Core Values of Toastmasters

The final month of the Toastmasters year is upon us. This is a time when members often achieve their educational awards, and clubs strive to earn distinguished status.

It is also a moment for reflection on our accomplishments and the wonderful Toastmasters who have impacted our journeys.

On May 18, 2025, we lost a mentor and a wonderful man, Past District Director David Hopper, who passed away. I had the distinct honor of knowing David. We were members of the From Pen to Podium Toastmasters club together, and we collaborated on numerous Toastmasters projects.

I have so many unforgettable memories of David. One particular moment stands out for me. When David was District Director, he chose to speak about the core values of Toastmasters at a Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI).

What was truly amazing about David’s speech was his confidence and the effortless flow of his words. I knew that the core values were important to him and his speech and delivery inspired me to become a better Toastmaster.

In fact, David’s words and delivery motivated me to give an educational presentation about the core values myself. It can still be found on the District 3 YouTube channel.

I remember delivering that speech and thinking of David. It was August, and I was sweating profusely. I was presenting via Zoom and wondered if David would ever see the video.

I did my best, and to this day, I don’t know if he ever watched it. I was always slightly afraid he might think I had stolen his idea. It wasn’t that I stole the idea; rather, I was inspired by his wonderful speech.

I never took the time to ask him if he had seen the video. I simply never bothered. But David truly lived the Toastmasters lifestyle. He was a living example of how to incorporate the core values into one’s life.

Integrity

David firmly believed in having integrity, especially within Toastmasters. He always told the truth, but he did so in such a positive manner. One of David’s greatest strengths was as a strong evaluator. If David evaluated your speech, you could be sure you would receive constructive feedback on how to improve as a speaker. David taught us the importance of always doing what is right.

Respect

David was unfailingly respectful. He was the kind of person who respected everyone. There were times when David disagreed with me, but he never called me names or said I was stupid. David’s attitude was always one of agreeing to disagree. Respect was vital to David and to our club.

Service

What was remarkable about David was his dedication to serving our club as an officer and serving the district. David was so proud to be a club officer because he knew it gave him the opportunity to help new members. Every time he assisted a new member with their speech, his eyes would light up. He was always proud whenever a member delivered their icebreaker.

Excellence

Anyone who interacted with David would agree that he was excellent. He achieved so much in Toastmasters. David was a triple Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and served as District Director. He was also proud of his mastery of technology and Pathways. David excelled at answering questions; you could send him an email or text, and he would typically respond within five minutes.

One of David’s proudest moments came early in his Toastmasters journey when he was able to compete in the District 3 Humorous Speech Contest. David used to say, “I’m not emotional enough to compete in the International Speech Contest, but I can definitely compete in the humorous speech contest.”

Whether in speech contests or serving as an officer, David always delivered and wanted to help others reach their full potential. David was a shooting star in our lives, and he will forever remain in our hearts. Every time I think of David, I will remember the core values: integrity, respect, service, and excellence.