Dundee Toastmasters (DTM)

The Dundee Toastmasters banner made a stop at Lochee Park with Kipper and Minnie.

When I first joined Toastmasters, I was running Dog Tales but I was incredibly nervous speaking in front of people.

The truth I found is that nobody starts out good at these things. You give a speech that feels terrifying. You complete a project you've never done before. You make mistakes. You learn. You try again. Over time those small experiences start to add up.

Looking back now, I can see how much Toastmasters has influenced Dog Tales. Running classes, delivering workshops, speaking to clients, leading groups of people and building a community around dogs all became easier because I had somewhere safe to practise.

Kipper and Minnie might not appreciate public speaking, but they've certainly benefited from the opportunities it created.

Visitors are always welcome at Dundee Toastmasters.

On the travels of the Dundee Toastmasters banner, we stopped off at the V&A.

One of the things I enjoy most about Toastmasters is that no matter how long you've been a member, there's always something new to learn.

Sometimes it's public speaking. Sometimes it's leadership. Sometimes it's simply learning more about yourself and what you're capable of.

There are always new speeches to try, new roles to take on, new people to learn from, and new challenges to tackle.

That's probably one of the reasons I've stayed involved for so long.

Visitors are always welcome at Dundee Toastmasters.

Dundee Toastmasters had a slightly different meeting the other week, with a strong focus on how our club runs behind the scenes and the people who make it happen.

Michele, our Toastmaster for the evening, kept everything running smoothly, while Jamie kept us on our toes as Ah-Counter and introduced the word of the day: unprecedented.

Our first speaker, Dimitar, spoke about the role of Vice President Education. It's one of the busiest roles in the club, involving everything from filling the agenda and helping members progress through Pathways to organising speech contests. It was a great opportunity to learn more about what the role involves.

Claire then delivered a speech exploring the different committee roles within the club. Using a bag and a collection of bricks as props, she explained how every committee role helps support the club in a different way. Toastmasters isn't just about public speaking; it's also a chance to gain experience in leadership, organisation and teamwork.

Our final speaker, Roshan, delivered a thoughtful and heartfelt speech entitled Divided by Culture. Drawing on her experiences of having a Chinese mother, a Pakistani father, being born in London and now living in Scotland, she reflected on identity, belonging and what it means to navigate multiple cultures. It was a beautiful speech that gave everyone plenty to think about.

Following the break, we held our committee elections. Congratulations to Jonathan, who was elected Treasurer, Claire, who was elected Vice President Membership, Roshan, who will continue as Secretary, and Dimitar, who was elected President.

We're still looking for members interested in taking on the roles of Vice President Education and Vice President Public Relations, so if you'd like to develop new skills and help shape the future of the club, we'd love to hear from you.

It was also wonderful to have guests join us and actively take part in the discussions throughout the evening.

Pictured are some of the members elected to next year's committee, along with a few of the props used during the meeting.

Visitors are always welcome at Dundee Toastmasters. Whether you're interested in public speaking, leadership development, or simply meeting a friendly group of people, we'd love to see you at a future meeting.

On the travels of the Dundee Toastmasters banner, we stopped off to visit Desperate Dan.

Dundee is home to a fair few characters with a bit of determination about them, and I think determination is often underestimated.
Not the dramatic, comic book-style kind.
A quieter sort that gets you through your first speech, encourages you to volunteer for a role you've never done before, or convinces you to come back and try again when things don't go quite to plan.

Most people in Toastmasters aren't naturally confident speakers. They're ordinary people who keep turning up, keep learning, and keep having a go. They become confident speakers through practice, supportive help, and guidance.

Visitors are always welcome at Dundee Toastmasters. I am looking forward to our meeting tomorrow night and hope to see you there.

Dundee is the City of Discovery 🚢

Every Dundee Toastmaster is discovering something too.....

Some discover confidence.

Some discover leadership.

Some discover new friendships.

Some discover opportunities they never expected.

Some discover they are capable of far more than they thought.

In Dundee, the City of Discovery, discover Dundee Toastmasters.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 10th June 6.45pm in the Argyle Room of the Hampton by Hilton Hotel in the Seagate.

Come along for free to see what we are all about

Do you know someone who would benefit from being a little more confident?

Perhaps someone who avoids speaking up in meetings, feels nervous introducing themselves to new people, or has a great idea to share but struggles to find the confidence to say it.

At Dundee Toastmasters, many of our members started exactly that way.

Our meeting on Wednesday 10th June is a great opportunity to come along as a guest and see what Toastmasters is all about. There's no pressure to speak, no expectation to perform, and no requirement to come back. Just a friendly group of people supporting one another to become more confident communicators and leaders.

If you've ever wondered whether Toastmasters might be for you, or if a friend or family member comes to mind as you're reading this, we'd love to welcome you along.

Visitors are always welcome.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 10th June at 6.45 in the Argyle Room of the Hampton by Hilton Hotel in the Seagate.

On the travels of the Dundee Toastmasters banner, Robert and I decided to visit the McManus. Unfortunately our timing wasn't great, because it closed just as we arrived. To make matters worse, the rain then started coming down quite heavily.

We still got the photo though.

It did make me think about one of the things I like about Toastmasters. Not everything goes to plan. Sometimes you forget part of a speech, take on a role you've never done before, or try something that feels completely outside your comfort zone. The important part isn't getting everything perfect; it's having a go and learning from it.

And having the support, encouragement, and advice from other (fellow 😊)Toastmasters

Real people. Real community. Real growth.

Yesterday Robert and I spent a few hours taking the Dundee Toastmasters banner around some of Dundee's landmarks.

The photos were fun, but the best part was actually the conversation.

We ended up talking about confidence, mentoring, leadership, business and all the different ways people grow.

It reminded me that one of the most valuable things about Toastmasters isn't the speeches. It's the people.

Some of the best ideas I've had, some of the biggest challenges I've taken on and some of the most useful advice I've received have come from conversations with fellow members.

Real people. Real community. Real growth.

The Dundee Toastmasters banner has started its tour of Dundee. Where do you think it should visit next?

Dundee Toastmasters committee elections are coming up on the 27th May 😊

A lot of people hear words like “committee” or “leadership” and immediately imagine huge pressure and responsibility. But one of the things we’re working towards as a club is making leadership more supportive, gradual and shared.

You don’t need to know everything before getting involved. You don’t need to feel perfectly ready. And you definitely don’t need to carry everything alone. Sometimes helping with one small task is enough to start building confidence and experience.

Toastmasters is one of the few places where you can safely practise: • communication • leadership • organisation • teamwork • confidence • thinking on your feet

…while being supported by people who genuinely want to see you do well.

If you’ve ever been curious about getting more involved, now is a really good time to ask questions and explore the different roles 😊

“I thought committee roles were for people far more organised and adult than me.”

That’s probably one of the most honest sentences I could say about my own Toastmasters journey 😅

At our next meeting I’ll be speaking about leadership, responsibility, and some of the things I’ve learned this year as club President.

One of the biggest lessons?

Responsibility does not mean doing everything alone.

And sometimes confidence doesn’t come before you step forward. Sometimes it comes because you did.

I think a lot of people are far more capable than they realise — they just need a supportive environment to try 😊