Lead the Division. Inspire the Difference.

As a Division Director, your greatest impact will not come from completing a calendar of tasks. It will come from helping Area Directors believe in what is possible and giving them the clarity, confidence and support to make it happen.

Every conversation matters. Every struggling club deserves attention. Every developing leader needs someone who recognises their potential. By bringing your Area Directors together around a shared purpose, celebrating progress and addressing challenges early, you create the conditions in which clubs—and their members—can flourish.

You do not need to have every answer. Your role is to listen, connect people with the right support and keep the team moving towards its goals. Lead with energy, communicate with purpose and turn plans into consistent action.

A successful Division is built one supported Area, one strengthened club and one inspired member at a time. Your leadership sets that work in motion.

 

Division Director Calendar 2026–2027

A month-by-month guide for District 71 Division Directors

Division Directors lead and support their Division by working with Area Directors. Their role is to coordinate Division activities, help Areas and clubs succeed, support training and club growth, and ensure that the Division remains on track for Distinguished recognition.

Use this calendar to plan the Toastmasters programme year from July 2026 to June 2027.

Every Month

Division Directors should:

• Contact every Area Director at least once.
• Hold a Division Council meeting.
• Discuss Area progress, club visits and Distinguished Club Program performance.
• Review the Toastmasters performance dashboards.
• Identify clubs and Areas requiring additional support.
• Provide Area Directors with guidance, information and encouragement.
• Report Division progress to the District Director, Program Quality Director and Club Growth Director.
• Promote club officer training, District events and membership-building activity.
• Support the development of new clubs within the Division.
• Attend scheduled District Executive Committee and District Council meetings.
• Follow up on actions agreed at previous meetings.

Division Council Meetings

The Division Director chairs the Division Council and must hold at least two Division Council meetings during the year.  It is recommended that monthly council meetings are more effective in creating momentum and reducing workload for everyone involved.

The Division Council includes:

• The Division Director.
• Assistant Division Directors.
• Every Area Director within the Division.

Attendees should receive at least four weeks’ notice of each meeting.

Meetings should review:

• Area Success Plans.
• Progress in the Distinguished Area Program.
• Club Success Plans and Distinguished Club Program performance.
• Club officer training attendance.
• Clubs requiring additional assistance.
• Membership and club-growth opportunities.
• Plans for Division training, contests and other events.

Distinguished Division Goals

To participate in the Distinguished Division Program, the Division must:

• Contain at least four Areas.
• Finish the programme year with no net club loss.

Recognition is then based on the following results:

Recognition	Requirement
Distinguished Division	At least 45% of the Division’s club base is Distinguished
Select Distinguished Division	At least 50% of the club base is Distinguished, with net growth of one club
President’s Distinguished Division	At least 55% of the club base is Distinguished, with net growth of two clubs

The Division Success Plan is not a qualifying requirement, but it is an important planning tool and may be uploaded through District Central.

Monthly Calendar

July — Establish the Division

By the end of July:

• Complete a structured handover with the outgoing Division Director.
• Confirm the Areas and clubs assigned to the Division.
• Introduce yourself to every Area Director.
• Confirm contact details and preferred methods of communication.
• Establish a schedule of monthly meetings with Area Directors.
• Review the Division’s club base and recognition targets.
• Review previous-year performance for every Area and club.
• Identify clubs with low membership, unpaid status or leadership concerns.
• Begin preparing the Division Success Plan.
• Agree communication and reporting arrangements with the District leadership team.
• Create a Division calendar covering training, council meetings, contests and District events.
• Schedule the first Division Council meeting, allowing at least four weeks’ notice.
• Review the current District Leadership Handbook, District Recognition Program and Speech Contest Rulebook.

Month-end outcome: The Division’s structure, priorities, risks and communication arrangements are understood.

August — Agree the Plan

By the end of August:

• Attend Division and Area Director training if not already completed.
• Support Area Directors in completing their training.
• Finalise the Division Success Plan with input from Area Directors.
• Set goals for Distinguished clubs, Distinguished Areas and club growth.
• Hold the first Division Council meeting.
• Review each Area Success Plan.
• Review club officer training attendance across the Division.
• Encourage clubs to complete first-round officer training.
• Identify clubs that require membership, leadership or club-quality support.
• Confirm plans for the District 71 Online Speech contest cycle.
• Begin recruiting the Division Online Speech contest team.
• Agree the Division contest date, platform and responsibilities.

