District Realignment FAQ

Realignment is a process initiated by the Toastmasters International Board of Directors in which Districts with fewer than 100 clubs may have the District’s boundaries modified, which means the clubs will be redistributed into one or more Districts.

Regions 1 to 7 will be part of the District Realignment Program.
Regions 8 to 14 will not be part of the District Realignment Program at this time.

The Board of Directors has established a multi-stage approach for Regions 1 to 7 beginning in August 2024 with a projected completion date of July 1, 2026. A program for Regions 8 to 14 is anticipated to follow. Each District will be notified when the work will start.

The Toastmasters Governing Documents give an overview of the process from the perspective of the Board of Directors.

Protocol 7.0: District Structure, Section 4: District Realignment:

1. The realignment of a District occurs on the initiative of the Board.
2. The Board reviews the status of Districts with fewer than 100 clubs every three (3) years, or sooner if necessary, to decide if realignment is in the best interest of the organization.
3. When determining whether realignment is appropriate, factors such as the number of clubs in the District, market potential within the District, past performance, leadership, and geography are considered.
4. If it is determined that realignment is in the best interests of Toastmasters International and the clubs, the District is advised that it is being considered for realignment.
5. If the District wishes to remain a District and not be realigned, it is given the opportunity to develop and present a growth plan to the Board. The growth plan identifies potential markets within the District and provides a specific strategy and timeline of up to three (3) years for achieving 100 clubs and more. The growth plan is used as a baseline and is updated throughout the three (3) year period to determine if the District is on track to reach 100 clubs or more.
6. If a growth plan is accepted, the Board reviews the progress of the District each year against the baseline and updated plans and takes action in the best interests of Toastmasters International and the clubs.
7. If a District is to be realigned, the clubs in that District are notified of the date of realignment. The Board takes whatever action necessary to ensure that the clubs involved have the opportunity to participate in elections or speech contests conducted by the District absorbing the clubs.

The District Mission is: “We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.” In addition to starting new clubs, Districts support clubs by providing club and District officer training, other educational events, recognition, an annual conference, and a structure for speech contests. A District oversees a budget that funds training, recognition (plaques, trophies, awards), marketing, and speech contests.

In March 2024 the Board of Directors approved amendments to the Toastmasters Governing Documents to increase the minimum size of a District from 60 clubs to 100 clubs, effective July 1, 2025, for several reasons:

1. At the end of the 2023-2024 program year, Toastmasters has approximately the same number of clubs as 12 years ago. In the 2011-2012 program year there were 86 Districts. For the 2024-2025 program year there are 131 Districts.
2. The Board of Directors reviewed reports from Districts about the challenge in finding sufficient leaders at all levels of the District. These reports are much more frequent in Districts below 100 clubs as the number of available members is lower.
3. The Board of Directors reviewed the variable costs associated with running a District. On average, a District incurs more than 20,000 USD in costs each program year before there is any discretionary spending. In Districts with fewer than 100 clubs, this represents a much more significant portion of the District budget, providing less flexibility in allocating remaining funds toward the District Mission.

In summary, it is in the best interest of Toastmasters International and its member clubs to have Districts that have at least 100 clubs. As of the end of the 2023-2024 program year, 56 Districts have fewer than 100 clubs.

It is a program to realign member clubs in Regions 1 to 7 to Districts so that the average District size exceeds 100 clubs. Current Districts will be organized into Groups and each Group will be assigned to one of two stages, with realigned Districts starting in July 2025, and July 2026. A Steering Committee will lead the overall program. For each Group, there will be a Joint District Realignment Committee with a representative from each current District in that Group. Districts will have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposals.

As of the end of the 2023-2024 program year, 56 Districts have fewer than 100 clubs, equating to almost half of all Districts. As noted above, Districts with fewer clubs have more challenges, on average, in accomplishing the District mission. Out of 56 Districts, 44 are located in Regions 1 to 7. A comprehensive review of District boundaries, similar to the effort that every District undertakes each year to define Areas and Divisions, is necessary to make certain that Districts have the best opportunity to achieve the District mission—to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.

The Board of Directors has established a Steering Committee, comprised of past Board members, to oversee this process. The Steering Committee will have multiple sub-committees, called Joint Realignment Committees, tasked with reviewing District boundaries in specific groups of Districts. The District Director will appoint a past District Director from within the District, subject to ratification by the District Executive Committee, to serve on the appropriate Joint Realignment Committee. Each Joint Realignment Committee will present a proposal to the Board of Directors for approval after receiving feedback from the District Councils.

The desired outcome of this process is to have Districts with at least 100 clubs, so it affects nearly all Districts in Regions 1 to 7 irrespective of their current size. With the program put in place by the Board of Directors, the Joint District Realignment Committees will examine a geographic area and determine the best District boundaries to support the member clubs.

If your District falls below 100 clubs in the future, the Board of Directors has specified that your District will be given the opportunity to present a 3-year growth plan to exceed 100 clubs and may be assigned a District growth coach to support the District. The Board of Directors will review this plan annually.

The updated Protocol 7.0.4 will apply to your District starting July 1, 2025. This includes the opportunity for your District to develop a District growth plan, which is a 3-year plan to achieve 100 clubs, as well as the possibility of being considered for realignment.

The Steering Committee chair is appointed by the International President. The International President also appoints 12 Joint Realignment Committee chairs who are members of a club in the relevant group.

Each Joint Realignment Committee Chair is also a member of the Steering Committee. The Joint Realignment Committee will have a representative from each District within the group, appointed by the current District Director and subject to approval from the District Executive Committee.

The program begins in August 2024 and more communication will follow through October 2024. The first step will be for each District to submit their representatives and then the committee can be assembled before work begins.

The plan will not affect members’ experiences in their clubs. Members will continue to attend club meetings as usual and work on the goals they’ve set for themselves.

Speech contests will not be affected during the realignment process. They will be conducted as usual at the club, Area, Division, and District levels. Winners of the International Speech Contest at the District level will proceed to the quarter finals as per the Speech Contest Rulebook.

The District Realignment Program is a decision from the Board of Directors to fulfill their obligation to member clubs and support them in a fiscally responsible manner.

Provided the outgoing District budgeted for the event in the prior year, it may conduct a recognition activity to distribute the District-level awards and recognition as they would normally.

Because each District will have a representative on the Joint Realignment Committee, they will be able to provide insight and feedback during the realignment process. There will be ongoing communication between the District representative and their respective District leaders for feedback.

Currently, no specific resources are available on the Toastmasters website. We will communicate any new resources as soon as they become available and update this page.

• No disruption to the day-to-day club experience.
• The same leadership opportunities at club, Area, and Division levels as members currently experience.
• Fewer Districts will struggle to fill leadership roles and committees.
• There are benefits attached to being in a larger District with a larger budget, such as better incentives, more and better events, and more training options.
• Members may be able to travel shorter distances than they currently do to events such as speech contests and District conferences.
• A larger candidate pool for District leadership positions.