Toastmasters International bids farewell to one of their most cherished members

The Toastmasters exist internationally to help people build their confidence and self-worth through practising public speaking in a safe environment. On 26 April, Toastmasters International suffered a huge loss in their tight-knit community when one of their members, Beth Thomas, passed away after a difficult battle with a terminal disease.

Tim Knights from the Florida Toastmasters Club shared his grief in a tribute to the fallen public speaker, activist and friend. Tim referred fondly to Beth’s impressive drive, which enabled her to rise through the Toastmasters’ ranks from member, to District Governor, to a very successful International Director.

“Beth can claim a lot of the credit for the huge growth of Toastmasters throughout Africa,” explained Tim. In the late 90s, she helped start Toastmasters Clubs in Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. In early 2000, she started a club in Kenya, which spawned 12 other Toastmasters clubs in Uganda and Tanzania. In the next few years, this incredible woman was able to bring the Toastmasters to Nigeria, Benin and Ghana. “Beth’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering the economic and political upheaval, and all the unrest throughout Africa,” he continued.

With all the successes Beth achieved in her lifetime, she was described as a humble, people-orientated woman to the end; reaching out to under-privileged people, setting up Toastmaster clubs in under-funded universities and prisons. The prison-based clubs she helped to start have become part of the prison rehabilitation process and because of her efforts, prisoners have even competed at area and divisional levels in the Toastmasters. Away from the clubs, Beth would work tirelessly to help orphans and homeless children she encountered.

Tim described Beth as a remarkable woman, doing remarkable work. The Record sends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of this fallen Toastmasters icon.