Deadline

31 August: First-round club officer training closes.

Month-end outcome: The Division has agreed goals and a coordinated support plan for every Area.

September — Complete Training and Prepare for Renewals

By the end of September:

• Complete Division Director training.
• Confirm that your training attendance has been recorded.
• Ensure every Area Director has completed training or has an agreed completion plan.
• Review first-round club visits with each Area Director.
• Check that Area Success Plans are complete and being used.
• Review October membership-renewal risks.
• Identify clubs that may not meet the minimum renewal requirement.
• Agree intervention plans with Area Directors and the Club Growth Director.
• Support Areas preparing for Online Speech club contests.
• Attend the first District Council meeting and relevant District Executive Committee meetings.
• Report Division progress to the District leadership team.

Deadline

30 September: Division and Area Director training must be completed and reported.

Month-end outcome: Leadership training is complete, renewal risks are known and the Division is prepared for the Online contest cycle.

October — Monitor Renewals and Online Contests

By the end of October:

• Confirm the October renewal position for every club.
• Follow up with Area Directors where clubs missed the renewal deadline.
• Escalate clubs at risk of suspension or closure.
• Review first-round club officer training attendance.
• Confirm that training information has been supplied to the Program Quality team.
• Monitor progress with first-round club visits.
• Support the completion of Online club and Area contests.
• Confirm contestants, officials and arrangements for the Division Online contest.
• Review the Division’s Distinguished recognition forecast after renewals.

Deadlines

• 1 October: October membership renewals due.
• 10 October: Online club contests completed.
• 24 October: Online Area contests completed.
• 31 October: Final date for the District to record first-round club officer training.

Month-end outcome: Renewal issues are being addressed and every Area is ready to send its Online Speech winner to the Division contest.

November — Complete the Online Contest and First Visit Round

By the end of November:

• Deliver the Division Online Speech contest.
• Send the Division winner’s information to the District contest team promptly.
• Support the Division winner in preparing for the District final.
• Monitor first-round Club Visit Report completion in every Area.
• Follow up with Area Directors who are behind schedule.
• Confirm that each Area has submitted reports for at least 75% of its club base.
• Review issues identified during club visits.
• Agree support actions for vulnerable clubs.
• Promote second-round club officer training.
• Review progress against the Division Success Plan.

Deadlines

• 15 November: Division Online Speech contest completed.
• 28 November: District Online Final.
• 30 November: First-round Club Visit Reports due.

Month-end outcome: The Division contest is complete and every Area remains eligible for Distinguished recognition.

December — Review and Reset

By the end of December:

• Review first-half performance with every Area Director.
• Confirm that second-round club visits have begun.
• Review the first-round Club Visit Reports for recurring concerns.
• Update the Division Success Plan where necessary.
• Identify clubs requiring coaches, membership support or additional visits.
• Schedule the second Division Council meeting, allowing at least four weeks’ notice.
• Promote second-round club officer training.
• Begin planning the Division International, Humorous and Evaluation contests.
• Recruit contest chairs, chief judges and other volunteers.
• Confirm provisional venues, dates and budgets.

Deadline

1 December: Second-round club visits begin.

Month-end outcome: The Division begins the second half of the year with updated priorities and clearly identified support needs.

January — Re-engage the Division

By the end of January:

• Hold the second Division Council meeting or confirm its scheduled date.
• Review every Area’s Distinguished recognition forecast.
• Review Distinguished Club Program progress across the Division.
• Identify clubs that can reach Distinguished status with focused support.
• Agree recovery plans for clubs experiencing serious membership or leadership difficulties.
• Encourage clubs to complete second-round officer training.
• Monitor preparations for club and Area in-person contests.
• Confirm the Division contest venue, format, officials and equipment.
• Begin succession and leadership-development discussions.
• Encourage suitable members to consider future Area and District leadership roles.

Month-end outcome: Each Area understands what it must achieve during the remaining five months.

February — Support the In-Person Contest Cycle

By the end of February:

• Monitor completion of International, Humorous and Evaluation club contests.
• Confirm that every Area is ready to deliver its contests.
• Assist Area Directors with contest planning where required.
• Confirm that Area winners’ information is received for the Division contests.
• Finalise the Division contest programme, officials, venue and equipment.
• Follow up on second-round club officer training.
• Review April membership-renewal risks.
• Continue monitoring second-round club visits.
• Review Division progress towards Distinguished recognition.

Deadlines

• 7 February: In-person club contests completed.
• 21 February: In-person Area contests completed.
• 28 February: Second-round club officer training closes.

