July 2025 Leader Letter

Looking to Livestream Convention? — You can now register for an online 2025 International Convention experience, featuring select livestreamed sessions and highlights. Tickets are $100 USD and include unlimited On Demand access, beginning in late August. Don't miss this opportunity to watch, learn, and be thrilled by the next best thing to being there!

Envision It: There's Still Time for Convention! — Don’t miss the thrills, the wisdom, and the memories to be made at the main event of the year. Sign up to join the visionaries at the 2025 International Convention before two fast-approaching deadlines: the special hotel rate ends July 23; advance registration ends July 27.

Prepare for District Leader Training — District Leader Training will be held in person at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on August 18 and 19 for 2025–2026 District Directors, Program Quality Directors, and Club Growth Directors. Get ready to develop core leadership skills, share best practices, and network with your peers from around the globe. If you have not completed registration, complete it as soon as possible to secure travel and lodging arrangements. More information about preparing for training, including Pre-work assignments, will be sent via email in the coming weeks.

Schedule Candidate Talk Time — Have you scheduled a conversation with the international candidates? You can schedule:

• An online conversation with the candidates before the convention
• An onsite conversation with the candidates in Candidate Corner during the convention

Help Clubs Designate a Proxyholder — Voting is an important way for each club to make its voice heard. Club Presidents, Secretaries, and liaisons will be emailed this month about how to assign the club’s proxy as the first step to voting at the Annual Business Meeting. District Directors are encouraged to contact club officers and ensure a proxyholder is selected to vote on behalf of the club.

Reporting Requirements Due July 15 — Complete your District’s reporting requirements by July 15 to access the reserve account and place supply orders. Look for details in emails you will receive from World Headquarters.

Region Advisor District Visits — Region Advisor visits are intended to provide support, leadership development, skill building, mentoring, and coaching to District leaders. Learn more about the District visit process and how your District will benefit by having your Region Advisor visit. Work with your Region Advisor and get your District visit planned between July-November.

Welcome, New District Leaders — Congratulations on being elected to your new role! Start your term off right by viewing helpful Toastmasters resources, including The District Leadership Handbook, the District Recognition Program, and the District Strategies Guide to enhance success in achieving the District mission. You can view these resources and more on the District Leader Tools page.

Benefits of Team Building — Great teams don’t happen by accident. Learn how team-building activities create connection with your fellow club officers, encourage collaboration, and lead to a stronger team. Start the program year strong by trying some fun and engaging games that have a deeper purpose.

The Power of Collaboration — The old saying “two heads are better than one” resonates for a reason. Discover different ways teams can work toward a common goal while allowing everyone to offer perspective and skills, ensuring no one has to take on all the work.

What’s Your Zone of Genius? — Uncovering which activities bring you joy – and knowing the same about your team members – makes tasks more fun and allows everyone to grow and succeed.

Speech Contest Semifinalists — Results from quarterfinals are in! Discover who is proceeding to the 2025 International Speech Contest Semifinals. These 28 semifinalists will compete for the chance to advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking® at the Toastmasters International Convention on August 23.

2025 Accredited Speaker Program — The Accredited Speaker Program recognizes Toastmasters members who have reached professional-level status in their careers. In May, Level 1 applications and video presentations were reviewed by a panel of expert Accredited Speaker judges. We are excited to announce that two candidates will present at Level 2, taking place as part of the International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Learn more about the Accredited Speaker Program and register to see the 2025 candidates live in Philadelphia.

Get Ready for the 2025-2026 Speech Contest — The Speech Contest Rulebook for the 2025–2026 program year is now live! To see what changed in the new rulebook, view the Explanation of Changes document for line-by-line updates.

Third-Party Accounts Not Available — Platforms such as Google Workspace, Canva, and Monday require a host verification step to create a non-profit account; this is not feasible with 14,000+ clubs. You may still create paid accounts within the third-party platforms using your own club or District information. The Brand Portal also has several helpful resources available for your club materials.

Retiring: Video Speech Contest — The 2024–2025 program year is the last to include the Video Speech Contest. In recent years, the number of clubs participating in this contest has steadily declined. As a result, the Board of Directors determined not to continue the contest. For more information, please refer to the minutes of the January 30, 2025, Board of Directors meeting.