New Way to Promote Toastmasters — Help spread the word about Toastmasters through our new Public Service Announcements (PSAs). The PSAs can be shared with your local TV and radio stations to inform, promote, and publicize the Toastmasters clubs in your area. You can find the full PSA here and the 30-second PSA here. The full PSA is also available for download in our Media Center. Email pr@toastmasters.org with any questions.

Schedule Talk Time with the Candidates — Have you scheduled a conversation with the international candidates yet? Please visit the biography pages on the Toastmasters International website for more information on the International Officer and International Director candidates. To schedule time to talk, candidate calendars can be found on this scheduling site.

Prepare for Success — Remember what it was like when you began your current role? Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then? Think about what your successor needs to know as they transition into your role, and refer to the Transitions webpage for ideas on how you can prepare them and the District for a successful year ahead!

Club Mentor Credit — Take note for your clubs: World Headquarters will start awarding mentor credit early for any members who mentored a new club chartered in December 2020. Mentors may receive credit as early as June 1, 2021. For the mentor to receive mentor credit, any charter officer may email newclubs@toastmasters.org, and confirm the mentor role was completed.

New Club Documents Should Be Submitted Early — More clubs charter in June than at any other time. To avoid delays and ensure program year credit, tell your clubs to submit their new club forms early. If you have questions about starting a club, view the How to Build a Toastmasters Club guide or email the New Clubs Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org.

Club Visit Reports Due May 31 — Area Directors: are your clubs delivering the best possible member experience? Evaluate clubs based on the standards listed in Moments of Truth, and submit your Club Visit Report online through District Central by May 31. We encourage you to visit your clubs four times during the program year to ensure clubs are well supported. Remember that your support affects the future of clubs in the Area and empowers officers and members alike to achieve their goals. These evaluations empower club officers to help members reach their goals; plus, submitting your reports is a requirement for your own Distinguished Area Program goals. Please email any questions to districts@toastmasters.org.

Report Your Alignment Changes — Each year, Districts must review and amend the alignment of clubs, Areas and Divisions, if necessary. In June, District leaders will receive an important email with instructions on how to submit alignment changes for the 2021–2022 program year. Please report changes on the alignment template we will provide in mid-June and email to districts@toastmasters.org as soon as possible but no later than July 15.

Traditional Program Awards Ending — For those working toward an ALS or DTM award or completing the High Performance Leadership project to earn the Leadership Excellence award in the traditional program, remember that award applications must be submitted by June 30, 2021; the extension allowing members to continue working toward these awards expires at the end of the 2020-2021 program year. For more information about this extension and submitting for these awards, view the FAQ.

Are Your Clubs Working on Last Minute Achievements? — All submissions for the program year must be received no later than 11:59:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 30. Submissions received on or after July 1, 12:00:00 a.m. Mountain Time will be applied to the 2021-2022 Program Year. Additional explanations of deadlines and submitting documents to World Headquarters are outlined in the Distinguished Club Program Manual.

Club Marketing Guide to the Rescue — Because clubs can sometimes be overwhelmed by the number of tools in the Resource Library, The Club Marketing Guide was created as a new resource to help them with their marketing efforts. It provides tips, goals, and links to marketing tools, all in one place.

Use New Website Templates — Take a look at the new WordPress Website templates, designed to help your club create a beautiful online look and feel.

Find Magazine Articles Faster! — Want a quick way to search for insightful magazine articles? Check out the new Helpful Articles section on the Toastmaster magazine webpage, where a menu of categories will help you easily locate the content you’re looking for. This page also includes Article Indexes from 2003 to 2020; these PDFs will assist you in your search for past articles by topic, title, author, month, or page number.

Peruse Updated Fliers — - Both “Find Your Voice” and “Uncover Your Leadership Potential” fliers have been updated in content and design. Use these great redesigned tools for club promotion.

Pointing the Way to Member Growth — It’s that time again to finish out the old and get ready for the new Toastmasters year. If you have been around for a while, you know this leads to a club discussion on the Distinguished Club Program (DCP). Discover how the 10 goals of the DCP can be a ladder to greater success for both the club and individual members.

Interruption Reduction — Unnecessary interruptions distract speakers, interfere with meeting flow, waste time, and stifle a meeting’s overall energy and impact. In this May Toastmaster article, learn tactics for being respectful, clear, and firm on resolving meeting disruptions.

Successful Leadership = Engaged Membership — Leadership is often about delegating tasks, looking at logistical questions, and making a commitment to fulfilling the needs of the people you serve. In this article, learn about six universal elements that help leaders engage guests, grow the loyalty of members, and develop brand recognition.

District Leader Training —  Toastmasters International will conduct an online training program for 2021-2022 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors. District leaders will develop core leadership skills, share best practices, and network with others from around the globe. Submit your District leader list as soon as possible so that we can share more details about this event as they become available.

Missing Dashboard Submissions — — As the program year closes, many clubs and members will diligently review the Distinguished Club Program Dashboards. Please note for your clubs, there is always a delay at the beginning of each month before the current month's business is reflected on the dashboard. While World Headquarters is working to close all orders received in the prior month, the dashboards will not reflect transactions and updates for the current month. The Month-End Closing Dates webpage lists expected dates for the dashboard to be updated each month, but these dates are tentative and not guaranteed.

Toastmasters and Diversity — In these times, it’s nice to know Toastmasters can represent a diverse group of people who respect and support each other on their journey to become better communicators. Get tips for creating an inclusive club for people with varied abilities in the article, “Helping All Members Succeed.” For online club ideas, refer to “Creating Inclusivity in Online Meetings.” Learn about building a quality club culture in, “What’s the Scoop on Your Group?” Hear speaker and trainer Sarah Khan talk about diversity at Toastmasters in this video.