District Officer Mission, Purpose and Qualifications
District Governor Job Description
As the district’s chief executive officer, the district governor
directs the district in a way that fosters strong clubs; produces
maximum growth in educational completions, clubs and membership; and is
consistent with the interests of the members of Toastmasters
International. The governor achieves the mission of the district in a
manner that motivates volunteer leaders and promotes a standard of
excellence in all district activities.
At the time of taking office, the district governor must have served at
least six consecutive months as a club president and at least 12
consecutive months as a lieutenant governor or division governor or a
combination of the two.
Responsibilities:
- Uphold the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters International, the
district administrative bylaws, following them to the best of his or
her ability.
- Participate in leadership training sessions organized and
conducted by Toastmasters International at the regional conference and
International Convention.
- As the representative of Toastmasters International in the
district, work with the Board of directors and World Headquarters on
matters related to district operations.
- Maintain regular communication with World Headquarters to help
fulfill duties and goals.
- Organize and direct the human and financial resources necessary
to achieve district goals.
- Serve as presiding officer at the district executive committee
and district council meetings.
- Appoint district officers and committees as provided for in the
district constitution and bylaws, subject to approval of the district
council.
- Supervise and guide all elected and appointed district officers
and be responsible for their success.
- Serve as advisor/counselor to clubs through delegates.
- Control use of Toastmasters International funds allocated to the
district, subject to the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters
International. Authorize all purchases on behalf of the district.
Standards:
- Communicate the mission of Toastmasters International and the
district to all Toastmasters in the district.
- Promote district activities and Toastmasters International
programs so that club quality is maintained at the highest level.
- Prepare a District Success Plan in consultation with the
executive committee which outlines the goals, strategies, resources and
timetable for achieving Distinguished District.
- Achieve Distinguished District by meeting training, club,
membership and educational goals.
- Create and maintain an atmosphere of enjoyment, teamwork and
dedication to Toastmasters International, all in the spirit of helping
people learn, grow and achieve.
- Prepare the budget with the executive committee for approval by
the district council.
- Promote the chartering of new clubs in coordination with the
lieutenant governor marketing.
- Motivate membership building and retention programs in
coordination with lieutenant governor marketing.
- Promote the Toastmasters International educational program and
the achievement of educational accomplishments in coordination with
lieutenant governor education and training.
- Establish ongoing high quality training programs for club, area,
division and other district officers in coordination with the
lieutenant governor education and training.
- In coordination with lieutenant governor education and training,
oversee all speech contests and make arrangements for the district
international speech contest.
- Establish district-wide communications and promote district
activities in coordination with the public relations officer.
- Appoint district officers and committees as described in the
district administrative bylaws.
- Prepare and submit by deadline plans and reports required by the
Toastmasters International Board of Directors.
- Prepare successor to assume office, completing the necessary
steps for an orderly transfer of office by June 30.
- Attend the regional conference and International Convention.
Lieutenant Governor Education and
Training
Under the guidance of the district governor, the lieutenant governor
education and training strives to have every club and each member reap
the benefits of the Toastmasters educational program and become a
Distinguished Club. The lieutenant governor education and training
provides direction and counsel to division governors, area governors
and club officers on the educational opportunities in Toastmasters, and
is responsible for the design and conduct of successful district
training programs, conferences and other district educational events.
The lieutenant governor education and training must have served at
least six consecutive months as a club president and at least 12
consecutive months as a lieutenant governor, division governor or area
governor or a combination of these.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as second-ranking member of the executive committee,
presiding over that body and the district council in the absence of the
district governor.
- Uphold the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters International and
the district administrative bylaws, following them to the best of his
or her ability.
- Participate in leadership training and development programs
prepared and conducted by Toastmasters International at the regional
conferences and International Convention.
- In consultation with and subject to the approval of the district
governor, select chairmen for education, training or other committees
promoting educational achievements and program excellence within clubs,
as well as achievement in the Distinguished Club Program.
- In consultation with and subject to the approval of the district
governor, appoint district conference chairman and training
coordinators.
Standards:
- Strive for accomplishment of district educational goals and
achievement of Distinguished District.
- Promote achievement of Competent Communicator (CC) and Advanced
Communicator (AC) awards for all members.
- Strive to make every club in the district a Distinguished Club.
Coordinate the promotion of the Distinguished Club Program and the Club
Success Plan.
- Plan, organize and direct the district training programs.
- Determine training needs in consultation with district team
members.
- Develop training content, methods and instructional aids using
Toastmasters International training program.
- Ensure that division, area and club officers are properly
trained to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
- Provide ongoing leadership training for all district officers
as part of district conferences, executive committee meetings, etc.
- Select training coordinators and facilitators needed to conduct
district training programs.
- Plan, organize and promote personal growth through the
Toastmasters International educational program both inside and outside
of Toastmasters in coordination with public relations officer.
- Foster excellence in club educational programming through the use
of Toastmasters programs such as Speechcraft, Success/Leadership,
Success/Communication, The Better Speaker Series, The Successful Club
Series and other resources.
