Toastmasters International -What Recognition Updates Mean

A smiling man in a gray suit and pink shirt stands in a blurred urban setting, holding a laptop or tablet in his hands.

For the first time, Toastmasters clubs can aim for achieving Smedley Distinguished, the fourth and highest level of recognition, allowing clubs the same recognition levels as Districts. The Board of Directors added the Smedley level to the Distinguished Club Program (DCP) starting with the 2025–2026 program year, which began July 1.

The Board also made other changes to the DCP and the Distinguished Recognition Program (DRP)—for Districts—to improve the programs. Board members said their objective for updating the DCP was to challenge clubs to reach for higher goals, to make recognition more accessible for clubs at all stages, and to encourage more clubs to participate in the program.

The addition of the Smedley level, which already exists in the DRP, provides a new and exciting challenge for clubs around the world who are already high performing, say Toastmasters leaders. That can lead to even higher achievement, and in turn, more benefits to members.

“When clubs set higher targets, members get chances to take on roles, develop skills, and be part of something a bit more ambitious,” says Toastmasters International President-Elect Aletta Rochat, DTM, who chaired a Board committee that studied how to strengthen the two recognition programs. “It helps build a sense of pride and keeps people motivated.”

“The new levels of Distinguished allow clubs of different sizes to strive and achieve.”

—Benjamin McCormick, DTM

That kind of spirit and effort translates into “quicker growth, stronger connections, and a more supportive environment where everyone pushes each other a little more,” notes Rochat, of Cape Town, South Africa.

Mark of Distinction

Clubs achieve Distinguished or higher status if they meet up to 10 goals (a combination of education, membership, training, and administration) in the DCP. The more goals achieved, the higher level of Distinguished. The four levels are Distinguished, Select Distinguished, President’s Distinguished, and Smedley Distinguished.

Clubs who had peaked at the President’s Distinguished level can now shoot for something higher. To reach Smedley Distinguished, clubs need to maintain at least 25 members and accomplish all 10 DCP goals.

“This higher bar encourages clubs to not just meet expectations, but to exceed them—resulting in stronger meetings and deeper engagement,” says International Director Violetta Rios, DTM, of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, who is also a member of the Recognition Committee.

The Role of Recognition

Recognition has always been a touchstone of the Toastmasters experience. Strong recognition programs celebrate member achievement, motivating Toastmasters by reinforcing their progress.

“Especially in a volunteer-led organization, celebrating even small wins keeps energy high and members engaged,” says Rios. “I’ve seen people grow simply because someone said, ‘I see you—you’re doing great.’”

Other changes to the DCP include the qualifying requirements.

Clubs must now complete and submit a Club Success Plan to World Headquarters by September 30 to qualify to participate in the DCP. The success plan—which is something clubs have always been encouraged but not required to do—is a roadmap to guide the club’s activities and measure its success through the program year.
The qualifying requirement for membership has also changed. Previously, there was only one membership requirement for all levels of Distinguished—that clubs needed to have 20 paid members or a net growth of five new, dual, or reinstating members by the end of the program year. Now it is different depending on the level:
1. To achieve Distinguished status, clubs must have 20 paid members or a net growth of three new, dual, or reinstating members by the program year’s end.
2. To achieve Select Distinguished, clubs must have 20 paid members or a net growth of five new, dual, or reinstating members.
3. For President’s Distinguished, clubs must have 20 paid members.

The changes are meant to benefit clubs wherever they are in their developmental journey. Past International Director Benjamin McCormick, DTM, of Springfield, Queensland, Australia, another member of the Recognition Committee, points out that the lower net growth requirement to be Distinguished “should make the entry level of Distinguished easier to achieve.” At the same time, the Board increased the qualification numbers for the highest levels of Distinguished, to spur clubs to stretch themselves.

The result is that “the new levels of Distinguished allow clubs of different sizes to strive and achieve,” says McCormick, a Board member from 2022 to 2024.

Updates to District Recognition

Some qualifying requirements have also changed in the Distinguished District Program (part of the broader District Recognition Program).

To be Distinguished, at least 45% of the District’s base must consist of Distinguished clubs—an increase from 40%.
The percentage of Distinguished clubs required also rose 5% for the other three levels (45–50% for Select, 50–55% for President’s Distinguished, and 60% for the Smedley level).
A District must also show at least 1% net club growth to earn Distinguished status, whereas it used to be simply no net club loss.