District News

Welcome, District Leader! — Congratulations on being elected to your new role! Start your term off right by viewing helpful Toastmasters resources, including The District Leadership Handbook, the District Recognition Program, and the District Strategies Guide to enhance success in achieving the District mission. You can find these resources and more on the District Leader Tools page.

Prepare for District Leader Training — District Leader Training will be held in person at the Vancouver Convention Centre East in Vancouver, Canada on August 17 and 18 for 2026–2027 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors. You’ll develop core leadership skills, share best practices, and network with others from around the world. If you have not completed your registration, complete it soon so you can secure travel and lodging. You’ll get an email with more information about preparing for training, including Pre-work assignments, in the coming weeks.

Help Clubs Designate a Proxyholder — Voting is an important way for each club to make its voice heard. Club Presidents, Secretaries, and liaisons will be emailed this month about how to assign the club’s proxy as the first step to voting at the Annual Business Meeting. District Directors should contact club officers to ensure a proxyholder is selected to vote on behalf of the club.

Help Your Clubs Grow — A recent survey of prospective members showed that 54% of those who never visited a club didn’t for one reason: they had filled out the Find a Club form and never heard back from a club representative! Encourage club officers to use the Prospective Member Management page and the online Membership Application to help more people join. This step-by-step video shows how club officers can make the most of these tools. If you have more questions, please see the Prospective Member Management FAQ page.

Reporting Requirements Due July 15 — Districts must fulfill certain reporting requirements by July 15 to access the reserve account and place supply orders. Look for details in emails you will receive from World Headquarters.

Region Advisor District Visits — Region Advisor visits are intended to provide support, leadership development, skill building, mentoring, and coaching to your team. Work with your Region Advisor to get your District visit planned by November.

Prepare Your Club Building Strategy — The best club building tools are on the District Marketing Team page. Club Growth Directors should also keep watch for an email from the District Growth and Support Team at World Headquarters with more information and resources to guide your strategy.

Achieve Distinguished Club Program Goals — Review the Distinguished Performance Reports to stay on track for Distinguished status.

Get Ready for the 2026-2027 Speech Contest — The Speech Contest Rulebook for the 2026-2027 program year is now live! You can find the English and translated versions of the new Speech Contest Rulebook on the Toastmasters website. To see what changed in the new rulebook, view the Explanation of Changes document for line-by-line updates.

Packing Tips for Convention — Gain insight into what to bring to Vancouver this year, from what to wear (business to casual to formal), what shoes to pack, what to put in a medical kit, and how to choose an appropriate small gift to distribute.

Leading in the Age of AI — The world of AI offers valuable options for simplifying and streamlining tasks. But sometimes relying on AI prevents you and your team from understanding and learning important skills. Read about when AI can be most helpful, and when you should emphasize the growth of human skills.

More to Explore in Pathways — Later this year, the first exploration, Online Meeting Mastery, will be available as part of the Pathways learning experience. Explorations are in-depth learnings comprised of three projects focused on a specific topic. In Online Meeting Mastery, members will build skills for attending, presenting, and facilitating in an online setting. Check back for more information in the coming months on the Education Program FAQ.

Watch the International Candidate Showcase — No travel required! The recording of the International Candidate Showcase is now available. Tune in as the international candidates answer questions designed to highlight their abilities, insights, and experiences which apply to service on the Toastmasters International Board of Directors.

Speech Contest Semifinalists — Results from quarterfinals are in! Discover who is advancing to the 2026 International Speech Contest Semifinals. These 26 semifinalists will compete for the chance to advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking® at the Toastmasters International Convention on August 21.