Program Quality
The program quality portfolio directs all aspects of education and training within the district. This includes supporting quality club programming efforts, promoting the Distinguished Club Program, and planning, organizing, and executing the district conference. This portfolio also provides strategic direction to the District’s transformation journey to enable integration and alignment of people, processes, and technology.
Here are key contact officers on the program quality team for 2020-2021.
The Distinguished Club Program (DCP) is Toastmasters International general measure of club success and quality of service delivered to members.
A primary objective of clubs is to provide the best possible member experience so that existing members are retained and new members join. When clubs possess characteristics of quality, the member experience is enhanced.
The District supports clubs to enhance this experience through the working interactions of Area and Division Directors to promote the value of the program to the club’s reputation and to coach club officers in helping their clubs achieve their set targets in the DCP.
To help members achieve their educational goals in the Toastmasters program, clubs are encouraged to create a vision and develop a Club Success Plan, which for many clubs will be based on the targets outlined in the DCP.
By achieving a certain number of the targets in this program, a club can earn one of three levels of recognition:
Achieve five of ten goals | = | Distinguished Club |
Achieve seven of ten goals | = | Select Distinguished Club |
Achieve nine of ten goals | = | President’s Distinguished Club |
The following are DCP resources available for download.

Pathways is the new educational program providing a unique journey filled with opportunities to develop skills from more than 300 unique competencies. Members complete projects giving speeches and receiving feedback in a safe supportive environment.
The District provides clubs with training and resources to help with the full adoption of the program so that the club can be Pathways ready to deliver a rich experience to new and existing members.
Here are useful resources available for reference and download.
Pathways Overview |
Pathways Masterclass – A Deeper Dive |
Pathways Companion Guide |
Pathways Competencies by Path Guide |
The success of a club and its members depend on how well club officers execute their responsibilities. By providing leadership training and support, club officers can foster a positive environment that’s conducive to members’ personal and professional growth, allowing them to achieve their Toastmasters education program goals.
There are two rounds of training sessions conducted in the program year, between June 1 and August 31 and between November 1 and February 28, with facilitators from the educational development team delivering a quality training experience.
A minimum of four club officers, preferably all seven, are required to attend each round of training which earns the club a credit in the DCP.
Here is the guideline for awarding credit to officers who have attended training and are looking to be awarded credit for multiple positions.
Contact the Education and Training Coordinator at if you have any questions related to awarding credit for the training attended.
The following materials are available for reference.
Round 2 Training Sessions (November 2020 – February 2021)
Keynote Video Replays | Presentation Handouts and References |
Linda-Marie Miller – Speaking To Win | |
Jacqueline Smith – Online Contests | |
Kim Myers – Rethinking how we run our clubs | |
Round 1 Training Sessions (June – August 2020)
Keynote Video Replays | Presentation Handouts and References |
Dan McCosh – Planning for Club Success Overview | |
Mac Curfman Agile Leadership: Adaptive Mindset | Handout – Agile Leadership: Adaptive Mindset |
Richard Peck – Leading through Crisis | |
Dan McCosh – Completing the Club Success Plan | Club Success Plan Template |
Gloria Bosma – Leading for Club Success | Handout – Leading for Club Success |
Moments of Truth (MOT) Overview | WHQ – MOT Club Quality Assessment |
Gloria Shishido: Creating a quality club | Handout – Creating a quality club |
WHQ – A guide to club-quality | |
WHQ – Club Quality Checklist | |
Omar Nef – Creating a quality club | |
Kim Myers – Building a healthy team | |
Jim Kohli – Leading a hybrid club | Handout – Leading a hybrid club |
Role Specific Resources
Other Resources
Video Replays | Presentation Handouts and References |
Club Building Masterclass – Finishing Strong | |
Every year, guests join clubs as new members and existing members leave for various reason. Flourishing clubs focus on both recruiting new members and retaining existing ones. To support all clubs to achieve excellence, the District provides programs through the Club growth portfolio to train and provide clubs with resources and materials for membership building. The program quality portfolio provides clubs with the training, tools and materials to support retention of existing members. Membership retention programs include mentoring programs for new members, creative programming that offer massive value to existing and a recognition program
Here are useful resources available for reference and download.
Speech contests are a Toastmaster’s tradition. Speech competitions provide an opportunity for Toastmasters to gain valuable speaking experiences. By stepping outside of their comfort zone, Toastmaster members can test the skills they have honed and developed during club meetings.
Due to the impact of the pandemic crisis, the Toastmasters International board directive is that Spring 2021 contests at the Area, Division, and District levels would be conducted online. The District’s leadership decision is to have the spring 2021 contest as the International speech contest format only. This helps us manage the learning curve impact associated with using technology to enable procedures required for conducting table topic or evaluation contests.
The international speech contest competition beyond the district level is in three stages – the regional quarter-finals, semifinals, and the World Championship of Public Speaking® finals.