Month-end outcome: Area contests and officer training are complete, and the Division is ready to deliver its contests.

March — Complete the Division Contests

By the end of March:

• Deliver the Division International, Humorous and Evaluation contests.
• Send Division winner information to the District contest team promptly.
• Support Division winners in preparing for the District Conference.
• Complete all contest records, expense claims and event reconciliation.
• Contact Area Directors about the April renewal deadline.
• Identify clubs at risk of not renewing the minimum number of members.
• Agree membership-recovery plans with the Club Growth Director.
• Review second-round club visit progress.
• Prepare for the Annual District Council meeting.
• Contribute to discussions about the following year’s club, Area and Division alignment where requested.

Deadline

1 March: Division International, Humorous and Evaluation contests completed.

Month-end outcome: Division contests are complete and membership-renewal risks are being actively managed.

April — Protect Clubs and Close Performance Gaps

By the end of April:

• Confirm the April renewal position for every club.
• Follow up with Area Directors where clubs missed the renewal deadline.
• Escalate clubs at immediate risk of suspension or closure.
• Review the Division’s net club position.
• Work with the Club Growth Director on new-club and retention opportunities.
• Monitor completion of second-round club visits.
• Review each Area’s remaining Distinguished goals.
• Help Area Directors create targeted year-end action plans.
• Identify clubs close to achieving Distinguished status.
• Support District Conference preparations.
• Participate in alignment planning where appointed.
• Begin preparing transition material for the incoming Division Director.

Deadline

1 April: April membership renewals due.

Month-end outcome: Renewal risks are being addressed and every Area has a practical year-end plan.

May — Complete Reporting and Support the District Finals

By the end of May:

• Support the Division contestants taking part in the District finals.
• Monitor the final submission of second-round Club Visit Reports.
• Confirm that every Area has submitted reports for at least 75% of its club base.
• Confirm that second-round club officer training records have been supplied to the Program Quality team.
• Review the Division’s Distinguished recognition forecast.
• Work with Area Directors to close remaining club-performance gaps.
• Attend the Annual District Council meeting.
• Contribute to the approval of the following year’s District alignment.
• Recognise Area Directors, contest teams and other volunteers.
• Prepare a detailed handover for the incoming Division Director.

Deadlines

• 8–9 May: District Conference and in-person contest finals.
• 31 May: Second-round Club Visit Reports due.
• 31 May: Final date for the District to record second-round club officer training.

Month-end outcome: Visit-report and training requirements are complete, and the Division has a clear route to year-end recognition.

June — Finish Strong and Hand Over

By the end of June:

• Monitor Distinguished Club Program progress until the year closes.
• Help clubs complete outstanding education, membership and administration goals.
• Confirm that clubs have held officer elections.
• Confirm that new club officer lists have been submitted.
• Review the Division’s final paid-club position.
• Ensure there is no net club loss.
• Support last-minute new-club and club-retention activity.
• Complete a final review of the Division Success Plan.
• Document unresolved issues, useful contacts and recommended next actions.
• Meet the incoming Division Director and complete a structured handover.
• Introduce the incoming Division Director to Area Directors and key District leaders.
• Transfer all Division records by the start of the new programme year.
• Thank and recognise Area Directors and Division volunteers.

Deadline

30 June: The Toastmasters programme year ends.

Month-end outcome: The Division finishes with supported Areas, accurate records and an effective leadership transition.

Key Deadlines

Date	Division Director responsibility
31 August 2026	Encourage completion of first-round club officer training
30 September 2026	Complete Division Director training
1 October 2026	Monitor October membership renewals
10 October 2026	Confirm Online club contests are complete
24 October 2026	Confirm Online Area contests are complete
31 October 2026	Check first-round club officer training has been recorded
15 November 2026	Complete the Division Online Speech contest
28 November 2026	Support the Division winner at the District Online Final
30 November 2026	Ensure Area Directors complete first-round visit reporting
1 December 2026	Ensure second-round club visits begin
7 February 2027	Confirm in-person club contests are complete
21 February 2027	Confirm in-person Area contests are complete
28 February 2027	Encourage completion of second-round club officer training
1 March 2027	Complete the Division in-person contests
1 April 2027	Monitor April membership renewals
8–9 May 2027	Support Division contestants at the District Conference
31 May 2027	Ensure second-round visit and training reporting is complete
30 June 2027	Complete year-end activity and leadership handover