This topic is a summary of FTH changes from 2018 to 2025.
FreeToastHost continuously evolves with the volunteer development team implementing new features and improving existing ones.
Since August 2018 numerous features and improvements have been introduced. While the basis of the FTH version numbering system is, shall we say, a bit nebulous, this topic is a summary of the extensive updates that define FTH3.
A key point to remember is that all clubs are always on the same and most current version of FTH.
One feature that was added during this time frame and removed in 2025 is the ‘Not a Member’ links in club emails. FTH attempted to give FTH email recipients a link to opt-out of email from their former club. This was accomplished by moving them to the ‘Former Members’ list. Even with the added confirmation page, security systems that check links in email were triggering the move automatically and current members were finding they had been moved to Former Members. Topics related to that system are not included here.
Also not included here are the numerous improvements in the FTH admin tools that have been implemented during this time frame. These tools provide admin functions to the ambassadors to help support club site troubleshooting efforts on the forums.
The following list of topics are organized into section by the major FTH feature/module in which they reside.
The topic names within each section are the original announcement of the new or improved FTH function followed by a brief description of the change.
The link with each item is the original announcement of the new or updated feature. FTH invites everyone to continue discussion on any of them.
Agendas
Updated Feature - Previous / Next Meeting Agenda Buttons
Previous / Next Meeting Agenda Buttons added the dated agenda toolbar to provide additional agenda navigation options.
Updated Feature Discussion
NEW FUNCTIONALITY - Marking Agendas as "Reconciled"
Mark agenda as ‘reconciled’; added the ability to reconcile an agenda after a meeting to indicate that it reflects who actually attended a meeting and who actually filled the meeting roles.
New Functionality Discussion
NEW FEATURE - Agenda Attachments
This feature allows you to upload a file or link to an existing file that is "linked" to (associated with) the displayed dated agenda. You can also include links to the agenda attachments when you email out the agenda.
New Feature Discussion
Updated Feature - New Email Variables Added for Agenda Emails
‘Next Meeting’ variables added for use as email variables in emailed agendas.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Meeting Signup Sheet - Include Not Attending Row
Added an option to the Meeting Signup Sheet that allows you to include a "Not Attending" row at the bottom indicating those members who are listed in the system as not attending the respective meeting.
Updated Feature Discussion
Agendas - Roles
NEW FEATURE - Automatic Renumbering of Numbered Roles
Auto renumbering added to the agenda editor. When enabled, this will automatically renumber the grouped roles when a change is made.
New Feature Discussion
NEW FEATURE - Buttons to directly download Pathways Project Resources
Selecting a Pathways project from the project drop-down reveals two buttons that link directly to the corresponding Project Description PDF and Project Evaluation PDF files.
New Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Notification Emails for Roles *Assigned* in Agenda Editor
New meeting role change notifications functionality allows for notifications to be sent if someone (e.g. VPE) assigns a role to another member in the dated agenda editor.
Updated Feature Discussion
Agendas - Printing
Updated Feature - Toastmasters Printed Agenda Layout is Available
Toastmasters Printed Agenda Layout added to agenda printed format options.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Added Print All Speaker Intros to Print Agenda Dialog
Speaker Intros; a new button added to the Print Agenda Dialog so that you can easily print all the Speaker Intros for a meeting.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Print Meeting Description Print Option
Agenda Print Option added that allows users to toggle the inclusion of the Meeting Description in the printed agenda, regardless of which print layout you are using.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Hybrid Agenda Print Layout
An additional print layout added that is a hybrid of the FTH Standard and TM Print Layouts. The hybrid layout allows you to use your meeting description but also uses the left officer sidebar as in the TM Print Layout. This is intended to be a "compromise" between the two.
Updated Feature Discussion
Edit Your Profile
Updated Feature - Rotation of Member Photos
Ability to rotate photos added to the member profile editor.
Updated Feature Discussion
Home Page
NEW FEATURES - FreeToastHost Template Revision Released
Branding updates requested by Toastmasters International led to a round of updates related to home page appearance and content. This update introduces the new Quick Meeting Role Sign-up tool.
