Toastmasters Founder - Dr Ralph C. Smedley
(1878 - 1965)
BRIEF TIMELINES
22 October 1924 - The first meeting of the Number One Toastmasters club in Santa Ana, California.
19 January 1926 - The second Toastmasters club is chartered in Anaheim, California.
11 August 1927 - Representatives of five Santa Ana Toastmasters clubs plan the formation of a “Federation of Toastmasters Clubs.”
25 October 1928 - The first Manual for Toastmasters Clubs is copyrighted by Ralph Smedley.
4 October 1930 - The name Toastmasters International is adopted & officers are elected.
6 December 1930 - Publication of The Gavel, the first Toastmasters newsletter.
19 December 1932 - Toastmasters International is incorporated.
9 January 1933 - First Toastmasters club outside of California is established in Seattle, Washington.
April 1933 - First issue of The Toastmaster magazine is published.
6 July 1935 - District organisation is instituted, starting with District 1 of Southern California.
October 1935 - First Toastmasters club outside the United States is chartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
29 January 1938 - Charter #100 is presented to the Century Toastmasters Club in Santa Ana.
August 1938 - Inter-Club Speech Contest started. First winner: Henry Wiens of Reedley, California.
July 1946 - District 18 of Scotland becomes the first district organised outside the United States.
1948 - First TI Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are published.
1950 - The first “Certificate of Achievement” is issued for the new advanced course, “Beyond Basic Training.”
June 1951 - First Regional Conference is held in Des Moines, Iowa.
1957 - First Australian Toastmasters Club - Wollongong Toastmasters Club - is chartered.
27 October 1962 - Dedication of new World Headquarters building in Santa Ana, California.
1964 - The first Able Toastmaster Award (ATM) is issued.
1968 - The first Competent Toastmaster Award (CTM) is issued for completing the Basic Manual.
August 1969 - The Communication & Leadership Manual is introduced at the International Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
1970 - The first Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) is issued.
August 1973 - Membership opens to women.
1978 - The multi-manual Advanced Communication & Leadership Program is introduced.
1979 - The first two Success/Leadership Programs are introduced.
1981 - The Accredited Speaker Program begins.
October 1982 - Membership reaches 100,000.
1984 - The Communication & Leadership Program manual is revised, & two new educational awards are introduced: the ATM Bronze & ATM Silver.
August 1985 - Helen Blanchard becomes the first female International President.
April 1989 - Membership reaches 150,000.
July 1989 - The Distinguished Club Program, Distinguished Area Program & Distinguished Division Program are introduced.
June 1990 - World Headquarters moves to Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
January 1993 - Toastmasters International charters its 8,000th club.
January 1997 - The revised Communication & Leadership Program manual is introduced.
July 1997 - An improved 2-track educational recognition system begins. The communication track includes the CTM, Advanced Toastmaster Bronze, Advanced Toastmaster Silver & Advanced Toastmaster Gold awards. The leadership track includes the Competent Leader and Advanced Leader awards. Requirements for the DTM award also change.
2014 - First International Convention held outside North America in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2015 - NSW splits into 2 Districts, District 70 and District 90.
A more comprehensive history of Toastmasters in Australia will be available soon.
2018 District 70 Inaugural Awards Night - Peter Crosby DTM at the lectern