District Realignment FAQ

The Toastmasters Governing Documents give an overview of the process from the perspective of the Board of Directors.

Protocol 7.0: District Structure, Section 4: District Realignment:

1. The realignment of a District occurs on the initiative of the Board.
2. The Board reviews the status of Districts with fewer than 100 clubs every three (3) years, or sooner if necessary, to decide if realignment is in the best interest of the organization.
3. When determining whether realignment is appropriate, factors such as the number of clubs in the District, market potential within the District, past performance, leadership, and geography are considered.
4. If it is determined that realignment is in the best interests of Toastmasters International and the clubs, the District is advised that it is being considered for realignment.
5. If the District wishes to remain a District and not be realigned, it is given the opportunity to develop and present a growth plan to the Board. The growth plan identifies potential markets within the District and provides a specific strategy and timeline of up to three (3) years for achieving 100 clubs and more. The growth plan is used as a baseline and is updated throughout the three (3) year period to determine if the District is on track to reach 100 clubs or more.
6. If a growth plan is accepted, the Board reviews the progress of the District each year against the baseline and updated plans and takes action in the best interests of Toastmasters International and the clubs.
7. If a District is to be realigned, the clubs in that District are notified of the date of realignment. The Board takes whatever action necessary to ensure that the clubs involved have the opportunity to participate in elections or speech contests conducted by the District absorbing the clubs.

Each Joint Realignment Committee Chair is also a member of the Steering Committee. The Joint Realignment Committee will have a representative from each District within the group, appointed by the current District Director and subject to approval from the District Executive Committee.

The plan will not affect members’ experiences in their clubs. Members will continue to attend club meetings as usual and work toward the distinguished club goals.

Speech contests will not be affected during the realignment process. The contests will be conducted as usual at the club, Area, Division, and District levels. Winners of the International Speech Contest at the District level will proceed to the quarter finals as per the Speech Contest Rulebook.

Provided the outgoing District budgeted for the event in the prior year, it may conduct a recognition event to distribute the District-level awards and recognition as it would normally. Alternatively, the incoming District may conduct a combined recognition event for achievements from the prior program year.

• No disruption to the day-to-day club experience.
• The same leadership opportunities at club, Area, and Division levels as members currently experience.
• Fewer Districts will struggle to fill leadership roles and committees.
• There are benefits attached to being in a larger District with a larger budget, such as better incentives, more and better events, and more training options.
• A larger candidate pool for District leadership positions.

The District Realignment Transition Committee group chairs select a representative from each District. The representative is known as the District Transition Chair.

• Appointing the following positions for the newly realigned Districts
  • District Transition Committee Chair
  • District Alignment Committee Chair
  • District Leadership Committee Chair
  • Business Meeting Chair, Credentials Chair & Parliamentarian
• Managing all facets of the newly realigned District Business Meeting
• Providing support, oversight, and guidance
• Communicating with stakeholders

Yes, the District will still hold a District conference. The Annual Meeting of the District Council will be affected by the transition, but the other conference events should be held as normal.

There will be two District Council meetings this year- one based on the District’s current boundaries, and one based on its 2026-2027 boundaries.

The District Council meeting based on the current (2025-2026) District boundaries will be conducted to close out any outstanding District business, which may include approving filled District officer vacancies, presenting officer reports, and the audit report. Alignment approval and elections will not be conducted at this meeting.

The additional District Council meeting will include District Council members based on the 2026-2027 District boundaries. During this meeting, the new District Council will approve the new District alignment and hold elections for the new District, effective July 1, 2026. This meeting will include the Presidents and Vice Presidents of Education of clubs based on the new boundaries. In situations where a single District is realigning into multiple Districts, District Executive Committee members may choose which District Council meeting they attend; however, they may not vote in more than one.

District Executive Committee (DEC) member votes are not tied to a specific club. This means that a DEC member may attend a business meeting where the existing District's clubs will be distributed to cast their single vote.

Ideally, DEC members will attend the business meeting assigned to their club. Under no circumstances can a member of the DEC cast a DEC vote in more than one business meeting. Any DEC member who would like to cast their DEC vote at a business meeting other than the District to which their club is assigned should announce their intent to the Credentials Committee Chair as far in advance as possible.

The Club President and/or Vice President of Education of any member club may vote on behalf of the club as its representative. Either club officer may carry the club's two (2) votes or each of these club officers may carry one (1) vote, as determined by the club membership. Proxies for District Council meetings are not permitted.

A representative from any Member Club in good standing is entitled to a maximum of two (2) votes. District Executive Committee members are entitled to one (1) vote and may cast up to two (2) additional votes as a Club President and/or Vice President of Education.

Club Presidents and Vice Presidents of Education will need to plan ahead and register accordingly to ensure they do not exceed the maximum number of representative votes they can cast at a District Council meeting.

District Directors will not directly select the chairs for the Alignment Committee and District Leadership Committee; instead, the chairs of these committees will be selected by the District Realignment Transition Committee to facilitate a smooth transition between program years.

Yes, the current District Directors will be assigned as the Immediate Past District Director (IPDD) to one District where they hold membership in a club. The IPDD will provide counsel and guidance to District leaders as requested by the District Director.

In some cases, there may be multiple IPDDs assigned to the new District. Each IPDD will have the opportunity to fully participate as a member of the District Executive Committee and District Council.