August 2025 Leader Letter

There's Still Time: Envision It! — Get on board with the thrills, the wisdom, and the memories to be made at the main event of the year. Registration for the 2025 International Convention in Philadelphia is available online through August 15 or onsite from August 19 through August 23. Can't make it in person? Register now for the online convention experience, which includes unlimited On Demand access.

Help Clubs Designate a Proxyholder — District Directors are encouraged to contact Club Presidents and ensure a proxyholder is designated for the 2025 Annual Business Meeting prior to August 15! This is an important time for clubs to cast their votes in the International Officer and Director elections and for the eight proposals. Remind clubs that their designated proxyholder must be able to attend the Annual Business Meeting, either onsite or online, on August 22 at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)/Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -4. If you have any questions, review the Frequently Asked Questions or email proxyinfo@toastmasters.org.

Area Directors: Visit More Clubs — Area Directors play a crucial role in the positive rapport that Districts maintain with their clubs, largely through club visits. While two visits a year are required (either onsite or online), we encourage you to visit your clubs four times a year. Area Directors who visit at least 75 percent of the base number of clubs in their Area can meet one of the qualifying requirements of the Distinguished Area Program by submitting an Area Director’s Club Visit Report in Club Central.

Train Club Officers by August 31 — Help club officers better serve members by encouraging them to attend club officer training, which continues through August 31. Clubs will also earn Distinguished Club Program (DCP) credit if the Program Quality Director reports the training details via District Central by October 31.

Train Area and Division Directors by September 30 — District officers are better able to serve their clubs when they are prepared. Additionally, 85% of these officers must be trained by September 30 for the District to qualify for Distinguished status.

Expand Your Leadership Impact — Serving as a Region Advisor is a rewarding opportunity to continue your leadership journey by supporting and coaching District leaders as they work toward the District mission. This volunteer position spans a 15-month term and reports directly to the International President. Submit your application for the 2026–2027 program year by September 30. To learn more about the position, watch this three-part webinar series, or visit the Leadership Roles Booth, online or onsite, at the 2025 International Convention.

2025–2026 Club Building and Club Excellence Curriculums — Access the Club Excellence Initiative Curriculum by visiting the Club Officer Kit and District Leader Kit webpages for helpful resources. Also, the Club Building Curriculum is available again to all District Executive Committee members. To access the Club Building Curriculum, log in to Base Camp and view the “Paths and Learning” section to access the content.

Replay Success Strategies — Did you miss July's webinar focused on practical strategies that engage current members and attract new ones? Watch the replay and share with club officers to help spark member retention and growth.

New Year, Renewed Enthusiasm — Learn some tips and strategies to implement now to ensure you stay on track and keep your momentum going strong.

Searching for a District Conference Chair? — Finding the right person can be a daunting task. To encourage someone to accept the challenge, read about the real-world skills one member gained when she took on the role. 

Are You Praising Well? — Team members who receive regular praise are happier, more loyal, and more collaborative. In fact, giving specific feedback is one of the best leadership tactics­ to reinforce behavior and boost motivation—as long as the recognition is given effectively. Discover some do’s and don’ts to ensure your praise is taken to heart.

Inspire Confidence — Do you have your team members’ trust? Learn how developing an executive preference is the key to earning respect and leveraging your abilities.

District Leader Training — Develop your core leadership skills and network with others from around the world at this year's District Leader Training! Sessions will take place August 18 and 19 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, prior to the start of the annual Toastmasters International Convention. More information about preparing for training, including individual schedules, will be sent via email in the coming weeks. Please complete your Pre-work before arriving onsite, and remember to pick up your training materials during District Leader Training Check-In on Sunday!

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Distinguished Districts — For the 2024–2025 program year, 37 Districts met their goals and achieved Distinguished or better status in the Toastmasters International District Recognition program. There were 12 Smedley Distinguished, four President’s Distinguished, eight select Distinguished, and 13 Distinguished Districts.

Who Will Advance from the Semifinals? — Get ready to cheer for the 2025 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®. Find out who is competing and view the full agenda for dates and times.

New Clubs — To avoid collecting dues twice in two months, clubs chartering in September (the last month of the dues renewal period) may wish to submit membership dues amounting to $70 USD per person (plus $20 USD for new members). The extra $10 USD per person will be used to pay the upcoming prorated renewal dues.

No Longer Available: Video & Photo Release Form — Legal permissions need to be granted directly to the club or District that videos and/or photos are being submitted to. Review local regulations to collect express permission in writing.