District 58 Toastmasters
Toastmasters Educational Program
Communication and Leadership Development
The educational program is the heart of every Toastmasters club. It provides members with
a proven curriculum that develops communication and leadership skills one step at a time, with
many opportunities for awards and recognition along the way. The Communication and Leadership
tracks are not mutually exclusive; you may participate in both at the same time, if you wish.
You progress along each track by working through a series of manuals, each of which offers a set of carefully crafted projects to complete. Each project includes an evaluation guide, which gives club members an easy way to provide immediate feedback as the project is completed.
Once you become a member, you can begin the educational program right away.
Communication Track
Members working in this track learn and practice communication skills.
Competent Communication ManualThis manual, which has 10 speech projects, is the first step in the communication track. It helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every projects builds upon what you learned in the preceding project. As you prepare and present each project speech you'll learn the importance of organization, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, select the right words and use visual aids. You also learn how to speak persuasively and inspire others. An evaluator will give your feedback on each speech you present and help you to improve. When you compete this manual you are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. Complete the CC application in the manual and ask your Vice President of Education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CC Certificate and, if this is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication manuals free of charge. Advanced Communication Manuals
After receiving CC recognition you can work in the Advanced Communication manuals, where you can refine and enhance your speaking skills. There are 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. See the Advanced Manual page for details about each of these manuals.
Leadership Track
Members working in the leadership track learn and practice leadership skills by serving in club roles.
Competent Leader Manual
This manual is the core of the leadership track. It features 10 projects, which you complete while serving in
various club meeting roles. See the CL Manual Page for a complete list of each project. An evaluator will give you feedback on each project, helping you to improve. When
you compete the manual, you are eligible for Competent Leader (CL) recognition. Complete the CL application in the
manual and ask your Vice President of Education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CL
certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.
Advanced Leader Program
After earning the CL award you can further refine and develop your leadership skills by working in the advanced
leader program. Members working in this program are eligible for two awards:
To earn this award, a member must have:
- Achieved new Competent Leader award
- Achieved Competent Communicator award (or Competent Toastmaster award)
- Served at least six months as a club officer (president, vice president of education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, secretary, treasurer or sergeant at arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office
- While serving in the above office, participated in a district-sponsored club officer training program, conducted any two programs from The Successful Club Series and/or The Leadership Excellence Series (may not be those completed for previous awards)
To earn this award, a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Leader Bronze award (or "old" Competent Leader award)
- Served a complete term as a district officer (district governor, lieutenant governor, public relations officer, secretary, treasurer, division governor or area governor). A complete term is defined as having served at least from September 1 through June 30. Those assuming office after September 1 do not qualify as having served a full term.
- Completed the High Performance Leadership Program (see below)
- Served successfully as a club sponsor, mentor or coach.
To apply for any of the Advanced Leader awards, complete the appropriate section of the AL/DTM application and ask your Vice President of Education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
High Performance Leadership
High Performance Leadership (Catalog No. 262) helps members develop leadership skills. The program
features five projects offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas a developing a vision,
goal-setting and planning, developing plans and strategies and team-building. It also gives the member feedback on
his or her leadership skills. The program may be completed within the member's Toastmasters club, area or district,
and even within his or her company or community.
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)
The Distinguished Toastmaster award is the highest our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills. To be eligible for this award, a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Communicator Gold award (or achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award)
- Achieved Advanced Leader Silver award (or achieved Advanced Leader award)