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President

Club Officer Training

TLI Winter 2026

Modified - November 2025

Chuck Mencke, �Jim Jameson, and others

Rev. 11/18/25

www.toastmasters.org

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Getting to Know You!

Brief Table Topic Style Introduction (2 min)

Name and Club
Years in Toastmasters
Toastmasters Education Level
Club Officer Experience? As President?
Issues to address?

www.toastmasters.org

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Training Objectives

Identify your role
Fulfill your responsibilities
Find resources that help you
Remember you’re never alone in TMs!
And NOT make this session DRY!

www.toastmasters.org

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President’s Role

What role does the President play in the club?

www.toastmasters.org

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President’s Role

Sets the tone/vision for the club
Provides leadership to executive committee and club members
Sets an example – Club CEO
Facilitates decision making

Proactive leader
Fulfill mission of club
Supports member growth
Base Camp Manager
Active member of Area Council

www.toastmasters.org

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Skills You Can Learn

www.toastmasters.org

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Before Club Meetings

Ask VPE about special recognitions.
Plan the business portion of the meeting.

www.toastmasters.org

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Upon Arrival at Club Meetings

Review the meeting agenda.
Greet guests and members.

www.toastmasters.org

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During Club Meetings

Depending on club practices:

Call the meeting to order.
Introduce guests.
Explain the meeting’s events.
Conduct the business portion �of the meeting.
Provide information for next meeting.
Make any announcements.
Adjourn the meeting.

www.toastmasters.org

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Outside the Club Meeting

Receive official correspondence from World Headquarters.
Interact effectively with other organization levels (Area, Div, District).
Attend and vote at Area Council and Annual Business meetings.
Appoint the nominating committee for club officer elections.
Schedule and chair executive committee meetings.
Develop and improve club leadership.
Assist VPE with Pathways Administration
Oversee Club administration and Distinguished Club Plan (DCP).
Club Success Planning and support for member achievement.

www.toastmasters.org

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Club Success Planning (really for any organization)

WHY – Mission / Vision / Big Goals (aspirational)
Why do we exist? How do we define Success?
HOW – Directions / Strategies for Success (qualitative)
How to approach our goals? What are key success factors?
WHAT – Specific actions / Tactics (quantitative)
How do we execute our strategy? How do we measure Success?

Club Mission+

Moments of Truth

DCP

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WHY – Mission / Vision / Big Goals (aspirations)

Examine/Reaffirm Club Mission and Goals (What is Success – for me / us?)

Individual Goals – What’s In It for each member? (TI Club Mission)
Collective Goals – What is our culture? What keeps us together and makes us special?� (especially for Corporate or Special Interest clubs)

Toastmasters Club Mission: �We provide a supportive and positive learning experience, in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

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HOW -- Toastmasters International - Moments of Truth� -- Key strategies and indicators of club success, based on quality & service.

First Impressions
Membership Orientation
Fellowship, Variety, and Communication
Program Planning & Meeting Organization
Membership Strength
Achievement Recognition

How do each of these support my/our WHY?

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WHAT �(Tactics/Measures)

Distinguished Club Program (DCP)

(the key measure of club success)

Example

http://dashboards.toastmasters.org/District.aspx?id=25

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Distinguished Club Program & Club Success Plan

Link to DCP Manual

Roadmaps to help the club and members achieve goals.
“Fluid/living” document - may change from month to month
Complete review and update by officers at the start of each new Toastmasters year
Include input from members and their goals/needs
Also provides info for Area Director’s Club Visit Report (twice per year)

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Distinguished Club Program Levels

Link to DCP Manual

New DCP changes for the 2025-2026 Toastmaster Year

New Level – Smedley Distinguished
Changes to Membership Requirements
Club Success Plan Requirement

DCP Level	Club Success Plan	Membership	Goals
Distinguished	Submitted by Sep 30	20 or growth of 3	5
Select Distinguished	Submitted by Sep 30	20 or growth of 5	7
President’s Distinguished	Submitted by Sep 30	20	9
Smedley Distinguished	Submitted by Sep 30	25	10

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Distinguished Club Program – Key Goals

P1 - Four Level 1’s

P2 - Two `Level 2’s

P3 - Two more Level 2’s

P4 - Two Level 3’s

P5 - One Level 4, Level 5 or DTM award

P6 - One more Level 4, Level 5 or DTM award

(Six educational plus four administrative goals = 10 total DCP Goals)

Six Education Goals for DCP in Pathways

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How can we be more successful in this club?

