Toastmasters Democracy- where decisions are made
Jean Gamester
District 71 Secretary 2012/13
Toastmasters Democracy
Our Setup Maps Organisation Structure Key Documents
Where Decisions are Made Club Business Meetings District Executive Committee District Committee Annual Toastmasters International Business Meeting
Introduction
Toastmasters is global organisation. It is organised so that there are trained leaders in place
to support members at every level. It has a consistent way of operating across the globe. It is a democracy. If there is not enough participation in the democratic
process, decisions can’t be made and officers can’t be appointed.
Clubs have influence at every level of decision making – if they chose to use their voting rights
Toastmasters International currently has 270,381 members in 116 countries.
190,827
Numbers of Members
423
3,599
44,962
17,433
13,137
We are organised into Regions…and Regions are organised into Districts
District 71 covers the UK & Ireland and has
over 6,700 members
We are in
Region 11
How we are structured
How Officers Are Elected Club Committee
by Club Members Area Governor
by Area Council Division Governor
District PR OfficerDistrict LG MarketingDistrict Governor
by District Council Board of Directors
by Toastmasters Annual Business Meeting
This means that clubs have votes at every level
These documents define how we operate…
For Clubs Club Constitution Standard Bylaws for Clubs
• Each club can have its own bylaws/policies, e.g. where they meet, the dues they pay
For Districts District Administrative Bylaws
• Each club has its own bylaws/policies, eg whether we have area governor elections
For Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
& Policies and Protocol Local bylaws have to be consistent with the other governing documents. Changes have to be submitted to TI and are subject to change by TI.
How do these documents get updated?…
For Clubs Club Constitution Standard Bylaws for Clubs
• Each club has its own bylaws, e.g. where they meet, the dues they pay
For Districts District Administrative Bylaws
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg whether we have area governor elections
For Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
& Policies and Protocol The Club Business Meeting changes that Club’s bylaws
How do these documents get updated?…
For Clubs Club Constitution Standard Bylaws for Clubs
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg where they meet, the dues they pay
For Districts District Administrative Bylaws
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg whether we have area governor elections
For Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
& Policies and Protocol The District Council changes that District’s bylaws
How do these documents get updated?…
For Clubs Club Constitution Standard Bylaws for Clubs
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg where they meet, the dues they pay
For Districts District Administrative Bylaws
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg whether we have area governor elections
For Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws & Policies and ProtocolThe Board of Directors changes the District Administrative Bylaws
How do these documents get updated?…
For Clubs Club Constitution Standard Bylaws for Clubs
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg where they meet, the dues they pay
For Districts District Administrative Bylaws
• Each club has its own bylaws, eg whether we have area governor elections
For Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws & Policies and Protocol
The Toastmasters Annual Business Meeting Changes these documents.
Voted on by clubs, district governors and the board of directors
Key terms for Toastmasters Meetings
Quorum : The number of voters that need to be in attendance in order for the meeting to transact business.
Proxy : someone designated to act on a voter’s behalf at a council meeting.
How Key Meetings WorkClub Business Meeting Members
Active club members
Quorum Majority
Proxies allowed? No
How Key Meetings WorkDistrict Executive
Committee Quorum
Majority
Proxies allowed? No
How Key Meetings WorkDistrict Council Quorum
1/3 Club Presidents, VPEs or their Proxies
Proxies allowed? Yes, for clubs Club members (in good standing)
How you assign Proxy? Club President & VPE fills in
form to assign Proxy Proxy brings to Credentials
Desk at Conference and they get their voting papers
Next District Council
10th May 2013Torquay
How Key Meetings WorkTI Annual Business Meeting Quorum
1/3 Clubs their Proxies 1/3 Delegates at Large
Proxies allowed? Yes, for clubs. Any member (in good standing) Can be our District Governor
How you assign Proxy? President or Secretary assigns
on the Toastmasters International website – Club Central
Voting members of Toastmasters International at the Annual Business Meeting- Member Clubs- Delegates at Large
Toastmasters International President, International President-Elect, the vice presidents, the international directors, past international presidents, past international directors, district governors
Next Annual Business Meeting
August 2013Cincinnati
In Summary : how can members influence what happens in Toastmasters?
Make sure we attend and vote in club business meetings. Make sure our club’s officers select the right area governor at the
area council meeting. Make sure our club is represented at the District Council by
ensuring that the Club President or VPE attends, or their proxy(s). Make sure our club is represented at the Toastmasters
International Annual Business Meeting by either ensuring that two members attend, or that they assign a proxy. That proxy can be the District Governor, or any other Toastmasters member in good standing.
We can ensure the right decisions are made and the right people elected if we participate.
Key Resources
Club Leadership Handbookhttp://www.toastmasters.org/CLH District Leadership Handbook
http://www.toastmasters.org/DistrictLeadershipHandbook
Governing Resource Documentshttp://www.toastmasters.org/policyprotocol
Any Questions?