District Officer Roles and Information
Why Should You Be a District Officer?
Think about the special moments of life, the moments that a member creates in Toastmasters. One’s memory serves as a personal treasure chest of experiences and these moments enrich one’s inner world. Certainly, most of us remember the day that we gave an icebreaker speech, and the look on the faces of club members as they listened. Even better: the moment of applause following the speech. Members in our clubs enrich our lives through a collection of “golden” memories that are unique to each of us – and yet are shared by certain universal qualities. Some qualities that we all know are the fears of going to the lectern for the first time, and the joy we feel when we hear the applause and words of appreciation from other club members.
The longer one is a member, the more memories you store. Remember getting elected to a club office or completing a project or a Path? Most of us have earned “Best Speaker” ribbons and perhaps awards for Best Table Topics and Best Evaluator too. Life seems a little sweeter as you think about what you have already created, and the doors of experience that you have walked through. We gain confidence as we remember these moments.
Experienced members can open their memory vault and “hold” their memory like a sparkling ornament or keepsake. It’s nice to reflect from time to time and appreciate those special moments. Wouldn’t it be valuable to keep adding to these special Toastmaster moments – especially those moments that prove to be qualitatively different and new? Most Toastmasters never experience applause, recognition and service that comes to us from district service, because they didn’t take a chance and step up.
Area Director (Appointed)
As Area Director, you serve as the direct liaison between the District and the clubs. The District Administrative Bylaws provide for the selection of Area Directors either by appointment by the District Director or by election by the Area Councils. Toastmasters International recommends that District Directors appoint Area Directors. Area Directors conduct club visits twice a year within their respective areas to understand and support club needs. In turn, these visits help District leaders understand how to support and meet the needs of each club. It is important that Area Directors have the support they need to serve clubs. The success of the District depends on it. Area Directors are eligible for re-election or re-appointment for one succeeding term only. Ideally, Area Directors have served as members of a District Council.
Division Director (Elected)
As Division Director, your job is to lead and support the Division through the supervision and support of the Area Directors. One of your primary goals as Division Director is to ensure that each club achieves its mission and fulfills its responsibilities to its members. To achieve this, you coordinate Division activities, set Division goals, and assist in the training of Area and club leaders. To serve as Division Director, you must have served at least six consecutive months as a member of a District Council. The Division Director may be re-elected to one succeeding term.
Club Growth Director (Elected)
As the Club Growth Director, you are responsible for all aspects of marketing, club-building, and member- and club-retention efforts within the District. This includes defining an overall marketing strategy for the District, developing outreach and retention efforts with existing community and corporate clubs, and penetrating new markets. Additionally, the Club Growth Director supports challenged clubs and helps them to become Distinguished.
Together with your District leadership team, you participate in District Leader Training, Mid-year Training, and online tutorials. To be Club Growth Director, you must have served at least six consecutive months as Club President and at least 12 consecutive months as a Program Quality Director, Club Growth Director, Division Director, or Area Director. Once you serve as Club Growth Director for a full year, you may not be re-elected to the same office for a succeeding term.
Additionally, at the time of taking office, an elective officer must have been an active member of a Toastmasters club in good standing for the entire preceding 12 months, or has been a member for 12 consecutive months within that past three (3) years, in the District in which the officer shall serve. A member may only be a candidate for elective office in one (1) District at any given time. A member may only serve in one position within any District. A Club Growth Director may not be re-elected to the same office for a succeeding term.
Program Quality Director (Elected)
As the Program Quality Director, you are responsible for all aspects of education and training within the District. This includes supporting quality club programming efforts, promoting the Distinguished Club Program, and planning and executing the District conference.
Together with your District leadership team, you participate in District Leader Training, Mid-year Training, and online tutorials. To be Program Quality Director, you must have served at least six consecutive months as Club President and at least 12 consecutive months as a Program Quality Director, Club Growth Director, Division Director, or Area Director. Once you serve as Program Quality Director for a full year, you may not be re-elected to the same office for a succeeding term.
