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News

Two Members Aim for Accredited Speaker Designation

Lauren Parsons, DTM, and Kevin Snyder, DTM, are candidates for the 2022 Accredited Speaker (AS) Program, taking place at the 2022 International Convention in August. The prestigious AS designation is awarded to professional speakers who combine in-depth knowledge of their subject specialty with exceptional speaking skills. Only 89 members have achieved the honor since the program launched in 1981.

This year’s AS Program will be held August 19, in a hybrid format: Each candidate will have the option to present either onsite from Nashville, Tennessee, or online from their home country (New Zealand for Parsons, United States for Snyder).

Club Building Video Contest

Congratulations to the three winning Districts of the club building video contest! The contest was created for Districts to share their successful strategies for building new clubs. The three winning videos will be featured across Toastmasters’ platforms and during the 2022 International Convention. Take a moment to view (and learn from) them all!

Updated PDF for Club Success Plan

By the end of the 2022–2023 program year, there will be a newly updated online version of the Club Success Plan! This goal-setting resource helps maintain focus on achieving goals within the Distinguished Club Program. While you wait for the online version to launch, you can access a more hands-on experience with a PDF version, available for download and completion outside of Club Central on July 1. Club officers are encouraged to use this new PDF for their 2022–2023 program year goal setting. Additional announcements will be made when the online version is launched. If you have questions regarding the Club Success Plan or this new version, please email the Club and Member Support Team at clubofficers@toastmasters.org.

Resources

Toastmasters Works in the Workplace

Today’s forward-thinking companies see great value in developing and improving employee soft skills, including oral communication, listening/presenting, and time management. Watch this video to hear corporate club members speak out on the benefits Toastmasters brings to their companies, then visit the corporate club webpage to find out how you can bring Toastmasters into your workplace.

New Club Coach Program Site

Serving as a club coach can be a valuable leadership experience, while being guided by a coach can transform your club. A new, comprehensive webpage for the Club Coach Program is now accessible on the Toastmasters website. The webpage, which launched July 1, 2022, provides detailed information about the program, including FAQs and rule changes that take effect in the 2022–2023 program year. Coaches change the game! Read more about the program in two articles in this issue.

Reminders

Listen to The Toastmasters Podcast

Twice each month you can hear two Toastmasters engaged in conversation with inspiring guests from around the globe. Sometimes it’s with the International President of Toastmasters or the new World Champion of Public Speaking; other times it’s with a doctor, comedian, or beauty queen. Tune in to current and past episodes at ToastmastersPodcast.com or the Toastmasters website, and make sure to look for episodes each month in Toastmaster online articles. You can also find episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other platforms.

2022 International Speech Contest Semifinals

Root for your region’s representatives in this year’s International Speech Contest Semifinals! Two contestants from each region are randomly assigned to each of four semifinals, which will be held during the 2022 International Convention. The regions for each semifinal have been determined, and you can check here to see the names of this year’s region quarterfinal winners.