A Brief History

District 18 was formed in the Spring of 1966 with 42 clubs from what was called the Northern Division of the National Capital District 36 and the clubs in the State of Delaware from District 38.

We achieved full District status in the summer of 1967. Our founding District Governor. George P. Arakelian, died during his district year, and his term was completed by F. Jim Butler. The District’s Toastmaster of the Year Trophy, awarded annually, is our memorial to George Arakelian.

During the early years, our District’s leaders developed a firm foundation. Countless hours of energy and imagination consumed much of our leaders’ time. They were getting organized, learning how to use the support available to us from World Headquarters (at that time in Santa Ana, California); creating and conducting training programs for District and Club Officers; discovering new sources of members and much more. So much of our success over the years is a direct result of the untiring efforts of these early leaders.

As the District and Toastmasters International began to grow, the leaders that followed built and an even larger District and have contributed significantly to the level of sophistication our District enjoys today.

District 18 has had six Presidential visits: 1969, Bud Howland; 1974, John F. Diaz; 1979, Eric K. Sthulmueller; 1986, Helen Blanchard (first woman president of Toastmasters International); 1990, A. Edward Bick and 2002 Gavin Blakey from Australia.

Some of the District’s founders include F. Jim Butler being elected to the Board of Directors in 1970. In 1986, Ted Wood became our District’s first member to be elected International President.

Will Johnson was the first District 18 member to win the World Championship of Public Speaking in 1976 at the International Convention in New Orleans, LA.

Frank Buckley received the first “Top Ten Bulletin” award from Toastmasters International for the District Bulletin, The VOICE. Hugh Carlton accepted honors for the first Club “Top Ten Bulletin” as editor of the Gunpowder Reporter for the Gunpowder Club 2562.

When Toastmasters International began accepting applications from women, the first woman to join a club in District 18, the SSA Club, was Audrey Hopkins Brown. Betty Abrams became the first woman Area Governor, and in 1983 Betty Temple became the first woman District Governor.