February 2023 Leader Letter

Be a Part of Helping Hands — While it's exciting to experience the International Convention as an attendee, it can be even more rewarding as a volunteer. Join or spread the word about the 2023 Helping Hands program in Nassau, Bahamas, August 16–19. Complete the interest form in the link above to be considered and kept informed on registration details.

Grow Your Club — A great way to add new members to your club is by participating in the Talk Up Toastmasters membership-building program, which features the opportunity to earn a special ribbon and qualify for 10% off your next club order. To qualify, your club must add five new, dual, or reinstated members and pay membership dues. Please note that these members must join between February 1 and March 31, 2023.

Ensure Good Standing — Is your club currently in good standing? Find this detail and more when you view the Daily Reports — October Dues Renewal Status; select your club's District and ensure your club is listed as Verified Complete. Refer to the Club Status Guide to determine how a club's status affects different features and areas of the Toastmasters program. Should there be a discrepancy, please contact Club and Member Support at renewals@toastmasters.org. The deadline to return to good standing and avoid suspension is March 31, 2023.

International Speech Contest Eligibility — If you're helping with a speech contest, remember to ensure thorough eligibility checks are completed for every contestant. As a reminder, the education requirement for the International Speech Contest recently changed. Members competing in this contest must have completed Levels 1 and 2 of any path or earned a Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Additional details and full eligibility requirements are outlined in the Speech Contest Rulebook.

April Renewal Dues — To keep clubs in good standing, a minimum of eight members—at least three of whom were members of the club during the previous renewal period—must be submitted, with all payments received on or before April 1. Payments for the next renewal period are being accepted. If you have questions, feel free to read our Renewal Dues FAQ or email renewals@toastmasters.org. Club officers can start submitting payments for renewals through Club Central.

International Officer Candidates Nominated —The Toastmasters International Leadership Committee has nominated International Officer candidates. Voting will take place as part of the 2023 Annual Business Meeting in August. Find out more about the nominated candidates by visiting the International Officer and Director Candidates website.

Translated Speech Contest Certificates —Download certificates in your language to recognize speech contest participants and winners at the club level and beyond! Speech Contest Certificate sets are available as a free download from the Resource Library in 11 languages.

Új fordítás! —Töltsd le MAGYARUL: a Pathways 1. és 2. Szintjét
Newly Translated! —You can now download and use Pathways Level 1 and Level 2 in Hungarian! Visit the Resource Library for guides on how to access Hungarian projects.

新近翻译! —下载简体中文版：新俱乐部指导必读
Newly Translated! —You can now download and use New Club Mentoring Matters in Simplified Chinese.

Προσφατα μεταφρασμενο! —ΚΑΤΕΒΑΣΕ ΤΟ ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ: Χαρακτηριστικά, Οφέλη και Αξία
Newly Translated! —You can now download and use the Features, Benefits, and Value Chart in Greek.

Ny översättning! —Ladda ned på svenska: Ledarskapsprogram för ungdomar Arbetsbok
Newly Translated! —You can now download and use the Resource Library in Swedish.

Financial Records: To Keep or Not? —here are many different financial records your club may have on file with the Club Secretary. To determine how long they should be kept, you can refer to a chart created for this purpose, located in the Club Leadership Handbook within the Club Secretary section. If you have any questions, email the Club Quality and Service Team at clubofficers@toastmasters.org.

Toastmasters Means Business — Discover how the organization offers training to meet the needs of employers and employees around the world; then read about members' personal experiences at their own company-based clubs.

How to Dial Down Defensive Conversations — Everyone gets upset with someone or something sooner or later. But defensiveness can decimate morale, hinder teamwork, and stall projects. Read these tips for turning conflicts into constructive discussions.

The Power of Empathy — Relating to others is key in successful leadership. Have you tried putting yourself in someone else's shoes? Learn how to connect with others and begin to build empathy—maybe that little step will start the world off in a better direction.

Tune In! Podcast on Proper Name Pronunciation — Toastmaster Fiona Swee-Lin Price, Ph.D., is a cross-cultural communication specialist, keynote speaker, and name expert who has worked in the intercultural field for over 20 years. In this Toastmasters Podcast episode, Price offers tips to help you get better at pronouncing names derived from languages you do not speak.

Instant Speech Analysis is Here! — Thanks to the Toastmasters Yoodli partnership, Toastmasters can now receive immediate analytical speech feedback by logging into www.toastmasters.org/MyHome and clicking on the Yoodli card to record a speech on the platform. Yoodli's artificial intelligence (AI) will then break down insights, such as how many filler words were used, the pace, eye contact, if any non-inclusive language was used, and more. Encourage members to check it out today!

Zoom Discount Code — Is your club using Zoom to conduct virtual meetings? You may want to request a discount code for 50% off your plan. If your club hasn't received a discount code this year and would like to, email clubquality@toastmasters.org with the request. If you already have a code or have questions about this program, please visit Zoom Discount FAQ.

My Home to Club Central — Club Central is the main tool for a club officer where you will be able to perform activities related to club business including adding new members, paying dues, submitting education awards, viewing your current membership roster, making changes to your club's addendum and bylaws, and updating your club's contact and meeting information. As a club officer, a link to Club Central is available in your My Home page. Please note, Club Central can only be accessed by an active club officer.