Examine/Reaffirm Club Mission and Goals (What is Success -- Our WHY?)
Individual (TI Club Mission) vs. Collective (for Corporate or Special Interest clubs)
Workshop on Moments of Truth & DCP -- Strategies/Opportunities
Among officers or full club (with optional survey)
Pathways Training for club and/or individuals
With mentoring to ensure Pathways adoption and awards!

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Something else to think about …

Consider Goodhart’s Law, which states that:� “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”
So don’t focus only on checking the boxes for DCP – � Keep the WHY and HOW as the primary focus and the DCP will happen!

This is especially important for Corporate or Special Interest clubs that may have three types of WHY – (Individual, Group, and Company) – with different measures for each! Find the common HOW!

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The Executive Committee Duties

President Duties

Oversee the executive committee.
Ensure the executive committee �completes its duties.

Committee Duties

Create a club budget.
Complete a Club Success Plan.
Strategize for success in the Distinguished Club Program.
Create and oversee other club committees as necessary.

www.toastmasters.org

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The President chairs the Club’s Executive Committee

Toastmasters is a volunteer organization, so each officer needs a backup, in case the primary is absent. For example:

Main VPM backup is VPE, then President
Main VPE backup is President, then VPM (or TM for next meeting)
Main President backup is VPE, then VPM, then VPPR
Main Secretary backup is VPE, then President
Main backup for VPPR is VPM & for Treasurer is President �(President also has access to club bank accounts)

July 2024 JimJameson83@gmail.com

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Some use a “RACI chart” to clarify roles & responsibilities

Responsible – for doing a specific task
Accountable – for the results of a task, and ensuring it was done
Consulted – may be asked to help or oversee a task
Informed – kept aware and “in the loop” of a task or activity

Whose Job Is It Anyway? (Who’s on First?)

July 2024 JimJameson83@gmail.com

The President is Accountable for the activities of all officers, and should always be Informed!

www.toastmasters.org

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The VPPR raises awareness that this club exists, what it offers, and how to contact us
Someone contacts the club (usually to VPM). VPM sends general TM and club info and invites them to visit

A Prospective member visits as a guest – Visits with VPM and receives a paper guest packet (if in-person)
The VPM sends a ‘Guest Thank You Note’, with links to Club’s public website and/or additional online info, per club practices
The VPM adds all prospects and visitors to a tracking spreadsheet and lists each interaction�

New Member Life Cycle Process - Example

July 2024 JimJameson83@gmail.com

www.toastmasters.org

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Prospective member joins: Fills out application, gives to VPM, and Voted in by club
The VPM enters new member’s info into club website (if used)
The VPM enters new member’s info into TI website, triggering welcome note from TI, with self-pay info (if used)
The VPM or VPE sends a ‘New Member Welcome Note’, with links to ‘Orientation’ info, per club practices�

New Member Life Cycle Process - Example

July 2024 JimJameson83@gmail.com

www.toastmasters.org

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New Member pays dues per instructions on welcome email from TI site (for self-pay) or pays Treasurer, per club practices
The VPM or VPE orients new member and encourages them to take meeting roles & consider goals
The VPE assigns a mentor and introduces Pathways; Offers help with first speech (per club practices)
The VPM stays in touch and helps retain new members that may be drifting away (Member Care).

New Member Life Cycle Process - Example

Note that in many clubs, the President, VPE, and VPM work closely together as the “Club Trio”, since there is some overlap in their duties.

(Remember that the President is Accountable and Informed!)

July 2024 JimJameson83@gmail.com

www.toastmasters.org

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Getting Started as President

Attend district-sponsored club-officer training program. You set the example for others to follow!
Read materials – Club Leadership Manual
Meet with outgoing executive committee.
Meet with outgoing president.
Meet with current executive committee.