- Plan, organize and direct the district conferences.
- Appoint a conference chairman with approval of the district
governor.
- Supervise site selection, educational content, speech contests
and all other aspects of the conference.
- Encourage increased attendance and participation through
promotional efforts in conjunction with the public relations officer.
- Ensure a high quality event representing an outstanding example
of district excellence.
- Coordinate and supervise the International Speech Contest and
other district speech contests at the club, area, division and district
levels.
- Supervise educational and training programs, ensuring that people
are properly recognized for achievement.
- Prepare successor to assume office, completing steps necessary
for an orderly transfer of office by June 30.
- Provide assistance and back-up to the district governor as needed.
Lieutenant Governor Marketing
Under guidance of the district governor, the lieutenant governor
marketing makes the benefits of Toastmasters membership available to
greater numbers of people. The lieutenant governor marketing plans,
develops, implements and directs short-term and long-term district
marketing objectives, and develops and directs programs for new club
development, club rescue efforts, club membership
promotion and membership retention. The lieutenant governor marketing
promotes high standards of service to the member and to the club.
The lieutenant governor marketing must have served at least six
consecutive months as a club president and at least 12 consecutive
months as a lieutenant governor, division governor or area governor or
a combination of these.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as third-ranking member of the executive committee,
presiding over that body and the district council in the absence of the
district governor and lieutenant governor education and training.
- Uphold the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters International and
the district administrative bylaws, following them to the best of his
or her ability.
- Participate in leadership training and development programs
prepared and conducted by Toastmasters International at the regional
conference and International Convention.
- In consultation with and subject to the approval of the district
governor, select chairman of marketing, membership development, club
rescue or other committees which promote the growth of Toastmasters
within the district.
Standards:
- Ensure achievement of district membership and club growth
objectives and achievement of Distinguished District.
- Develop a sound overall marketing plan in conjunction with
district team members, focusing on making Toastmasters available to
more people while also emphasizing a dedication to member service.
- Direct and coordinate the marketing strategies and activities
necessary to achieve district growth objectives.
- Direct membership development and retention programs, encouraging
achievement of reasonable growth targets.
- Monitor division, area and club administration ensuring the
prompt submission of complete club dues-renewal reports to World
Headquarters and club-officer lists to World Headquarters and district
governor.
- Monitor the Area Club Assistance Program and the submission of
Area Report of Club Visit forms to the district governor. In tandem
with division governors, the lieutenant governor marketing encourages
area governors to visit clubs frequently in order to strengthen member
satisfaction and membership-building efforts.
- Implement programs to assist weak clubs and bring them to a level
of 20 or more members.
- Develop a strong district marketing program to build new clubs in
corporations and the community.
- Recruit, train and maintain a strong club building team.
- Recruit and train club mentors and club coaches.
- Manage district recognition programs that ensure club and
membership builders are recognized by the district and the community.
- Work in conjunction with the district public relations officer to
maximize district marketing efforts through internal and external
promotions.
- Prepare his or her successor to assume office, completing the
steps necessary for an orderly
- transfer of the office by June 30.
Division Governor
The division governor strives to achieve the mission of the district
within the division, accomplishing district goals in membership
building and retention, club building and educational
accomplishments. He or she ensures that each club realizes its
mission and fulfills its responsibilities to its members by providing
district support and resources through the area governors.
A division governor must have served at least six consecutive months as
a member of a district council and is eligible for reelection or
reappointment for one succeeding term only.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a member of the executive committee and the district
council.
- Uphold the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters International and
the district administrative bylaws, following them to the best of his
or her ability.
- Serve under the direction of the district governor and receive
guidance from the lieutenant governor education and training,
lieutenant governor marketing and the public relations officer.
- Report regularly to the district governor and lieutenant
governors on division progress.
- Serve as leader of the division.
- Serve as chairman of the division council.
- Provide motivation, guidance and supervision to area governors so
they fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
- Participate in division governor training programs provided by
the district.
Standards:
- Achieve minimum recognition of Distinguished Division.
- Focus on area governor achievement in the Distinguished Area
Program so that every area is a Distinguished Area or better.
- Contact area governors at least monthly and discuss:
- Progress toward goals in the Distinguished Area Program.
- Follow-up on club visits.
- Weak clubs and strategies to make sure there are no clubs with
single-digit membership in any area.
- Rebuilding all clubs to charter strength.
- Ensure that 100 percent of the area governors are trained.
- Ensure a net gain of one club or more in the division.
- Hold at least two division council meetings each year, and have
the following topics on the agenda:
- Discuss each area’s plans, goals and progress in the
Distinguished Area Program and the need for assistance from the
division governor and district.
- Discuss the clubs’ plans, goals and progress in the
Distinguished Club Program and the need for district/division/area
assistance.
- Review attendance at club officer training.
- Discuss plans for division speech contests.
- Participate in district training for division governors and area
governors, executive committee meetings, district conferences and
district council meetings.
- Prepare his or her successor to assume office, completing the
steps necessary for an orderly transfer of office by June 30.