And Why You Might, Too

After nine years of ocean breezes and coastal charm in Victoria, BC, I found myself packing up and heading back to Calgary. Among the “to-do” list—find winter boots, reconnect with old friends, and most importantly, find a new Toastmasters club.

Now, I’d been a Toastmaster for two years already, and while my previous club was warm, welcoming, and filled with lovely people… it wasn’t quite what I needed anymore. There were only one or two strong evaluators. And when you’re aiming to be the best speaker you can possibly be—like, world-class, at-contest-finalist level—you need feedback that’s specific, insightful, and grounded in real experience.

I wasn’t looking for compliments. I was looking for growth.

I needed a club where members didn’t just clap politely and say, “Good job,” but could lean in and say, “Here’s where you lost me,” or “That joke could land better if you pause first.” I wanted the kind of room where being really good was the starting line, not the finish.

That’s when I found the MVP Advanced Toastmasters Club.

I’ll be honest—advanced sounded intimidating. I pictured a room full of world champion speakers who might take one look at me and think, “She’s not ready.” But instead, I walked into a room full of passionate, quirky, whip-smart people who weren’t there to impress—they were there to improve. Just like me.

These are people who’d been Toastmasters for years, many for decades. People who have delivered keynotes, trained executives, competed on big stages, and still show up with humility and curiosity. They bring their A-game to every meeting. And they expect you to bring yours, too.

But it isn’t just serious speeches and contest strategies. We also have social gatherings. Potlucks, patio nights, and casual get-togethers that allow us to connect beyond the podium. Why? Because members who play together, stay together. And that matters.

When you know your fellow members on a deeper level, you support each other better. You cheer louder. You give more thoughtful feedback. You show up—because these aren’t just fellow speakers, they’re teammates. Friends. A community.

And here’s the thing about an advanced club: it’s not just about what you get. It’s about what you give.

You’ll be asked to mentor. To lead. To train other Toastmasters in leadership and speaking. You’ll be invited to speak at special events, support Open Houses at other clubs, and represent Toastmasters in the wider community. You become a resource—an ambassador for everything Toastmasters can offer. Because advanced doesn’t just mean high-level speeches. It means a high level of service.

You serve your club. You serve the area, the division, and the district. You serve every member who’s still finding their voice, because someone once did the same for you.

If you’re content just ticking boxes and collecting ribbons, an advanced club may not be for you.

But if you’ve got that fire—that itch to be better, to stretch yourself, to walk into a room of leaders and like-minded communicators who will cheer you on and call you higher—then come visit.

Bring your best self. Bring your sense of humor. Because at an advanced club, you don’t just become a better speaker. You become part of a community of leaders who lift each other higher, one powerful speech at a time.

Molly Hamilton
MVP Advanced Toastmasters
Speaker and lover of a good evaluation