District News

Convention Registration Now Open — Wide-open communication awaits in vibrant Vancouver this August. Come explore, learn, and network with peers from around the globe. Sign up now to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

Call for Convention Sponsors — Toastmasters International invites you to join its highly anticipated annual event by securing a sponsor opportunity like no other. Sponsors will be put face-to-face with Toastmasters leaders and decision makers during this 3-day sponsorship opportunity. Learn more on the convention sponsors webpage.

Prepare for Quarterfinals — Is your District ready to record your International Speech Contest for quarterfinals? To help you avoid the pitfalls that have led to past disqualifications, World Headquarters is hosting a webinar that will cover tips for a successful recording that meets the rules outlined in the Speech Contest Rulebook. The webinar is taking place this month—register for the February 11 session here and for the February 12 session here.

Recognize Your Corporate Sponsors — If your District is scheduled for an official International Officer or International Director District Visit this spring, consider nominating up to two corporate sponsors for the Corporate Recognition Award. Nominations are due 6-8 weeks prior to your event. To learn more, access marketing materials, and submit the nomination form, visit the Corporate Recognition Award program page. The deadline to submit a nomination is March 25.

Submit Club Officer Training Reports — The due date to complete the second round of club officer training is February 28. Club officer training credit should be entered through District Central by March 31 for accurate reporting in the Distinguished Club Program. Districts will have until May 31 to make final adjustments to the second round of club officer training. Please review the Distinguished Performance Reports regularly for accuracy.

Nominate Your Fellow Toastmasters — Each year at the Toastmasters International Convention, the International President announces recipients for a Presidential Citation. This citation is presented to members who have shown continual support and dedication to the organization. Recipients of this citation are selected by the International President. Nominations for this citation may be sent to Toastmasters International using the online nomination form. The deadline for nominations is April 1.

Learn About International Director Candidates — The Toastmasters International Leadership Committee has nominated International Director candidates for the 2026-2027 Board of Directors. Voting will take place at the Annual Business Meeting in August 2026. Find out more about the candidates on the International Candidates webpage.

Speechcraft Made Easy — A great way for clubs to grow membership and gain name recognition is to host a Speechcraft program. Speechcraft is one of the most effective membership boosters, and it doesn’t have to be daunting or complicated. Learn some tips for putting on a successful program for the community – one that will benefit potential new members and grow the skills of current members.

Next-Gen Communication — If you have a club that needs a boost in membership and in the community, encourage them to investigate the Youth Leadership Program (YLP). Members know the importance of gaining strong communication skills, and YLP is a great way to share some tips and tools with students under age 18. Gain insights into how the program not only teaches speaking and leadership skills to young people but also helps members gain important real-world experience.

A Club Boost — For clubs that are experiencing challenges—such as low membership, lack of energy, and unmotivated members—the Club Coach Program could be the answer. Find out how to grow a strong program in your District, one that provides a true partnership and revives the clubs and growing leadership skills of the coach.

New Paths Coming Soon! — Later this year, you'll have the opportunity to step into Toastmasters history through two vintage paths. Basic Training for Toastmasters will feature a version of Toastmasters content first introduced by Ralph C. Smedley in 1943. The Communication Series: Entertaining + Storytelling will include the beloved Competent Communication manual, along with The Entertaining Speaker and Storytelling advanced manuals.

Thank You, Mid-year Training Attendees! — Mid-year Training is built on foundational sessions conducted at District Leader Training last August. Your discussions, sharing of best practices, and collaboration made the training valuable and tremendously successful. We wish you the best of luck in achieving your year-end goals.

Successful District Elections Start Here — The District Leadership Committee (DLC) is responsible for seeking, identifying, evaluating, and nominating the best-qualified candidate(s) for each role to ensure long-term District success. The DLC notifies the District Director of the nominated candidates six (6) weeks prior to the election date, and the DLC report must be posted four (4) weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the District Council. If your District is realigning for the 2026-2027 program year, the DLC will send their nominated candidates list to the District Transition Committee.

Avoid Common District Alignment Missteps — Suspended clubs cannot be assigned an alignment for the 2026-2027 program year. The Alignment Committee cannot include suspended clubs when preparing the alignment proposal. Clubs that are low or ineligible must be aligned, however they will not count toward the minimum club requirement of four (4) clubs per Area. Prospective clubs may be considered for alignment by the Alignment Committee only if the club is chartered by June 30. Clubs organized or reinstated after June 30 will be aligned by the District Director, who will later seek approval from the District Executive Committee at the next scheduled meeting. Email any District alignment questions to districts@toastmasters.org.

Review District Operating Procedures — Many Districts establish operating procedures to guide them and provide consistency from year to year. Review the District operating procedures regularly to ensure they are relevant and current. If the District changes the operating procedures, follow the guidelines in the District Leadership Handbook. Email the proposed changes to districts@toastmasters.org for review. Once approved by the District Executive Committee or District Council, post any approved changes on the District website.

Club/District Alignment Information — Where will your club be assigned to begin the 2026-2027 program year? Visit the District Realignment webpage to download available reports for Regions 1-7 and/or 8-14. These will be updated periodically to reflect the addition of new clubs and any necessary corrections.