Leadership in Action
“Leadership starts where support is needed most — at the club level.”
In Toastmasters District 99, the Area Director serves as the bridge between clubs and the broader District. Tasked with supporting up to six clubs, Area Directors are frontline leaders who play a crucial role in enhancing club quality, promoting member engagement, and cultivating a positive Toastmasters experience.
But more than that, Area Directors are coaches, connectors, and catalysts for growth.
What You’ll Do
- Visit each club at least twice per year and submit reports
- Host and chair Area Council meetings
- Support clubs in building and achieving their Club Success Plans
- Collaborate with your Division Director and other leaders
- Help coordinate speech contests, training, and recognition events
What You’ll Learn (Core Competencies)
As an Area Director, you’re not just guiding clubs. You’re also developing portable, in-demand skills like stakeholder engagement, coaching, strategic planning, and interpersonal communication, all aligned with the Toastmasters Pathways competencies and Canada’s Skills for Success framework. The Area Director role offers practical experience in several Pathways core competencies:
- Strategic Leadership: Guide clubs through planning and change, encourage progress, and manage competing priorities.
- Interpersonal Communication: Build rapport with a diverse range of members and leaders.
- Public Speaking: Lead meetings, deliver reports, and represent the District on behalf of its members.
- Management: Organize Area events, coordinate with clubs, and manage time across multiple responsibilities.
- Confidence: Grow as a leader while helping others succeed. Every club visit strengthens your presence and poise.
Pathways Tie-Ins: Leverage Your Service as a Project
Many Toastmasters forget that all activities can be eligible for Pathways project credit. Consider this as you take on new roles in your Club and beyond. Not sure how your District-level leadership applies to Pathways? Contact the District Program Quality Director for more info.
Your time as an Area Director can support several Level 3, 4, and 5 Pathways projects, such as:
Level 3 Electives:
- Make Connections Through Networking
- Connect with Your Audience
- Focus on the Positive
- Active Listening
Level 4 Electives:
- Public Relations Strategies
- Manage Projects Successfully
- Managing a Difficult Audience
- Question-and-Answer Session
Level 5 Electives:
- High Performance Leadership
- Leading in Your Volunteer Organization
- Ethical Leadership
- Lessons Learned
Tip: Use your Area Director term to complete multiple electives across different levels. Even if you aren’t in Level 5 yet, you can bank the experience for future projects.
Experience-Based Career Competency
Every club visit, coaching session, and council meeting helps you build competencies that are recognized by employers across Canada. The table below shows how this role develops real-world skills aligned with the Skills for Success framework, and professional expectations in today’s workforce.
| Skill | Toastmasters Core Competency | Skills for Success Match | Action Plan | Career Asset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder Relationship Management | Interpersonal Communication | Collaboration & Communication | Coordinate and coach 4–6 club executive teams through club visits, planning meetings, and ongoing support | Experience managing multiple stakeholder relationships in a volunteer governance setting |
| Strategic Planning and Coaching | Strategic Leadership | Problem Solving & Adaptability | Guide clubs through Club Success Plans, contest prep, and performance improvement | Demonstrated ability to lead planning cycles and coach toward shared goals |
| Confidence in Communication | Public Speaking + Confidence | Communication | Speak regularly at Area Council, deliver DEC reports, and represent clubs’ needs at Division level | Polished public speaking and reporting skills; confidence in communicating across organizational levels |
| Documentation and Reporting | Management | Writing + Digital Literacy | Submit TI-mandated reports after club visits, track progress toward club goals | Familiarity with data collection, structured reporting, and outcomes documentation |
Testimonial
“Serving as Area Director was both a challenging and rewarding experience. With clubs struggling year after year and showing little interest in rebuilding, limited financial support, and the inability to connect in person, all the clubs were fortunately meeting online, which helped level the playing field.
Hosting the area speech contest, which brought together multiple areas, was a term highlight. It was especially meaningful to connect clubs in my previous Area, to clubs in the new Area. These moments of collaboration and shared growth truly embodied the spirit of Toastmasters. I’m grateful for the relationships built and the leadership lessons learned throughout this journey.”
— Krystal Swimmer, Past Area Director, District 99“I found being an area director a valuable and rewarding experience in so many ways, many of which were unexpected. I grew in my ability and confidence to speak in front of groups of people I had just met. I grew in my ability to coach and organize. I met lots of great people and had fun too! Being an area director is great experience and confidence builder for anyone who is, or aspires to be, a leader.
— Bob Challborn, Past Area Director, District 99Through my journey as a Toastmaster, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an Area Director several times — first in the late ’90s, when I helped lead six clubs in west Edmonton. That role opened the greater Toastmasters world to me, introduced me to lifelong friends, and gave me opportunities to organize contests, attend conferences, and witness clubs grow and thrive.
When my home club later struggled, members from my former area stepped up to help rebuild — a generosity I’ve never forgotten. More recently, from 2021 to 2024, I once again served as Area Director, working with clubs in St. Albert and Spruce Grove. This time, as a more seasoned Toastmaster, I encouraged others into leadership roles and watched them flourish.
I’ve now taken on the role again for the 2025-26 year. Wish me not just luck, but success — as I wish it for you, in Toastmasters and beyond.
— Greg Laskey, Past Area Director, District 99
Next Steps
Whether you’re considering leadership for the first time or ready for your next challenge, the Area Director role is an incredible way to stretch your skills and support others.
Interested in learning more? Attend an Area Council meeting, shadow a current Area Director, or reach out to your Division Director.
District 99 is building a stronger future — one Area at a time. Will you be part of it?
Ready to Lead?
Curious about becoming an Area Director — now or in the future? You don’t have to wait to build your leadership skills. Join an Area Council meeting, shadow an Area Director, or ask your Division Director how you can get involved.
District 99 is always looking for leaders who are ready to step forward and help others rise with them.
