District News

Register for 2026 District Leader Training and International Convention — This year, registration for the two events is separate. Register now for 2026 International Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! After District elections have been finalized, newly elected 2026–2027 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors will receive details and registration information about 2026 District Leader Training via email.

Recognize Your Corporate Sponsors! — If your District is scheduled for an official International Officer or International Director 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.

Stay On Track To Be Distinguished — Ensure you reach your targeted District Recognition Program (DRP) milestones by focusing your attention and efforts where they are most needed. View the Performance Dashboard for the latest statistics on your overall District performance. DRP goals must be met on or before June 30, 2026. For more ideas to reach your goals, use the Club Building Curriculum on Basecamp and the District Strategies Guide.

Nominate a Fellow Toastmaster — Each year at the Toastmasters International Convention, the International President announces recipients of the Presidential Citation. This award is presented to members who have shown continual support and dedication to the organization. To nominate a fellow Toastmaster, submit the online nomination form by April 1.

Have You Completed Your Area Director Visit Report? — Submit through District Central on or before May 31, 2026, to receive credit toward the Distinguished Area program. Visiting your clubs four times during the program year ensures clubs are well supported. To reacquaint yourself with club visits, please reference Serving Clubs through Visits: A Guide for Area Directors.

Add Credit for Club Officer Training — Recognize club officers who attended second-round training by submitting club officer training (COT) through District Central. Submit COT updates by March 31, 2026. The last day to submit second-round corrections is May 31, 2026.

Find the Right Speakers for Your District Conference — One of the most important aspects of planning your conference is selecting educational speakers. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started.

Prepare for Speech Contest Quarterfinals — Review the quarterfinals success email series and District leader webinar recording (Passcode: n!Q7a0pY) for important information that will ensure your District’s speech recordings meet the requirements outlined in the Speech Contest Rulebook.

AI Pitfalls to Watch For — There’s a lot that AI can do for us, but it has its blind spots and not knowing them can undermine your credibility. Learn the flaws of AI and ways to check for and fix them so you can communicate and connect in an authentic manner.

Presentation Prep Tips — If you need to deliver a presentation, whether at your club, a conference, or work, make sure it’s the best it can be by following this advice for sharpening your message, organizing your content, and speaking with content.

International Officer Candidates Nominated — The Toastmasters International Leadership Committee has nominated International Officer candidates. Voting will take place as part of the 2026 Annual Business Meeting in August. Find out more about the nominated candidates by visiting the International Officer and Director Candidates page.

Hear Straight from the International Candidates — Visit the International Officer and Director Candidate page to view videos from the candidates. Click on the link for each candidate to find out why they would be a good Board Member and why now is the time for them to serve.

Help Clubs Maintain Good Standing — All clubs without eight paid members during the October 2025 renewal period have already received an email informing them they are no longer in good standing. Ensure membership dues payments for the next renewal period are submitted by March 31, 2026, to keep clubs in good standing. If clubs in your District are struggling with membership, consider offering them a Club Coach if they qualify.

Club/District Alignment Information — Where will your club be assigned beginning the 2026-2027 program year? Visit the District Realignment page to download available reports. They will be updated periodically to reflect the addition of new clubs and any corrections.

Ensure Paths Are Completed — Remember, members don’t receive Distinguished Club Program credit for completing a path until the Path Completion section has been fully completed—this means there’s an additional project for them to complete once they’ve submitted Level 5. The dashboard was recently updated to ensure that this educational award is reflected accurately as Path Completion.