October 2024 Leader Letter

Go Big with Memorabilia — So many limited-edition centennial options. What will your centennial celebration box hold? Buy in bulk with your club for better shipping costs.

Streaming Now: 100 Years of Confident Voices — Watch this new documentary with your club to be inspired by the organization’s 100-year journey.

October and April Dues Accepted Online — Inspire your members to continue their journey; you can still submit October dues payments through the Membership Management page to keep your club and members in good standing. You can also now begin submitting April and October 2025 dues as well! If you need assistance, please email the Club Quality and Member Support Team or call +1 720-439-5050 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday–Friday. Review the Renewal Dues FAQ for additional support.

Share Your Centennial Snaps — Make October unforgettable, Toastmasters! Share photos and videos of you, your club, District, and friends celebrating Toastmasters' 100th anniversary. Join the fun by using and following the #Toastmasters and #Toastmasters100Years hashtags. We can’t wait to see all the amazing celebrations this month!

Happy Anniversary, Toastmasters! — Celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary this month with helpful resources.

Add Shine to Your LinkedIn with a Centennial Cover Photo — Show your Toastmasters spirit to your connections with this fresh update.

Digital Guest Packet — The “Why Toastmasters?” page is a great link to include in your email to a guest after they visit your club. There, potential members will find the same information found in the Guest Packet, including Toastmasters' structure, how members can grow, and details on how to join your club.

Meeting Minutes — One of the main responsibilities of the Club Secretary is to record the meeting minutes. Templates and examples are available online for club meetings and Club Executive meetings. Also available are branded letterhead options.

Getting Better With Age — Toastmasters turns 100 this month, but does that mean it’s slowing down with age? Toastmaster Toolbox author Bill Brown, DTM, lays out four ways the organization still provides opportunities for growth.

The Enduring Structure of Club Meetings — While much has changed with the club experience over the last century, a remarkable amount has stayed the same.

Celebrate the Centennial in Style! — Whether you want to delve into Toastmasters’ history, gather with other members, or stir up excitement at your meetings, use this list of ideas for how your club can celebrate Toastmasters’ centennial year.

Continue the Toastmasters Legacy — International President Radhi Spear, DTM, reflects on the impact that Toastmasters has had on her life and the lives of others. She gives four suggestions for how you can help honor the founder, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, this anniversary month.

The New Base Camp Is Almost Here! — The system where you access the Pathways learning experience is being updated to a new platform that will better support members. To prepare for this transition, Base Camp will be unavailable from October 9, through October 25, 2024. Learn more about how to prepare.

Looking for Your Renewals? — Has your club submitted information for members to be renewed that is still not reflected on your club's roster? If your club has submitted payment by wire transfer, this may be the reason for the delay. Please email the wire transfer confirmation (commonly called the SWIFT Receipt) to the Finance Team. They will ensure the funds are allocated to renew the appropriate members. During the increased volume for the renewal period, please send only one communication regarding confirmation for the wire transfer.

Third-Party Accounts No Longer Available — Platforms such as Google Workspace, Canva, and Monday require a host verification step to create a non-profit account. The process for this verification has not worked well for our 14,000+ club size and has led to confusion within the third-party companies. Therefore, we are no longer able to offer this service. You may still create paid accounts within the third-party platforms using your own club or District information. The Brand Portal also has several helpful resources available for your club materials.

Submitting Payments — The preferred method of payment to Toastmasters International is by credit card; international money orders are not accepted, even in USD. If your club has submitted payment by wire transfer and has not received communication from World Headquarters, email the confirmation of the wire transfer (commonly called the SWIFT Receipt) to the Finance Team. They will ensure that the funds are allocated to your club for the purpose of renewing your members.

Contacting World Headquarters — When communicating with World Headquarters staff, please select a single email address. Including multiple email addresses on the same communication may result in a reply email not reaching you, and your email may be categorized as spam.

A Grateful Memorial — If Ralph C. Smedley were here to celebrate this month, he’d likely be filled with gratitude, just as we are. This milestone would not be possible without the support of each Toastmaster. Thank you for being an integral part of his century-strong idea to help members discover confidence, build speaking skills, and become stronger leaders. In 1965, the Ralph C. Smedley Memorial Fund® was established to further spread Smedley’s vision by supporting edu­cational initiatives, providing disaster emergency relief, and helping offset costs of materials for those under the age of 18.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes — Did you know that the meeting minutes for the Board of Directors are available on the Toastmasters International website? Explore the dropdowns on the Meeting Minutes page to read about recent discussions and decisions. Check back throughout the year; the page is updated regularly.

Invocations and Pledges — Invocations and pledges are popular ways to open club meetings with an inspirational message. They are usually one or two minutes in length, delivered by a designated club member, and are entirely optional. If your club chooses to open a meeting with an invocation or pledge, always respect the diversity of club members and visitors.

Using Club Funds — If your club has available club funds, you can use this money to purchase club materials, pay for the meeting space, purchase refreshments, and more. Additional information can be found on the Use of Club Funds page. You can also contact clubquality@toastmasters.org with any questions.

Smedley Award 2024 — Contest submissions for the Smedley Award have ended. All notifications regarding clubs that have earned the award will be posted in late October. For more information about the month-end closing dates and their impact on reporting, please refer to the Month-End Closing Dates page.

Need Help Logging In? — If a club member has difficulty logging in, use the Forgot Password feature, which sends an email prompting the user to create a new password. If that doesn't resolve the issue, email membership@toastmasters.org.