Thanks to Past District Governor Larry Brown, DTM! Larry worked with Toastmasters throughout the District to compile this information. If you see anything incorrect or missing please let the webmaste know - just click on "webmaster" at the bottom of each page.

Toastmasters International has had a strong presence in District 37 for over fifty years. District 37 is comprised of the entire state of North Carolina. The Asheville Toastmasters Club (#436) and Greensboro Toastmasters Club (#439) were both chartered on January 1, 1947 and High Point Toastmasters Club (#582) followed on May 1,1948. These three clubs created an alliance of leaders and speakers who began building Toastmasters to its current level of over two thousand members in over one hundred thirty clubs across the State. Currently active clubs that were chartered in the 1950's are Burlington, Cape Fear, Durham, Forsyth, Goldmine, Goldsboro, Kinston, Mercury, Northwestern, Queen City, Raleigh, Saturday Morning, and Tarheel.

In the mid-1950's, District 37 hosted a visit by Toastmasters International Founder, Dr. Ralph Smedley. Dr. Smedley attended the District 37 Conference at the Battery Park Hotel in Asheville. Asheville Club Member, G. Edison Hill, hosted the visit. (Hill was honored by District 37 in 2007 for his fifty-plus years of Toastmasters leadership.)

Shown at left is picture of Asheville Club Member Edison Hill chatting with Toastmasters International Founder, Dr. Ralph Smedley, on the rooftop observatory of historic Battery Park Hotel in Asheville, NC in the mid-1950's. (Click on the picture to see a larger view in a new window.)

For many years, Toastmasters International was a men-only organization. The Chapel Hill Club opened its doors to women in 1973. Today, women comprise over 50% of membership in District 37, many serving in senior district leadership positions.

District 37 claims five International Directors in Region VIII and nine Presidential Citation Award recipients. Additionally, among the District 37 members who have competed in the "World Championship of Public Speaking" are Downtown (Greensboro) Club's Leonard Butler in 1959, Hornet's Nest Club's Larry Tucker in 2000, and Goldmine Club's Brian Woolf in 2003. (Brian represented District 58 when he competed.)

Click here for Past District Speech Contest winners

Click here for Presidential Visits to District 37

Click here for Presidential Cittions to District 37

Click here for International Directors From District 37

Click here for District 37 Toastmaster of the Year Recipients

Click here for Leadership Awards

Click here for District 37 Helen Yandel Recipients

Click here for District 37 C & L Award Recipients

Click here for Past District 37 Governors

Pictured above is a 2004 photo taken of PDGs at the Spring Conference in Winston-Salem, NC. From Left to Right, Bob Mick (2003 & 2006); Bill Mintz (1984-1985); Murray Senkus (1954-1955); Tom Dunn (District __); Jay Nodine (1978-1979); Anand Ramaswami (2001-2002); Patricia Tierney (1989-1990); Larry Brown (2000-2001 & 2004); Mary Cele Bain (1985-1986); Richard Reece (1996-1997); Barney Barnum (1992-1993); Marcia Barney (District 63, 1978-1979); Butch Barney (1975-1976); Peter Knudsen (1999-2000); Dennis Vickland (1991-1992); Sam Tukes (1993-1994) [Picture courtesy of Mike Kesselring, District Governor (2006-2007)] (Click on the picture to see a larger view in a new window.)

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