The following slides provide an overview of �Pathways Base Camp Manager responsibilities.

www.toastmasters.org

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SUPPORTING PATHWAYS AS BCM

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Role of Base Camp Manager (All Officers!)

Monitoring member progress in Pathways

Viewing member’s activity and achievements

Approving Level and Path Completions in Pathways

Steps for Member and for Base Camp Manager
Notification emails

Responsible for Pathways education and support for members *

Note: All officers are now Base Camp Managers. But one officer (usually VPE) should be designated as primary for all approvals (with a specific backup – usually President or Secretary). Other officers may approve if asked by one of these.

(Any officer can view progress and help members with Pathways issues!)

* This Pathways training for Members and Base Camp Managers is available as a TLI Supplemental.

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Significant Pathways Updates Are Now In Place (as of 10/22/25)

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2025

Meeting Roles: Specific roles to be performed before completing each level
Educational Presentations: Five supplemental speeches at Levels 3-5 ---

One at L3 and two at L4 & L5 (different choices at each level)
Chosen from standard TI presentations (speaker notes and PowerPoint are provided)
Similar to requirements in traditional TM education program before Pathways
Checklist of all new requirements appears as first item in each Base Camp Level

LINK to a preliminary TI document with more details on these changes
FAQ – This link has more info and will be updated by TI

Note: These new requirements do not apply to the five Legacy Paths or to Levels already completed in the six current/continuing Paths before 10/22/25.

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Required Meeting Roles for each Level -- Tracking

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2025

Record meeting date the role was filled and what Path. �(and Club if needed)

Reference & Tracking Resource

Link: Tracking Spreadsheet 🡪

[This may help clubs track the new requirements]

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Level 3-5 Educational Presentations -- Options / Tracking

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2025

Check selected options

Record Presentation Date and Club for the five new supplemental speeches

Reference & Tracking Resource

Link: Tracking Spreadsheet 🡪

[This may help clubs track the new requirements]

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Planning & Tracking Your Pathways Projects and Speeches

Resources

Offline Tracking Sheet 🡪

Also has 3 new tabs to track new Roles and Supplemental speeches starting Oct 2025

Paths & Projects Catalog

NEW! Includes the new requirements for Meeting Roles and Educational Presentations!

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Path Overview Page� �The “Curriculum” – �This page shows all Levels in a Path��Expand any level to see all the tasks and projects in that level�� - New in October 2025 Update –� �Open this to see the new requirements �for each level� �First page has requirements list and links �to download supplemental presentations� �Second Page has checklist (see next slide)

Newer Base Camp

October 2025

(for MEMBERS)

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Path�Overview��The “Curriculum” – �With Level menu expanded��This is page 2 of the checklist with the new requirements for Levels completed after October 2025� �(Note: This is for members to track �their own progress, and is not visible �to Base Camp Managers)

Reference & Tracking Resource

Link: Tracking Spreadsheet

[This tool may help clubs track the new requirements]

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Summary: Completing Projects, Levels, & Awards

For Member

Completing a Project:

🡪 Current (continuing) Projects; Go to Complete Your Assignment (and click Confirm!)

🡪 Legacy (discontinued) Projects; Complete Assess Skills-After (and click Submit!)

Completing a Level:

🡪 Go to Level Completion section, select your Club (if multiple) and click Submit!

🡪 Notify your VPE and/or Base Camp Managers (especially if Dual!) �

For Base Camp Manager -- usually VPE (or delegated to any officer)

Approves the member’s level completion in Pathways Base Camp �(this will automatically submit the Award to Club Central for DCP)� [Level completions must be submitted in sequential order]

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Tracking the Additional Pathways Requirements (>10/22/25)

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2025

New requirements do not apply to the 5 Legacy Paths, or to Levels already completed (and awarded) in the 6 current/continuing Paths.
In the first item of each Level there is a checklist that members may use, but the new requirements are not tracked or enforced in Base Camp.
Club officers may use a tracking method of their choice to verify that the new requirements are completed.

