Early Development
Toastmasters International was founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley in Santa Ana, California, with the mission to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. In 1998, while the organization was expanding globally, a young gentleman, Randal Eastman, moved to Shanghai, China. He wanted to connect with local communities, so he published an advertisement about launching a Toastmasters Club in the newspaper. Randal received an overwhelming response.
On February 1st, 1999, the first Toastmasters club in mainland China, Shanghai No 1 Toastmasters Club, was established in Shanghai. The Tianjin No. 1 Toastmasters Club (TJ1TMC) was founded in April 1999 and is mainland China's second oldest Toastmasters club. Due to the travelling distance between Puxi and Pudong, members started the Pudong Toastmasters Club in June 01, 1999.
Leadership Learning
In the early days, the new club leadership was challenging due to a lack of experience. Samual Jones, an experienced member, started a mini leadership learning group to promote new club leadership. The program participants shared experiences and were groomed to become new club leaders. This marked the beginning of Toastmasters' presence in the region, laying the foundation for future growth.
Formation of District 85
Recognizing the rapid growth of clubs in the region, Toastmasters International officially formed District 85 in the 2006-2007 program year. Warwick John Fahy, DTM, became the first territorial Chairman in the District. This district encompassed mainland China and played a pivotal role in supporting and organizing clubs across the country.
Expansion and Subsequent District Splits
By June 30, 2012, District 85 had grown to approximately 220 clubs with over 7,000 members. District 89 was established on July 1, 2012, to better manage this growth better, encompassing regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Fujian, Hainan, and parts of Guangdong. Further growth led to the creation of District 118 on July 1, 2019, which took over parts of the previous District 89. Most recently, in 2023, there was one more split, which led to the creation of District 128.
International Speech Contest Winners and International Directors
In 2011, Kwong Yue Young from District 89 placed second in the World Championship of Public Speaking, and he placed second again in 2024. In 2018, Sherrie Su was the second-place winner of the World Championship of Public Speaking. In 2018, Susan Zhou became the first International Director from mainland China.
Current Structure and Reach
Today, District 85 remains one of the most vibrant districts within Toastmasters International, fostering leadership and communication excellence throughout mainland China. The district comprises numerous divisions and areas, each supporting a network of clubs dedicated to personal and professional development.