Club News

Welcome, Club Officer! — As we enter the 2026-2027 Distinguished Club Program year, prepare for your position with the Club Officer Resources, digital Club Officer Kit, and the Club Officer Agreement and Release Statement. Your Club Executive Committee should also meet to discuss and review the Club Success Plan to ensure the club is set up to meet its program year goals.

Find Out What the Most Successful Clubs Use — Start your term strong on July 28 with a practical overview of must‑know tools and resources. During this webinar, you’ll hear from Edmond Joe, DTM, who has guided his club to Distinguished success for 20 years. You'll learn how to use Club Central, support membership growth, manage Pathways approvals, and run engaging meetings. Join us July 28 at 9 a.m. Mountain Time (UTC –6).

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.

Plan for Success — Ensure your club is on track to meet the Distinguished Program goals! Submit your Club Success Plan on Club Central by September 30 and edit or update goals and assign new tasks as needed throughout the year.

Start with the Club Leadership Handbook — Learn how to get started in your role with the Club Leadership Handbook—currently available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tamil.

Steps to Grow Your Club — 1) Keep your club’s information up to date in Club Central. 2) Check the Prospective Member Management (PMM) page frequently. 3) Reply to all emails from prospective members within 48 hours. 4) Speed up the joining process with the online Membership Application (sent from the person’s record on the PMM page). For more helpful tips, read Find a Club Best Practices, the Club Officers and Business, and Prospective Member Management FAQ pages.

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.

New to Club Leadership? — You’re not alone! Use these tips to navigate the transition, battle imposter syndrome, and manage new responsibilities.

Stop Apologizing When You Speak — Using regretful phrases like “I’m sorry, but …” and “Please excuse this ….” diminish your authority and make you send less credible. Try these alternative techniques that buy you time and boost your confidence.

Club Growth Inspiration — Copy these strategies that one club used to more than double its membership!

Help Shape the Future — Learn how you can take part in important business decisions and understand how the Toastmasters International voting process works.

Make Your Club’s Voice Heard — Your club will soon vote on International Officer and Director candidates to serve in the Board of Directors. Voting will take place next month during the Annual Business Meeting. More information on the club proxy assignment process will be emailed to Club Presidents, Secretaries, and liaisons this month.

Reminder: Get Those Applications! — Anyone joining your club needs to fill out the Membership Application, and your club needs to keep a copy of each one. For a simpler process, use the online Membership Application, sent from the top of the applicant’s record on the Prospective Member Management page. Transfer applications must be sent to membership@toastmasters.org for processing, as transfers cannot be completed in Club Central.

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.

Still Time for the Semiannual Officer List — Outgoing officers can still submit your 2026-2027 club officer list in Club Central by July 30. Your club must provide at least a President, one Vice President, and a Secretary or Secretary/Treasurer, and these offices must be held by three different individuals.

Membership Building and Distinguished Status — If your club qualified to receive the Beat the Clock Award or become Distinguished, you will be notified in August. Clubs that achieved Beat the Clock will appear on the Membership Building Programs For Clubs page under the 2026 archive, and the Distinguished Performance Reports will then be finalized.