The Birthplace of Toastmasters

Become an Area Director!

Founder’s District is seeking Area Directors for 2024-25!

Apply Now!

What is an Area Director?

As Area Director, you serve as the direct liaison between the District and the clubs. An Area Director is appointed for a term of one Toastmasters program year, running from July 1 to June 30.

Area Directors conduct club visits at least twice a year to each of the clubs within their respective Areas to understand and support club needs. In turn, these visits help District leaders understand how to support and meet the needs of each club.

Area Directors are members of a Division Council — a team to serve the clubs within a Division and support the 4-5 Area Directors within the Division, under the guidance of a Division Director.

Why would you want to be an Area Director?

As an Area Director, you can:

  • Improve your skills as a speaker in a leader in environments outside of your club
  • Share your knowledge and experience to support other Toastmasters clubs
  • Learn from other Toastmasters clubs and bring that knowledge back to help your club
  • Meet other growth-minded individuals from across the District
  • Earn required credit toward the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award

Qualifications

Ideally, Area Directors have served as a Club President or Vice President of Education. However, interested members who have served in other officer roles will also be considered. To serve as an Area Director, you must be a paid member of a Founder’s District club in good standing.

Responsibilities

The Area Director serves as the direct liaison between the District and the clubs. The District Administrative Bylaws provide for the selection of Area Directors either by appointment by the District Director or by election from the Area Councils. Toastmasters International recommends that District
Directors appoint Area Directors.

Area Directors conduct multiple club visits a year within their respective Areas to understand and support club needs. In turn, these visits help District leaders understand how to support and meet the needs of each club. It
is important that Area Directors have the support needed from the Division Director to serve the clubs. The success of the District depends on it.

Area Directors are eligible for re-election or re-appointment for one succeeding term only. Ideally, Area Directors have served as members of a District Council. See District Administrative Bylaws, Article VII: Officers. (Click for a full list of Area Director competencies)

Guidance

The Area Director is responsible for leading the Area by serving the needs of clubs. In order to understand clubs’ needs, the Area Director contacts Club Presidents monthly to discuss their performance in the Distinguished Club Program and follows up on items identified during previous contact.
The Area Director also discusses District training and other District events with the Area clubs.

Area Council

The Area Director is the Area Council chair and holds at least two Area Council meetings each year. At Area Council meetings, the Area Director discusses each club’s plans and goals in the Distinguished Club Program and reviews attendance at club officer training.

In accordance with the District Council’s decision to elect or appoint Area Directors as specified in the District Administrative Bylaws, Article VII, Section (c), the Area Council evaluates and assesses Area Director candidates
to either provide one or more appointment recommendations to the District Director or elect the following year’s Area Director.

Area Director’s Club Visits

Make at least two club visits per club per year to fulfill the Area Recognition Program requirements. Area Directors are encouraged to visit each club once per quarter. Assess club membership and its leadership’s willingness to grow.
Evaluate how well the club adheres to the Moments of Truth.
Submit the Area Director’s Club Visit Report online.

Area Progress

The Area Director participates in Area Director training provided by the District (semi-annually). The Area Director reports regularly to the Division Director and District leaders on Area progress.

Area Director Checklist

  • Complete Area Director Training (June and Jan).
  • Complete Area Success Plan (Sept).
  • Complete Area Director Club Visit Reports (Twice a TM year. Due: end of Nov and May).
  • Attend Division Council meetings.
  • Conduct Area Council meetings (minimum one/quarter).
  • Conduct/support Area Speech Contest(s). (Feb-May).
    • Perform contest functionary roles,
    • Train club officers for contests,
    • Assist other area directors as needed.
  • Conduct club officer training (COT) as needed (two rounds).
  • Assist other areas with club officer training (COT) as required.
  • Attend quarterly District Executive Committee meetings.
  • Attend semi-annual District Council meetings.

District Director’s Specific Expectations

  • Challenge yourself to become the best version of yourself by practicing the tenets of servant leadership.
  • Commit to your role for the entire TM year. Dig deep, communicate often and never give up.
  • I commit to be available to you, support you and work with you to ensure your success.
  • Communicate frequently with your Division Director (weekly minimum). If you need to go off-line for personal reasons, contact your Division Director with your estimated time off-line AND provide the name of your “acting” Area Director.

Area Director Resources

International President Morag Mathieson reflects on her leadership style and shares insights from her Toastmasters journey
https://www.toastmasters.org/leadership-central/featured-article/september-2023

*While serving as an Area Director, you are ineligible to compete in Toastmasters Speech Contests.

Apply to Become an Area Director!
Read and Sign the Area Director Promise on Page 4