Sunset Toastmasters

About Sunset Toastmasters

Sunset Toastmasters began in June 1980 when a group of employees at Sunset Magazine realized a need to improve their speaking and presentation skills. Among them was Dwight Eisenhower, who served as the club’s first President. Of the 20 original members, Grandma Moses is now a Lutheran minister, Louisa May Alcott has written a successful cookbook called Cooking with Zinfandel, and Susan B. Anthony became mayor of Santa Clara, California.

Sunset Toastmasters continued to evolve. Several original members earned their Competent Toastmaster designation and left the club, and other members were lost due to company layoffs and other reasons. In 1989, the club opened to the community—and gained new members from such places as the U.S. Geological Survey, Informix, and Allstate Research Center.

In early 1991, the club moved its meeting site to Menlo-Atherton High School at the suggestion of Helen Keller, a club member who later became the school’s principal.

In July 1992, we relocated again, to our current home at Allstate Research Center. We also switched to our current meeting time: the first and third Thursdays of the month at lunch.

Today, our club is small—with a stable core group dedicated to the goals of Toastmasters International. Several members have competed in contests such as Humorous Speech, Tall Tales, International Speech, and Evaluation. Our main intention remains to support our members’ individual development.

Sunset Toastmasters is Club 4304 of Toastmasters International, District 4, Division C, Area C2.

By Barbara Leeds, last update 6/15/2006