Have Clubs Collect Member Dues Soon — Club officers are responsible for collecting and submitting member renewal payments twice a year, in April and October. October 2021 renewals will be accepted beginning August 16 to allow ample time to collect and submit dues payments online in Club Central. Please review the Renewal Dues FAQ.

Calling All Toastmasters With Pets! — If you are a Toastmaster who has a furry, feathery, or scaly friend, we want to hear from you! In 300 words or less, tell us about your animal companion and how they might enhance your Toastmasters experience. Maybe you practice speeches in front of your parrot, communicate with your cat using hand gestures, or glean leadership tips from your Labrador. Please send a high-res image of your pet with your submission to magazine@toastmasters.org by August 13 for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of the Toastmaster magazine.

2021 District Leader Training — District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors: Join your peers from around the globe at virtual District Leader Training. Remember to complete your pre-work assignments prior to the live sessions on August 7 and 21.

Area Directors: Visit More Clubs — Area Directors play a crucial role in the positive rapport that Districts maintain with their clubs, largely through club visits. While two visits a year are required toward recognition, we encourage you to visit your club four times a year. Area Directors who visit at least 75% of the base number of clubs in their Area can meet one of the qualifying requirements of the Distinguished Area Program by logging into District Central and submitting an Area Director’s Club Visit Report. Area Directors may conduct their visits online as needed.

Help Clubs Assign a Proxy — District Directors are encouraged to contact club officers and ensure a proxyholder is designated for the 2021 Annual Business Meeting prior to August 16. This is an important time for clubs to cast their vote— in the International Officer and Director elections. If you have any questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions and/or email proxyinfo@toastmasters.org.

Train Club Officers by August 31 — When club officers are well trained, club members are better served, leading to increased member retention and greater satisfaction. Help club officers be the best they can be by encouraging them to attend Club Officer Training, which continues through August 31. Clubs will also earn Distinguished Club Program (DCP) credit if the Program Quality Director reports the training details via District Central by October 31.

Use 2021 Virtual Convention Resources — Encourage members and non-members to get excited about the Toastmasters International 2021 Virtual Convention by utilizing these new promotional tools: display 2021 Virtual Convention Zoom Backgrounds in online meetings; share 2021 Virtual Convention Presentation Slides with members before meetings begin; post 2021 Virtual Convention Social Media Graphics on social channels. There is the potential to make a world of difference by making a difference in each potential attendee.

Discover the Toastmaster Online Magazine — Whether you’re visiting the Toastmaster online magazine for the first time, or you’re a dedicated digital reader, this video will help guide you to making the most of your online experience. Share it with guests, friends, and family—there are articles and online features for everyone!

A President’s Path Around the World — International President Richard E. Peck, DTM, embarked on a whirlwind global tour, traveling to 141 countries between October and June. Read about his journey and listen to an exclusive podcast interview for additional details.

The Benefits of Branding— When you think of the Toastmasters International brand, what first comes to mind? The logo? The colors maroon, navy blue, and gray? The club banner? Learn how to best represent and leverage the Toastmasters brand in this article.

Confronting Our Hidden Beliefs — We often come at an issue through our own cultural lens and perspective. It doesn’t mean we’re wrong, but it can hinder our ability to communicate our message effectively. The good news about unconscious bias is that you can overcome it with time and practice. Read this August Toastmaster article to learn more.

The 2021 Virtual Convention Difference — Registration is now open for the Toastmasters International 2021 Virtual Convention. With the slogan, “Make a world of difference,” attendees are invited to make a difference in themselves and around the globe through a learning and networking experience that features 16 diverse education sessions in four new tracks, the World Championship of Public Speaking®, and so much more!

It’s Almost Time for the Semifinals — Get ready to cheer for the 2021 International Speech Contest semifinalists! During the Toastmasters International Virtual Convention, 28 contestants will compete in four semifinals for a chance to advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking®. View the full agenda for dates and times.

Congratulations Distinguished Districts — For the 2020-2021 program year, 12 Districts met their goals and achieved Distinguished or better status in the Toastmasters International District Recognition program. There were seven Smedley Distinguished, one President’s Distinguished, one Select Distinguished and three Distinguished District. Well done!

Congratulations Club Coaches! — We applaud all the club coaches who were successful for the 2020–2021 Program Year. If their second program year as a coach has expired, and they were not able to complete the task, they may be reappointed! For reappointment, the coaches will be reaching out to their District Directors or Club Growth Directors as they will need to submit a request to World Headquarters before September 30, 2021. Club coaches who can be reappointed will be sent a communication later in the month.

Region Advisor Application Process — Would you or someone you know like to be a Region Advisor? It is a rewarding opportunity to continue your leadership journey by supporting and coaching District leaders as they work toward the District mission. This volunteer position spans a 15–month term and reports to the International President. Applications for the 2022–2023 program year are available online and due by September 30. Visit the Leadership Roles Booth at the 2021 Virtual Convention for more information on the Region Advisor Program!

Looking for an Event Speaker? — If you have a District event coming up, keep in mind that there are resources to support you in finding a quality event speaker who members will be excited to hear from. You could invite a World Champion of Public Speaking or review a list of Toastmasters members who have earned the Accredited Speaker designation here. You could also consider supporting the Rotary/Toastmasters alliance by inviting a local Rotarian as a guest speaker.

Clubs Submitting Payments — The preferred method of payment to Toastmasters International is by credit card. We cannot accept international money orders, even if they are in USD. If a club has submitted payment by wire transfer and has not received communication from World Headquarters, have the club email the confirmation of the wire transfer (commonly called the SWIFT Receipt) to our Finance team at financequestions@toastmasters.org. They will ensure that the funds are allocated to the club for the purpose of renewing their members. Please note that our 10 USD fee only covers our transfer costs, so please have clubs plan for the intermediary fees when transferring.

New Clubs — Clubs chartering in September, the last month of the dues renewal periods, may wish to submit membership dues amounting to 52.50 USD per person. The extra 7.50 USD per person will be applied to pay the prorated renewal dues. By doing this, the club will not have to collect dues from each member twice in two months and will be paid until March 31, 2022.