In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club “to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members.” The group took the name Toastmasters. Soon men in other communities and states asked for permission and help to start their own Toastmasters clubs. By 1930, a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the many clubs and to provide a standard program. When a speaking club in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, expressed interest in forming a Toastmasters club, the group became known as Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters International’s success and growth is due in large part to the continued development of its educational programs. The current speech manual, called the Communication and Leadership Program, was most recently updated in 2003. After members of Toastmasters complete all 10 speech projects in that manual, they may apply for their Competent Toastmaster (CTM) award and then choose from any combination of 15 advanced manuals.