July 2024 Leader Letter
Club News
Toast Talk Education Sessions — Check out the just-unveiled learning trio at the 2024 International Convention! Hear three back-to-back 18-minute sessions, all designed to enhance your Toastmasters journey: From Likes to Leads: Build a Club Social Media Presence Amidst the Noise with Gianna Abao; Onboarding and Mentoring Mastery: The Missing Piece to Club Growth/Longevity with Marty Dickinson; and Keep ‘Em Coming Back! with Sravanthi Vallampati. Don’t forget to register to be a part of it!
Own a Piece of Toastmasters History! — A rich history awaits in Confident Voices: The Story of Toastmasters. Preorder this special-edition book to discover or revisit the inspiring stories and pivotal moments that have shaped our organization.
Negotiating Conflicts Confidently — Say goodbye to any queasiness you might feel when having a difficult conversation! Alice Shikina will be speaking at the 2024 International Convention to help us navigate conflicts effectively using her wealth of theater, mediation, and negotiation experience. Check out her session, Negotiating Conflicts Confidently, then register to experience it!
Revitalize Your Club's Growth with 4 Easy Steps — 1) Keep your club’s information up to date in Club Central. 2) Check your club's email every other day. 3) Reply to all emails from prospective members in a timely manner. 4) Include your online meeting information in the “Club Contact and Meeting Information” section of Club Central to help guests attend. For more helpful tips, read Find a Club Best Practices.
Share Your Centennial Snaps — July's social media theme focuses on the new program year and Toastmasters leadership! Share photos of officer installations, club officer training, events at The Learning Institute, new District leaders, and the Toastmasters new year celebration. Join the fun by tagging Toastmasters and using the hashtags #toastmasters and #Toastmasters100Years.
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Early Bird Ends July 12! — Make milestone memories this August at the 2024 International Convention, filled with all the traditional highlights plus the once-in-a-lifetime centennial celebration! Register for the in-person experience in Southern California, where it all began 100 years ago, by July 12 to receive the biggest savings on the registration price.
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New Club Officers: Plan for Success — Congratulations, new club officers! This is a fulfilling opportunity to grow as a leader and help your members achieve their goals. Prepare for your term by referring to the Club Officer Resources, the digital Club Officer Kit, and the Club Officer Tutorials. Your Club Executive Committee should also meet to discuss the club budget and Club Success Plan.
The Membership Management Page — Accessible through Club Central, this page includes your paid club members' names and contact details, when they joined the club, if they have selected a path, their dues payment status, and more! Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this helpful resource.
Celebrate Your Club Members — Becoming Distinguished takes effort from many members. Use the Membership Recognition Certificate to acknowledge members that helped your club become Distinguished for the 2023–2024 program year.
Spice Meetings Up — If your club meetings could use a little variety, the Master Your Meetings handbook is full of fun themes and events ideas. Members will welcome the creativity and guests will be more likely to become your newest members!
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Cultivate a Culture of Belonging — As a leader, learn seven ways you can ensure people feel connected.
Starting the New Year Strong — Did you just take on a leadership role for this next program year? Here are some tips and takeaways for guiding your club toward success as a new officer.
Strengthen Your Conversation Skills — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg helps you enhance your communication skills for better relationships.
Team Building for Lone Rangers — While working alone can be good for small projects, sometimes you do have to work with a team. Discover how to work with others effectively and fit in with a team.
Tune In! Meet Keynote Speaker Shawn Ellis — In this episode of The Toastmasters Podcast, get to know renowned motivational speaker Shawn Ellis as he shares his journey of resilience and adaptability, along with a sneak peek of his upcoming 2024 International Convention keynote.
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Make Your Club’s Voice Heard — Your club will soon vote on International Officer and Director candidates. Voting will take place next month during the Annual Business Meeting. More information on the club proxy assignment process will be emailed to Club Presidents, Secretaries, and liaisons this month.
Start the Year with High Club Morale — Recognizing your new club officers with a ceremony is a fun way to kickstart your club's success in the upcoming program year. Adapt the Club Officer Installation Script to make it unique to your club. Invite a club mentor or District leader to conduct the club officer installation. Showcase your club officers and recognize how their roles will guide the club. You can even present token items to club officers as thanks for their service!
What to Know About Region Realignment — On July 1, the regions of Toastmasters International realigned. This changed the number of regions in the Americas from nine to seven while changing the number of regions in the rest of the world from five to seven. Because of the realignment, certain Districts will be reassigned to a new region. Visit the Region Realignment 2024 page or the Region Realignment 2024 FAQ page for additional information.
Membership Applications Reminder — All new, dual, and reinstated members who join a club are required to fill out the Membership Application, available in 11 languages. Your club is also required to keep copies of all applications. Transfer applications must be sent to membership@toastmasters.org for processing, as transfers cannot be completed in Club Central.
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Step Through a Century of Toastmasters History — In-person convention attendees can explore Toastmasters artifacts and the debut of the new Toastmasters documentary, 100 Years of Confident Voices, at the Toastmasters Through the Years Exhibit! Register now to learn about Toastmasters history and chat with some Past International Presidents and World Champions of Public Speaking at the VIP History Corner.
Month-End Closing — Clubs that qualified to receive the Beat the Clock Award or become Distinguished will be notified in August. Clubs that achieved Beat the Clock will appear on the Membership Building Programs For Clubs page under the 2024 archive, and the Distinguished Performance Reports will then be finalized.
Club Coach to the Rescue — Club coach is one of the most fulfilling, yet challenging, roles in Toastmasters. Consider these suggestions to help make the coaching experience a success, for both coach and club.
Speech Contest Semifinalists — Results from region quarterfinals are in! Discover the two winners who are representing your region at the 2024 International Speech Contest Semifinals. These semifinalists will compete in a fully hybrid contest to advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking® at the Toastmasters International Convention on August 14-17.