New Feature Discussion
NEW FEATURE: Google Translate Integration
Clubs now have the ability to show or hide the Google translate widget on their home page.
New Feature Discussion
Membership Management Module
UPDATED FUNCTIONALITY - *ALL* People Added to Membership Management Must Opt In
A significant change in FTH membership functionality that requires an opt-in process for people added to Membership Management.
Functionality Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Send New Member Welcome Email upon New Member Opt-in
New option to automatically send the ‘New member welcome email’ when the opt-in is completed by the new member.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Updated Undelete Function in Membership Management
The "Deleted Members View" replaced by a simple pop-up dialog that you can pick deleted people from to undelete. The deleted people are shown in the selection list from the currently displayed tab to avoid confusion between members, guest, etc.
Updated Feature Discussion
NEW FEATURE - Email Address Checker (in Membership Management)
An "Email Address Checker" tool was added to Membership Management. You can use it to just check the email addresses of selected members or all people in Membership Management. It presents the results in a pop-up table.
New Feature Discussion
Email & Contact Forms Module
UPDATED FEATURE - Crowd Sourced Blacklist w/ Email White List
Retired the confusing ‘exceptions’ list and made the white list the method for circumventing errant black list entries.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Crowd Sourced Black List Search
Laborious crowd sourced black list search replaced with a search feature that simply allows you to type in an email address or domain (prefixed by "@") to search the Crowd Sourced Black List for a specific address.
Updated Feature Discussion
File Manager Module
UPDATED FEATURE - File Manager File Access options added
File manager updated to add an Officers Only and Hidden access options for files.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FUNCTIONALITY: Easier to work with virtual folders in the File Manager
Changes to virtual folder function to provide better file management.
Updated Functionality Discussion
Meeting Agenda Settings Module
(these items are also available when editing any dated agenda)
UPDATED FEATURE: Custom Calendar Labels for meeting events on calendars
Added the ability to define custom calendar labels (e.g. other than "Club Meeting") for calendar events for each meeting as well as define them in your meeting templates.
Updated Feature Discussion
NEW FEATURE - Meeting Venues
Meeting venues added to Agenda Setup. Provides the ability to maintain multiple meeting venues in the agenda system.
New Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE - Added Meeting (Venue) URL to Meeting Venues
Added the ability to save an URL / web page address with each Meeting Venue.
Updated Feature Discussion
UPDATED FEATURE: Can Save More URLs for Meeting Venues
Update to the Meeting Venues feature to allow explicitly specifying a webpage address/URL for an online meeting (e.g. Zoom) in addition to the Meeting Info URL / Web page address.
Updated Feature Discussion
Dues Management Module
UPDATED FUNCTIONALITY - Dues Module Maintenance Update
Updates to variable functions and some formatting improvements.
Updated Functionality Discussion
UPDATED / NEW Functionality in Dues Module
Added the ability to import and/or set dates on the user's device calendar (as opposed to the club calendar) via links and a downloadable .ICS (calendar) file.
Updated / New Functionality Discussion
Club Site Login
NEW FUNCTIONALITY: Google reCAPTCHA v3
Implemented Google's reCAPTCHA v3 technology into the system to protect against bots and automated spam attacks. It was initially implemented to run in passive mode and (as of 2026) still does not present a challenge to anyone attempting to log into their FTH site.
New Functionality Discussion
Underlying Code
UPDATED FEATURE - Email Templates code updated for new storage
Email template system overhauled to allow for more storage usage and more email templates.
Updated Feature Discussion
Open Graph properties added to website template
When you reference your website by its website address in a social media website post (e.g. Facebook, X, etc.) the social media website picks up more information about your website and displays it with your post.
Template update discussion
FTH Support Site
UPDATED FUNCTIONALITY - Website Request Form Updated
The FTH website request form has been updated to improve robustness. Requesting an FTH site is an automated process that is intended to function without support intervention.
Updated Functionality Announcement
Topic Author