Additionally, at the time of taking office, an elective officer must have been an active member of a Toastmasters club in good standing for the entire preceding 12 months or has been a member for 12 consecutive months within that past three (3) years, in the District in which the officer shall serve. A member may only be a candidate for elective office in one (1) District at any given time. A member may only serve in one position within any District. A Program Quality Director may not be re-elected to the same office for a succeeding term.
District Director (Elected)
As the District Director, you are responsible for directly overseeing and managing the District’s day-to-day operations, finances, and human resources. Fortunately, you have a team of District leaders to help you fulfill these responsibilities. You must empower your District leadership team to work together toward the District mission while supporting each one in his or her development as a leader.
Together with your District leadership team, you participate in District Leader Training, Mid-year Training, and online tutorials. To serve as District Director, you must have served at least six consecutive months as a Club President and at least 12 consecutive months as a Program Quality Director, Club Growth Director, Division Director, or a combination thereof at the time you take office.
Additionally, at the time of taking office, an elective officer must have been an active member of a Toastmasters club in good standing for the entire preceding 12 months, or has been a member for 12 consecutive months within that past three (3) years, in the District in which the officer shall serve. A member may only be a candidate for elective office in one (1) District at any given time. A member may only serve in one position within any District. A District Director may not be re-elected to the same office for a succeeding term.
Other Roles (Appointed)
Public Relations Manager
As the Public Relations Manager, you are responsible for coordinating publicity efforts in the District. By establishing and maintaining lines of communication between the District and its members, as well as between the District and the public, you work to increase awareness of Toastmasters through all available media. The Public Relations Manager may be elected or appointed at the will of the District Director, subject to the approval of the District Executive Committee and confirmation by the District Council. You are eligible for re-election or re-appointment for one succeeding term only.
Administration Manager
As the Administration Manager, you are responsible for maintaining the historical records of the District, recording and distributing meeting minutes, and otherwise maintaining accurate, timely records of District business. The Administration Manager may be elected or appointed at the will of the District Director, subject to the approval of the District Executive Committee and confirmation by the District Council. You are eligible for re-election or re-appointment for one succeeding term only. The office of Administration Manager and Finance Manager may be combined.
Finance Manager
As the Finance Manager, you are tasked with the fiscal oversight and management of the District. The Finance Manager works closely with the District Director, Program Quality Director, and Club Growth Director to ensure that the District is making cost-effective decisions—within policy—that result in effective fiscal management. The Finance Manager should have knowledge of accounting and be acquainted with the handling of financial matters. The Finance Manager may be elected or appointed at the will of the District Director, subject to the approval of the District Executive Committee and confirmation by the District Council. You are eligible for re-election or re-appointment for one succeeding term only. The office of Administration Manager and Finance Manager may be combined.
District Leadership Committee
From Protocol 9.0 – In order to ensure successful district elections, the district director must appoint a district leadership committee. The work of the committee is critical in ensuring long-term district success. They must (1) seek out prospective candidates; (2) evaluate and interview candidates; (3) nominate candidates; and (4) provide a complete report of candidates. The district leadership committee report must be presented to the district director at least six weeks before the district’s Annual Business Meeting. The committee nominates candidates for district office and screens candidates for eligibility. The district director appoints the committee chair no later than October 1. Remaining committee members shall be appointed no later than November 1. The district director cannot be a member of the committee. The committee must consist of no fewer than five members, one of whom is appointed the chair. If possible, the chair should be a past district director. No member of the committee can be nominated for a district office in the election at which the committee’s report is presented. District Leadership Committee Member Qualifications: Each committee member must be a member in good standing of a club in good standing and shall be selected from different divisions (or areas in districts without divisions). Each division (or area in districts without divisions) should be represented on the committee. Any committee member(s) may participate by telephone conference, email, or other means of communication when distance is an obstacle to participation. No member may have served on the committee the previous year. International director/officer candidates, region advisors and current members of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors cannot serve on the committee. To avoid the appearance of bias or impropriety, committee members having a personal or professional relationship with a particular candidate shall abstain from the discussion and voting, as a matter of good judgment. Members of the committee cannot participate in any campaign for district office nor endorse any candidate for district office.