫶 A heartfelt thank you

A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success—our speakers, evaluators, role-holders, and wonderful guests. Your enthusiasm, encouragement, and willingness to support one another are what make West Herts Speakers such a welcoming and inspiring community. 🙌

🤗 Thinking of visiting us?

If you’d like to build your confidence, enhance your public speaking, and develop your leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment, we’d love to welcome you to one of our meetings.

Our next meeting:
📅 Wednesday, 12 August | 7:30–9:30 pm
📍 The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, AL1 3AG

Mark your calendars, bring a friend, and come along—we’d love to see you there! 🙌

09/07/2026

🌟 West Herts Speakers: 8 July Meeting Recap — Theme: Finding Freedom ✨

Resilience is often what helps us endure—but Finding Freedom is what helps us move forward. This evening, our members and guests stepped into the house with fresh confidence and a growing sense of possibility. Through inspiring speeches, thoughtful evaluations, and energetic Table Topics, we explored how “freedom” can mean different things for all of us: speaking up, letting go of self-doubt, taking risks, and finding our own voice. 🎤

Together, we created another Toastmasters evening filled with warmth, humour, and encouragement in the first meeting of the new term.

🎉 Congratulations to our award winners!👏👏
🏆 Best Speaker: Matt F**t —“ The Worst 4.8-Star Review I’ve Ever Trusted”. Matt shared with us his adventures of hiking trip in Lake District and his reflection conquering the worst and calling for us to take risks.

🏆 Best Evaluator: Judy Mallinson
🏆 Best Table Topics Speakers: Nigel Manunure, Ajeet Maurya

👏 A special highlight
Please join us in giving a huge round of applause to our Immediate Past President, Enrica Laprocina, who led the Club to achieve a new height—District Distinguished Club for 2025/2026. Congratulations as well on her new endeavour as Area Director in the coming year!

🫶 A heartfelt thank you
A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success—our speakers, evaluators, role-holders, and our wonderful guests. Your enthusiasm, encouragement, and willingness to support one another are what make West Herts Speakers Club such a welcoming community. 🙌

🤗 Thinking of visiting us?
If you’d like to build your confidence, improve your public speaking, and develop leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment, we’d love to welcome you to one of our meetings.

Our next meeting:
📅 Wednesday 22 July | 7:30pm–9:30pm
📍 The County Club, 29 Ridgmont Road, St Albans, AL1 3AG

Mark your calendars, bring a friend, and come along—we’d love to see you there! 🙌

04/07/2026

Celebrating West Herts Speakers’ 30th Anniversary 🎂🎉🥂👏👏

The evening brought together members from across Area 32 for an occasion filled with friendship, celebration, and recognition of the achievements of our clubs and members throughout the year. Guests enjoyed a formal dinner, networking, and an opportunity to reflect on the impact Toastmasters has had on so many lives over the past three decades.🙌

Area 32 members and guests gathered for a memorable Gala Night at Redbourn Golf Club to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of West Herts Speakers Club.