About the Founder, Ann Hastings, DTM, PID

Toastmasters 90210 had its beginnings in 1998.

At the time, the club's founder, Ann Hastings, held a Toastmasters officer leadership role as an Area Governor. She decided to attend a 10-week Public Speaking course on Monday evenings at UCLA Extension. Her purpose was to evaluate the different teaching methods for public speaking: a college speaking course vs. Toastmasters International's teaching methods.

Following the conclusion of those 10 weeks, the students in that class had no interest in discontinuing the momentum that they had generated to achieve their goals of becoming confident and proficient public speakers. At Ann's invitation to this group of people, they continued to meet Monday evenings at the corporate headquarters of Ann's place of employment, joined as members of Toastmasters International and continued to pursue their speaking goals.

One of the goals of an Area Governor is to charter a new club during the one-year term-of-service. Having a group of people in that UCLA class, Ann found that chartering a new club was easily accomplished. Finding twenty people, the number required to charter a new club, who concurrently wished to work through the fear of public speaking, became the platform through which Toastmasters 90210 was born. Twenty years later, the only element that has changed is our location, which is now a roomy classroom at Beverly Hills High School.

Ann Hastings has achieved the designation of "Distinguished Toastmaster," the highest honor bestowed upon members who have accomplished speaking and leadership requirements. She also served as the District 1 Governor in 2002-2003. At that time, this leadership role required the governing of 100 clubs with a combined membership of 2,000 members. Following her term as District Governor, Ann ran as a candidate for International Director, a position that includes a seat on the Board of Directors of Toastmasters International. She was elected to that position at the International Convention in Toronto, Canada in 2005.

Ann admits that Toastmasters 90210 is her happiest legacy, as the club continues to meet regularly every Monday night twenty years later. And, as it turns out, it is easy to discover the contrast between the methods that UCLA uses to teach public speaking skills and the methods employed by Toastmasters.

Join us and discover for yourself!