The mandate from World Headquarters for the 2021 Spring contest is that all contests at the Area, Division, and District levels must be conducted online. Starting January 16, 2021, the District is rolling out the training required for organizers (contest chairs, chief judges), contestants, judges, and those supporting as Zoom Masters, ballot counters, and timers.
- Due to the learning curve of conducting the first online contest, District 99 decided that only the International Speech Contest will be conducted for Spring 2021.
- Clubs with contestants should be aware that Speech contests from the area to the district levels will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Contestants and officials should consult the District’s Online Contest procedure manual and attend training to become familiar with the additional requirements and best practices that the District is in alignment with and be better prepared for contests at the higher levels. Visit the district’s website page for upcoming events to register for one of the sessions on February 11, 18 or February 27.
- In alignment with Speech Contest Rulebook – Page 8 – 3. Selection sequence B, if an Area has four (4) assigned clubs or fewer in good standing, two (2) contestants from each club are allowed to compete in the Area contest.
- The top two contestants for the International Speech Contest organized at the Club level can advance to the Area level contest and from the Area to the Division Contest level
- The top contestant at each Division contest level or the next runner up (if the top runner cannot make it) will advance to the District level of the International Speech Contest.
- Club Contests – March 13, 2021
- Area Contests – March 27, 2021
- Division Contests – April 10, 2021/21
District’s key contacts for the 2021 Spring contest-related questions are:
Questions relating to Area and Division contests should be directed to the Area and Division Director respectively.
All other related questions should be directed to
The following are related resources for conducting online contests.
Online Speech Contest Bootcamp Resources.
Replay – Linda-Marie Miller: Keynote – In it to WIN it! | Handout – Bootcamp Chat Discussions & Questions |
Replay – Contestants breakout with Linda-Marie Miller | Replay – Mock Contest & Debrief |
Replay – Contest Chair Breakout | Slides – Contest Chair Breakout |
Replay – Judges, Timers & Ballot Counters Breakout | Slides – Judges, Timers & Ballot Counters Breakout |
Replay – Zoom Masters Breakout | Slides – Zoom Masters Breakout |
The District’s recognition programs are designed to recognize the efforts and achievements of clubs, officers and members each program year. The focus is club quality and member satisfaction, and the objective is to promote, develop and sustain quality clubs.
Awards are presented at the Spring Conference to Toastmasters who demonstrate outstanding commitment, dedication and leadership to their clubs, areas, divisions and our organization as a whole. Club members benefit by understanding the qualities of past winners who are examples of those who go above and beyond in their participation in Toastmasters.
Here are resources for the recognition programs
District Recognition Program Manual | Of the Year Awards |
Distinguished Area, Division and District Programs | |
The district’s conference is an annual weekend event held in the Spring at the pinnacle of the District 99 Toastmasters’ year. Toastmasters gather from all across the district for a weekend of learning, speech contests, conducting the district’s business, renewing old friendships, and making new ones. It is all about the power of the community expressed through a first-class program packed with exciting activities, food, entertainment, opportunities to network, awards, educational presentations by keynote speakers and thought leaders.
Registration is now open for the district’s first-ever online conference. The theme is “Roaring into the 20’s“.
Joining us to kick off the Friday evening with a keynote is Toastmasters Region 4 International Director, Harold Osmund, DTM. This will continue with exciting team-building activities, the candidates’ showcase, awards, and socials.
Contact Conference Chair Danielle Barrett at if you have questions.
Click to learn more about this event
A critical element to creating a successful district that supports all clubs to achieving excellence is providing effective training for club leaders and division and area directors. Without properly trained leaders at every level, districts and clubs cannot meet members’ needs or introduce the benefits of Toastmasters to others.
Training for division and area directors occur three times a year, in June, August and January. The August training provides the opportunity to train these district officers who couldn’t make the June session.
The following are useful training resources for the division and area directors.
Document Library
Video Replays | Presentation Handouts |
---|---|
Sep 19 – Session 1 – A Day in the Life of an Area Director | A Guide to Club Visits |
Sep 19 – Session 2 – Distinguished Club Step-up Campaign | Distinguished Club Step-up Program |
Sep 19 – Session 3 – Club Growth & Retention | Club Growth & Retention Guide |
Sep 19 – DEC Meeting Proceedings | Sep 19 – DEC Meeting Minutes |
Video Replays | Presentation Handouts |
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Session 1 – The District Team and the year ahead | District Leadership Handbook |
Session 2 – Technology and Resources – Handout | Distinguished Recognition Program |
Session 3 – Program Quality Orientation | Program Quality Orientation Manual |
Session 4 – Club Growth Orientation | A Guide to Club Visits |
Session 5 – Concur Expense Overview/Leadership Q&A | Establish and Support New Clubs |
Division Directors | Area Directors |
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Roles and Responsibilities | Roles and Responsibilities |
Membership Renewal Quick Tips | Filling Out Visit Reports Online |
Area Director’s Success Roadmap | |
District’s Portal and Microsoft Teams |