Toastmasters International was formed in October 1924, by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley. The first group met in the basement of the Santa Ana, California, YMCA, with the goal “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.” Growth was initially confined to California at first, but after World War II, clubs were formed all over the country. In the 1950s the organization’s motto was “Leadership Through Speech.” The organization was limited to men only until 1973.
Here are the St. Louis Park Toastmasters chapters that we know of. Click on the name of the club for their website (if there is one). If you know of any other clubs, past or present, please contact us.
Club Number 5028723 was chartered on October 20, 2015.
It meets at Buffalo Wild Wings Headquarters, 5500 Wayzata Blvd, St. Louis Park.
Forty Niners
The Forty Niners Chapter of Toastmasters International met at La Miracle Dining at the Wooddale Business Center in January 1955.
Club Number 691684 was chartered on June 25, 2004, and meets at the Park Nicollet “Stilts” Building.
Club Number 1102422 was chartered on October 19, 2007.
Club meets at 1550 Tower, Moneygram Courtyard, 1550 Utica Ave. So., St. Louis Park
Club Number 1746748 was chartered on April 1, 2011.
This is an advanced club for professional or aspiring professional speakers.
The Speakeasy Chapter of Toastmasters Number 1789 actually started in Golden Valley in April 1967. It was a breakoff chapter of the large Honeywell chapter in Minneapolis. The first meeting was held at the Pako Co., and the name Speakeasy came after five meetings. The charter date is October 1, 1967. The group was geared to businessmen. Dewey Brokofsky, a Honeywell employee, was a key member and recruiter of other members. Morris Buckmaster was the group’s first president.
Shortly after forming, the group moved to St. Louis Park, although their chapter banner still says Golden Valley. In 1972 they met at the Leaning Post. Other venues included the Anchor Inn, the Twin City Federal building at Knollwood, and the Park Tavern. Besides weekly speeches within the group, members volunteered to make speeches to groups on behalf of the Kidney Foundation, the Cancer Society, and the United Way.
As was happening with other organizations, women were increasingly unhappy about being excluded from Toastmasters, and women’s groups such as the Letterettes Toastmistress club were unsuccessful. In August 1973, Toastmasters International voted to give clubs the option of admitting women. Two thirds of the club had to favor admitting women in order to make the change. Speakeasy first voted in January 1974, voting no and taking a “wait and see” attitude. Debates were held with other Toastmasters groups, particularly the Pony Expressers, and the newsletter asked questions such as “Will high heels even yet haunt the hallowed halls of Speakeasy?” Finally, on October 30, 1974, women were allowed into the group, and the men were urged to tone down the “garboons,” which we must presume were off-color jokes. Helen Wegner was the first female member, joining in 1975.
Speakeasy Toastmasters newsletters were a reflection of popular culture, with jokes about women’s lib and streakers. The group also explored Transactional Analysis, which was being taught at Honeywell.
Club Number 5290 was chartered on March 1, 1991.
The club meets at Park Nicollet’s “Stilts” Building at 6700 Excelsior Blvd. It meets weekly on Wednesdays from 11:45 to 12:45 and meetings are open to all.
Club Number 5447509 was chartered on June 27, 2016.
Meetings take place at Magenic Technologies Inc., 1600 Utica Ave. So., Suite 800, St. Louis Park,
Club Number 6144 was chartered on March 1, 1986, and meets in the AAA building (5400 Auto Club Road).