91´«Ã½

1937 – Inter-Club Speech Contest begins

In the first Inter-Club Speech Contest, members compete against each other, with the event later becoming the International Speech Contest. The contest now culminates in the World Championship of Public Speaking^® each year at the 91´«Ã½ Convention.

1938 – International Toastmistress Clubs incorporates

Ralph C. Smedley and other 91´«Ã½ leaders offer their guidance for the International Toastmistress Clubs (ITC) to incorporate as a women-only group to parallel the (men-only) 91´«Ã½ experience. Toastmistresses operate mostly independently of 91´«Ã½.

Joint meeting of Edinburgh 91´«Ã½ and Toastmistresses in October 1949

1945 – First District outside of the United States

91´«Ã½ reaches this key international milestone when District 18 in Scotland is officially organized.

91´«Ã½ Club of Glasgow, Scotland (June 1938)

1951 – Regional conferences begin

Regional educational conferences begin to bring together members on a local scale, first in Des Moines, Iowa, and then in Columbus, Ohio.