August 2022 Leader Letter

Convention Awaits; Don't Miss Out on the Learning — There's still time to register to learn, network, and reshape your narrative! From the comfort of home or office, you'll have access to education sessions, networking lounges, the highly anticipated World Championship of Public Speaking®, and more. Sign up before it's too late!

Add Members, Win an Award — When your club adds five new, reinstated, or dual members with a join date of August or September during the Smedley Award program contest period, you'll earn a special ribbon to display on your club banner and you'll receive a 10% discount on your next club order from the Toastmasters Online Store!

Assign a Proxy — Make sure your club's voice is heard by assigning your club's proxy for the 2022 Annual Business Meeting by August 12! This is an important time to cast your club's vote for the International Officer and Director elections and for Proposals A through L. Ensure that your club's designated proxyholder will be able to attend the Annual Business Meeting, either onsite or online, on August 19 starting at 2 p.m. Central Daylight Time or Coordinated Universal Time -5. If you have any questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions or email proxyinfo@toastmasters.org.

Attend Club Officer Training by August 31 — Be the best officer you can be by attending Club Officer Training, as outlined in this schedule. Your club can also earn Distinguished Club Program credit if your District's Program Quality Director reports your Club Officer Training details in District Central by September 30.

Collect Member Dues Soon — Club officers are responsible for collecting and submitting member renewal payments twice a year, in April and October. October 2022 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.

Promote the 2022 Convention! — Get members and non-members alike excited for the 2022 Convention with these new promotional tools: display 2022 Convention Zoom Backgroundsin online meetings; share 2022 Convention Presentation Slides with members before meetings begin; post 2022 Convention Social Media Graphics on social channels, and use the 2022 Convention Email Signature .

Set New Members Up for Success — The New Member Orientation PowerPoint will allow a club officer or mentor to introduce Toastmasters International and the Pathways learning experience to new club members.will allow a club officer or mentor to introduce Toastmasters International and the Pathways learning experience to new club members.

Engage and Educate Your Guests! —The "Why Toastmasters?" webpage is an easy and interactive way to share information with guests! This web page includes the same information found in the Guest Packet, including Toastmasters' structure, how they will grow, and details on how to join a club.

Connect with More Prospects; Gain More Members — This new guide will walk you through how to maximize the tools already at your disposal for connecting with potential members. It also includes customizable templates to easily communicate with prospects and to keep track of your communications. Make a goal to implement the guide's suggestions this month!

Leading Without a Title — Too often people associate leadership with a title; however, you don't need to be a CEO to take charge. Discover four key actions for leading a team without the title, and how you can use your Toastmasters experience to gain leadership skills.

Building Your Club Policies — An up-to-date Club Policy allows your club to provide the positive Toastmasters learning environment that is expected around the world, but with a unique twist that matches your membership. Consider what could improve your fellow members' experience, discuss it with the club, and bring some ideas to a vote.

The Case of the Disappearing Path — Do you sometimes find yourself confused when clicking around Base Camp? This month's Toastmaster Toolbox provides step-by-step advice on three of the most common Base Camp surprises.

It's Time to Get SMART — Everyone has different levels of motivation and purpose as they travel along their Toastmasters journey. While there are a variety of goal-setting methods, many people find that SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Bound) provide a memorable tool to stay inspired and achieve objectives.

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 your club has submitted payment by wire transfer and has not received communication from World Headquarters, email the confirmation of the wire transfer (commonly called the SWIFT Receipt) to our Finance team (financequestions@toastmasters.org). They will ensure that the funds are allocated to your club for the purpose of renewing your members. Please note that our 10 USD fee only covers our transfer costs, so please plan for the intermediary fees when transferring.

Who Will Advance from the Semifinals? — Get ready to cheer for the 2022 International Speech Contest semifinalists! During the Toastmasters International 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 to All Toastmasters Clubs! — Club Distinguished statuses are currently official on the Dashboard page! Many clubs earned Distinguished status or higher; you can view the complete list on the Club Achievement section in Club Central. Congratulations to all clubs for the perseverance they have shown through the past year!

Congratulations Club Coaches! — We applaud all the club coaches who were successful for the 2021–2022 Program Year. If your second program year as a coach has expired and you were not able to complete the task, do not fret—you may be reappointed! For reappointment, please speak with your District Director or Club Growth Director and have them submit a request to World Headquarters before September 30, 2022. Club coaches who can be reappointed will be sent a communication this month.

New Look for the Online Magazine! — The Toastmaster magazine unveils a new look and online experience! Find the most recent content at the top of the page in our Featured Articles section—then keep scrolling for extra categories, like Editors' Picks, Top Tips, and Club and Member Spotlight. You also still have the option to download the full PDF issue. Want to know the most user-friendly feature of this refresh? You can now search for articles by category, author, month, and year on the new Explore page. Dive into the Toastmaster today to see the transformation!