November 2024 Leader Letter

Limited-Edition Gifts Await — Surprise the cherished Toastmaster in your life with the gift of once-in-a-century merchandise.

District Directors: Plan for Club Alignment — It is time to prepare for club alignment for the 2025-2026 program year. Please direct your Alignment Committee to review the information on the alignment webpage, and then provide them with a current club directory. The directory can be obtained by sending an email to listrequest@toastmasters.org. For alignment questions you may reference Protocol 7.0 or email the District Growth and Support Team at districts@toastmasters.org.

Area Directors: Submit Your Club Visit Reports — To qualify for the Distinguished Area Program, Area Directors must submit an Area Director’s Club Visit Report for first-round visits for at least 75% of their clubs by November 30. The reports are submitted online through District Central. While it is only required to conduct visits twice a year, your clubs may benefit from additional visits and support. We recommend visiting your clubs at least four times per year. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to review the club resources available as part of the Club Excellence Curriculum.

District Leadership Committee Member Selection Due December 1 — The District Leadership Committee (DLC) Chair must appoint all members of the committee by December 1 to ensure the DLC report remains valid. Each Division in the District must be equally represented on the committee and must consist of no fewer than five (5) members with no member representing more than one (1) Division. Reference District Administrative Bylaws, Article XI, and Protocol 9.0.

Make the Most of Base Camp — Watch this webinar recording to discover answers to user-submitted questions about the new platform. The Education Programs FAQ page also includes helpful information about the updated path and language offering, accessibility for members using assistive technology, and more.

Round Two of Club Officer Training — Round two of club officer training has now begun! While planning for the training, remember to use the resources available as part of the Club Excellence Curriculum. To receive credit in the Distinguished Club Program, the training must be entered online through District Central. You may begin entering training in District Central starting mid-November. If you have any questions about club officer training, please contact districts@toastmasters.org.

Tips for Nominating New District Leaders — The time of year to nominate District leaders is upon us. As you navigate this process, reference helpful resources such as the District Leadership Committee webpage, District Leadership Committee Handbook, Protocol 9.0, and the FAQs.

Speech Contest Winning Secrets — It’s time to start thinking about speech contests. Past International President Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS—a two-time finalist at the International Speech Contest and now a coach and mentor—shares his secrets for winning at any level.

Perfectly Imperfect — Do you or someone you know struggle with perfectionism? Find out how Toastmasters helps people overcome those tendencies and how to support everyone in embracing imperfection.

Gloria Steinem on Public Speaking — The author and activist has championed women’s rights for more than 50 years. However, at the beginning of her career, she struggled with public speaking. In this exclusive article, read about how she learned to embrace speaking to anyone.

Meet the Winners of the 2024 World Championship of Public Speaking — Get inspired before speech contest season by following the journey of this year’s three winners.

Want to hear more from 2024 World Champion Luisa Montalvo? — Tune into this episode of The Toastmasters Podcast and hear her journey to becoming the World Champion.

Tune In! Daniel Rex on Toastmasters History — Also on the podcast, Toastmasters CEO Dan Rex discusses Toastmasters history and growth, and shares some personal anecdotes. This is a two-episode event.

Mid-year Training — Throughout the month of January, Toastmasters International will conduct in person Mid-year Training for 2024-2025 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors. District leaders will continue to develop core leadership skills, share best practices and lessons learned, and network with others from around the globe. More information, including region groups, dates, locations, and registration information have been sent to District leaders via email.

Share Your Centennial Snaps — Toastmasters have been celebrating the centennial in style! Keep the momentum going by sharing your favorite moments from club speeches, functionary roles, evaluations, toasts, or any speaking event where Toastmasters has given you the confidence to present. Join the fun by using and following the #Toastmasters and #Toastmasters100Years hashtags!