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The Toastmasters Educational Program
The educational program is the heart of a Toastmasters Club. It is the means through which you develop your communication and leadership skills and achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator. The Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks -- a communication track and a leadership track.
The communication track is the major part of the system -- almost all new members join Toastmasters for the benefits this track offers. Some become involved in the leadership track. The tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish.
Communication Track
The core of the communication track is the Communication and Leadership Program manual (also called the "basic manual"), which contains 10 speech projects. Every new member is sent a basic manual within 48 hours after his/her application for Membership (Form 400) is received at World Headquarters. (Included in the material sent with the basic manual are three other manuals: Your Speaking Voice, Effective Speech Evaluation, and Gestures: Your Body Speaks.)
The CTM Award
The basic manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others.Your first goal as a member is to complete this manual. When you do, you are eligible for Competent Toastmaster (CTM) recognition. When you finish all 10 projects, complete the CTM application (Catalog no. 223 in the manual), have the Vice President Education sign it, and send it to World Headquarters.
You'll receive a CTM certificate and, if this is your first CTM award, two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals free of charge. If you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.
Advanced Program
After receiving CTM recognition you can enter the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program, where you can refine and enhance your basic skills. This program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented; several are not. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn.The advanced manuals (see Advanced Manuals for more info) are:
- The Entertaining Speaker (226-A)
- Speaking to Inform (226-B)
- Public Relations (226-C)
- The Discussion Leader (226-D)
- Specialty Speeches (226-E)
- Speeches by Management (226-F)
- The Professional Speaker (226-G)
- Persuasive Speaking (226-H)
- Technical Presentations (226-I)
- Communicating on Television (226-J)
- Storytelling (226-K)
- Interpretive Reading (226-L)
- Interpersonal Communication (226-M)
- Special Occasion Speeches (226-N)
- Humorously Speaking (226-O)
When you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards:
Advanced Toastmaster Bronze (ATM-B) Award
To be eligible for this award, you must have:- Achieved Competent Toastmaster award
- Completed two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals
Advanced Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S) Award
To be eligible for this award, you must have:- Achieved new Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award or achieved Advanced Toastmaster award
- Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards)
- Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The Successful Club Series
Advanced Toastmaster Gold (ATM-G) Award
To be eligible for this award, members must have:- Achieved new Advanced Toastmaster Silver award or achieved Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award
- Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards)
- Conducted a Success/Leadership Program, Success/Communication Program (Success/Leadership or Success/Communication programs may not be those completed for Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award) or a Youth Leadership Program
- Coached a new member with the first three speech projects
By the time you earn the Advanced Toastmaster Gold award, you will have completed six of the available Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills.
To apply for any of the Advanced Toastmaster awards, complete the appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award application (Catalog no. 1207-A). This application also is in the back of each advanced manual and is available from World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
Accredited Speaker Program
Toastmasters International has a special program which recognizes those members who have professional-level speaking skills. The Accredited Speaker Program is not for everyone. Only a handful of Toastmasters have what it takes to become Accredited Speakers. Less than 25 percent of those who apply for the program become Accredited Speakers.The program is conducted annually. To qualify as an Accredited Speaker, an applicant must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. He or she also must be an Advanced Toastmaster or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze and have had a minimum of 25 speaking engagements to non-Toastmasters audiences within three years of application date. Five copies of letters of acknowledgment or appreciation from any of the 25 engagements must be provided as documentary evidence of successful presentations. In addition, applicants must pass a rigorous two-stage judging process.
If you or someone in your Club has professional-level speaking skills, call or write World Headquarters for the Accredited Speaker Program brochure and application. Deadline each year for entries is November 1.
Leadership Track
As mentioned earlier, the Toastmasters educational program also includes a leadership track, where you acquire and practice the skills necessary to be an effective leader.You can:
- Serve as a Club leader, developing skills in planning, training, motivating, and managing.
- Become a District leader, where these skills are further enhanced.
- Participate in the "High Performance Leadership" program (Catalog No. 262), which requires you to conduct a project of your choice in which you serve as a leader. The program provides study material and activities to complete. Following are the awards members may earn in the leadership track and the requirements for each.
Competent Leader (CL) Award
To be eligible for this award, you must have:- Achieved Competent Toastmaster award
- Served at least six months (June 1 through December 31, or January 1 through June 30) as a Club officer (President, Vice President Education, Vice President Membership, Vice President Public Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, or Sergeant at Arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office
- While a Club officer, participated in a District-sponsored Club officer training program
- Conducted any two programs from The Successful Club Series
Advanced Leader (AL) Award
To be eligible for this award, you must have:- Achieved Competent Leader award
- Served a complete term as a District officer (District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Division Governor, or Area Governor)
- Competed the High Performance Leadership program
- Served successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor, or Specialist
To apply for any of the leadership awards, complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog No. 1209-A). Applications also are available from World Headquarters and are on this website.
You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Award
The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award is the highest award our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills.To be eligible for the DTM award, a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award
- Achieved Advanced Leader award
To apply for the DTM award, complete the appropriate section of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog No. 1209- A). Applications also are available from World Headquarters.
You'll receive a special plaque and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
(From Toastmaster's International Website)
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