Club websites (e.g. FTH or Easy-Speak) are very helpful for tracking all member progress, including new roles and speeches. [Also see tracking spreadsheet mentioned earlier.]

Remember that Pathways is a flexible, self-paced, peer-learning experience. �Not everything is spelled out explicitly. As with anything in Toastmasters, officers should use their discretion to best meet individual member needs in their club.

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Approvals

Level Completion Requests: � - Approve or Deny (w/reason)
Auto-submits for DCP Award

Member Overview

Member Status/Credentials
Last Speech Date
Completed Paths

Paths in Progress

Active Paths
Levels Completed
Project Summaries

Recent Activity

Levels Completed
Timeline of Activities

My Clubs

List of Members
Details on Projects & Level Status (for BCMs)

Quick Overview: New Pathways Base Camp Manager Navigation

pathways_coordinator@d25toastmasters.org Dec 2024

Base Camp Manager Dashboard�(always opens to Approvals tab)

[The BCM Home Page!]

Base Camp – Learning Dashboard�(‘Go to Base Camp’ from My Home)

You can go to My Clubs from Member or BCM Dashboard

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New Base Camp is much easier to use! Here is a great 15 minute overview.

NEW RESOURCES – for Base Camp and BC Managers (October 2024)

https://www.toastmasters.org/education/base-camp-videos

For detailed written instructions see the new Pathways User Guide and the Base Camp Manager Guide at the bottom of this page (under Tutorials):

�https://app.basecamp.toastmasters.org/dashboard/resources.

The following 11 slides provide step by step navigation guidance for all key Base Camp Manager functions (for use in the longer version of this presentation).

For the 60-minute TLI click here to skip to the end (Resource section).

Also near the bottom of this page is an excellent 60-minute webinar!

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Step 1 – Log Into Toastmasters.org

Bookmark the Link to this page:�https://www.toastmasters.org/myhome

Scroll down if needed. Click the “Go to Base Camp” box.

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New Base Camp Home Page:�The Learning Dashboard� �Base Camp Home Page always opens here, �showing all Paths and Learning opportunities��(You Can always get to Base Camp Manager �by Clicking here)��There are some Additional BCM capabilities �found in your “My Clubs” (next slide)

NEW Base Camp

October 2024

Clicking on this logo will always bring you back to this Home page!

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My Clubs Accessing Member Profiles

Scroll Down

My Clubs – you can access information about a member’s paths and progress

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My Clubs: Give Feedback

Tip: An easy way to see the Member Profile�for one person is to use this search box!

Resources

www.toastmasters.org

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Club President Resources

Perhaps the best resource is the official

TI Club Leadership Handbook (esp p. 23-25)

https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Club-Leadership-Handbook

D25 Club Officer Resources: https://www.d25toastmasters.org/resources/#club-resources

TI Club Officer Resources: https://www.toastmasters.org/leadership-central/club-officer-tools

President - TLI Training (this doc): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mLZkF1QGgoOboFFEzurqebuhfQSky3HK

”The Navigator” – a great TM intro!: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMdHDkOG2oCB4oDhP8wl_0AaJbUEoPw-

www.toastmasters.org

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President Resources

D25toastmasters.org/�resources
Toastmasters.org
Your Area Director
Leadership Handbook
DCP & Club Success Plan
Previous Officers

www.toastmasters.org

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Daily Reports

www.toastmasters.org

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Things to Walk Away With

Have an Officer meeting each month (Be proactive!)
Lead your Officer team to help lead the club (CEO)
Member strength creates a healthy club and earns DCP points – It’s ALL about the member!
Complete a Club Success Plan / Support the Club Mission
Encourage and attend events outside of club
Ensure your club officers are trained (twice/year)
District business Meeting Voting & Proxies
Ask Area Director for District assistance
ASK FOR HELP, District leaders are NOT mind readers

www.toastmasters.org

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Discussion Questions

Experience / Number of times as President?
Advice to give first timers?
Things that work. Things that don’t work.
What is the best thing about your club? � (What makes your club different?)