Use of Web Pages
Guidelines for club, division, area, district and region web pages
Described in Policies and Protocol
Toastmasters International recognizes the value of web pages for marketing and information dissemination. Web pages at all levels should contain information useful to current and prospective members, officers, and leaders.
Intellectual Property
Clubs, divisions, areas, districts and regions may use the Toastmasters International trademarks on their web pages within the guidelines established by the organization as described in Policies and Protocol. As the trademark owner, Toastmasters International reserves the right to determine how clubs and districts use trademarks as part of domain names.
Clubs and districts may not include copyrighted information from Toastmasters International or any other source on their web pages without express written permission from the copyright owner.
Related Financial Matters
Clubs, divisions, areas, districts and regions may publish their websites in donated space and acknowledge the donation on the website. Clubs and districts may sell advertising space to offset the cost of renting space and increase club and district income. Individual members of Toastmasters clubs may not receive any compensation to create, maintain, or host web pages for clubs or districts.
Required Disclaimers
Member information may only be used for Toastmasters-related business. Therefore, a disclaimer must be included on all websites as follows: “The information on this website is for the sole use of Toastmasters’ members, for Toastmasters business only. It is not to be used for solicitation and distribution of non-Toastmasters material or information.”
Note: Club websites may be easily constructed using freetoasthost.org, a free service for Toastmasters clubs.
Website Features
Club, area, division, district and region websites should contain information useful
to current and prospective members and officers including, but not limited to:
- Event calendar
- Membership benefits
- Articles that help motivate performance
- Link to the club, area, division, district, or region newsletter or information appropriate for publication in the newsletter
- Distinguished program goals and progress
- Date of last update or publication
- Link to the Toastmasters International website, which is the primary source for club meeting times and locations
Club Websites
Club websites should also contain the club name, meeting time, location, and a contact telephone number or email address; the mission of the club; and a link to the district website (if applicable). Club websites should not contain material that is irrelevant to achieving the mission of the club. The club president is the publisher of a club website and ultimately responsible for its content.
Area and Division Websites
Area and division websites may also contain listings of Toastmasters clubs within the area or division; membership-building tips for clubs; the club and district missions; and a link to the district website (if applicable). The district governor is ultimately responsible for the content of area and division websites within the district.
Area and division websites must either be part of the district website or published on a free or donated web hosting site and linked to and from the district website. Websites must be transferred to the incoming district governor at the beginning of the term (July 1). If a website cannot be transferred or the incoming district governor does not want to continue its use, the page must be removed.
District Websites
District websites should also contain information such as how to organize new Toastmasters clubs; membership-building tips for clubs; a calendar listing appropriate information about events such as officer training, district conferences, the International Convention, and other significant events; the mission of the district and the mission of the club; and links to area and division websites within the district (if applicable). District websites should not contain material that is irrelevant to achieving the mission of the district. The district governor is publisher of a district website and ultimately responsible for its content.
Region Websites
Region websites may also contain information such as articles and ideas that help/motivate district achievement of goals; links to district performance information on the Toastmasters website; promotion of Toastmasters International programs; the Toastmasters International mission and vision and the district and club missions; recognition for achievements or progress toward achievements of district goals; district visits schedule and information; links to websites for districts within the region; district conference dates and locations; a list of past international presidents and past international directors showing their home districts and years of service only. The region advisor is the publisher of the region website and is ultimately responsible for its content.
Office-Related Websites
Officers, including district leaders and international directors and officers, may not create office-related websites separate from the club, area, division, district or region websites. Officers may reference their Toastmasters membership and position on a personal website.