Club Leadership Training Standards

2015-2016 DISTRICT 39 CLUB LEADERSHIP TRAINING STANDARDS

Overseeing and training club leaders to successfully fulfill the duties of their office position is one of the most vital functions of Division and Area Directors.  It is the intention of the Program Quality Team to provide every opportunity for club leaders to attend or be provided training for their club office position during the first and second round club officer training periods.  Division and Area directors are authorized by the district and by Toastmasters International to provide training under the following guidelines:

TRAINING PROGRAM GOALS*

  • Apply the concepts of effective leadership.
  • Give participants a practical understanding of their roles and responsibilities as district or club leaders.
  • Provide the tools to achieve Distinguished club, Distinguished area, Distinguished division and Distinguished district status.
  • Encourage planning, growth and member and club retention.
  • Motivate participants to function together as a team.
  • Encourage participants to read, review, and use the handbooks, manuals and other materials important to achieving success as a district or club leader.
  • Answer questions and stimulate discussion.
  • Give leaders a firm foundation for their term of office.

The Program Quality Team (PQT) will provide Toastmasters Leadership Institute Training events throughout the district during both first and second round club officer training periods. The (PQT) will also provide assistance, training materials and facilitators, if requested to do so by division and area directors or his/her appointed division/area assistant for training, to help facilitate club officer training sessions throughout the district.

TRAINING CLUB LEADERS*

One of the area director’s responsibilities is to ensure club leaders in the area have access to training sessions conducted by the district that equip them to succeed during their terms of office. Club leaders are elected to either annual or semiannual terms. Schedule club leadership training to accommodate these election schedules. Districts train club leaders twice yearly: in June, July and August and in December, January and February. For clubs that elect annually, the second training gives club leaders the opportunity to discuss problems and get advice from district leaders. It is also a chance to network with leaders of other clubs. For clubs electing semiannually, this training allows new leaders to learn their roles and responsibilities and meet district leaders. See Policies and Protocol, Protocol 7.1: District Events, 3. Club Leader Training, A. The way the training program is organized and administered varies from district to district. With your district leaders, determine what plans have been made for club officer training. In some districts it is conducted on a division level, coordinated by the division director and assisted by the area directors of that division. In other districts, the entire program is the responsibility of the area director. Whichever the case, encourage club leader participation in these programs. Club leaders must be trained by authorized district representatives in a live training session. While audiovisual aids may be used to enhance training, they may not be the sole method of training. For example, club leaders who simply view a video that describes their responsibilities are not considered trained, even if a district leader provides the video.

CLUB LEADER TRAINING*

  1. Districts train club leaders twice yearly: in June, July, or August and in December, January, or February.
  2. The Toastmasters Leadership Institute is the recommended method of club officer training. If the district chooses this format, it must conform to the guidelines published by Toastmasters International. The terms “university” and “college” shall not be used.
  3. All district events are training opportunities. As part of district and club leader training, districts may include educational sessions on communication and leadership for all members.
  4. District funds shall not be used to subsidize separate sessions for non-officers.
  5. Districts do not create any educational awards, including degrees, diplomas, or certifications.
  6. Districts only conduct training sessions focused on the training of club or district leaders and the achievement of the club or district mission. Policies and Protocol 7.1 District Events 175
  7. Districts do not compete with for-profit enterprises that deliver training programs. District-sponsored training is available only to members and their guests. These events are neither open to the general public nor used as fundraising events.

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District Leadership Handbook Rev. (3/2015) Pg. 49.

District Leadership Handbook Rev. (3/2015) Pg. 51.

Protocol, Protocol 7.1, District Events, 3. Club Leadership Training, A. (Pg. 174-175)