About Us

The Club Up Project Mission Statements

To provide high-quality, unique, and pragmatic strategies for club growth and leadership
To foster a community of passionate club leaders
To develop a wide pool of leaders and trainers

The Club Up Project is always a work in progress. Resources and pages are constantly added as we create them and/or see a need. If you would like to contribute something that is currently missing, please Contact Us. We don't guarantee that everything will make it to publication, but we will always listen and work with contributors to achieve our mission.

The Club Up Project Team

Kate Norris, DTM

Kate Norris joined Toastmasters in 2009, agreeing to commit just 2 hours per fortnight. That plan went awry pretty quickly when she was made Secretary of her club almost immediately (they only had 7 members - they all had to pitch in.)

She helped build the club back to stength, and she's since started 2 more clubs (1 corporate, 1 advanced), been an Area and Division Director, the District 69 Conference Convenor, the 2023-24 District 69 Toastmaster of the Year, yet somehow has never filled the SAA role.

In her business life she teaches data storytelling to technical professionals such as analysts and engineers, to communicate with influence.

Kate lives on the bayside of Brisbane with her kids (2) and husband (1), and spends a strange amount of time upside down in a handstand.

Thomas Krafft, DTM

Thomas Krafft was made Sergeant at Arms on the day he joined Toastmasters; his 18th birthday. He had turned up to every meeting for over a year with his dad, and could finally join as a member.

He earned his first DTM at age 25, and now, 15+ years after joining, he's been a President of five clubs, Area Director three times, Eastern Division Director, Area Director Mentor, the District 69 Public Relations Manager, and held every club officer role. Plus, the 2024-25 District 69 Toastmaster of the Year!

He runs a business training presentation skills to professionals, helping them communicate their complex knowledge simply and effectively. And runs two side-businesses for fun.

Thomas also volunteers as a Geocaching Community Reviewer, and for Ocean Crusaders; removing rubbish from local waterways. He usually has bruises from woodworking in the garage on non-Toastmaster meeting nights.

Contributors

Joshua Morotti, DTM

Joshua joined Toastmasters in 2013 as a university student looking for a creative outlet in writing and speaking when studying an Electrical Engineering degree.

Turning his attention in the organisation first to competing, he placed 2nd in District 69 for Evaluation in 2018, aged 23, and competed at the District level for International in 2019.

He has been a Club Coach, Area Director, Division Director and was the 2024-25 Public Relations Manager (PRM) for District 69.

As a control systems engineer, Joshua works for a Registered Training Organisation, designing and delivering technical training in advanced manufacturing, helping upskill Australia's industrial workforce.

Joshua is a mere 4 years into a 9 month house renovation in Brisbane's south side, and (still) claims that he is almost done.

Melanie Surplice

Melanie first experienced Toastmasters during a Youth Leadership Program at high school, then joined her first club in 1994. She has done stints in multiple clubs in Sydney, London and Brisbane ever since - with some “life happens” gaps in between.

She rejoined in 2021, and has been club VPPR and President twice, Area 26 Director, and is currently the District 69 Public Relations Manager. She was also the creator and host of 'The Talkative Toastmaster' podcast, which ran weekly throughout 2023-2024.

Professionally, Mel has over 25 years of marketing and communications experience and currently trains franchisees across Australia and New Zealand in local area marketing.

Mel loves food, travelling and geeking out on content creation. Her current DTM project; the Club Marketing Edge Webinar Series, is designed to equip VPPRs with the tools and confidence to help their clubs thrive.

Valu Lale

Valu joined Toastmasters in 2023 and immediately was drawn to progressing quickly, and understanding the operations of the club. She has been VPE of Downunder Club and currently is their President - one of the youngest ever.

Valu provides help to other VPEs looking to improve their club with her excellent organisation skills, natural drive and cool approach to support.

The Club Up Project Story

Kate and Thomas first visited Toastmasters within months of each other in 2009. However, they joined separate clubs - only a few kilometres apart - that met on the same night of the week.

Both became President the same year and know they attended a few of the same conferences but somehow never met. It wasn't until 7 years later, when Thomas changed club and walked into Kate's club that they finally met and started talking.

They realised that they both had a desire to surround themselves with enthusiastic members, and be [even more] tragically involved with the organisation.

Together, in 2016, they started a successful advanced club that has maintained its core purpose of giving back to the organisation, and gives members a next step in advancing their speaking and leadership skills. They consistently deliver training across the District, coach clubs directly and indirectly, and have each competed in (and won!) contests at District level.

They found confidence in growing and maintaining club membership, developing a sense of pride along the way. This confidence and pride are feelings they wish for other club leaders to experience.

The Club Up Project has become a resource for clubs they are coaching, Club Officer Training sessions they run, and for their personalised, unique content to be shared.

Since then, more Toastmasters who love Toastmasters have contributed, creating and sharing their own outstanding training and resources.

Thomas, winner of Table Topics Contest and Kate, winner of Evaluation Contest at the District 69 Conference 2023.

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