The speed and intensity of the Coronavirus outbreak measures affecting our District has been staggering.
We started receiving notices last week that club and speech contest venues were restricting access. We started putting together action plans for virtual online speech contests as well as gathering information and support for clubs who were displaced so they could meet entirely online.
On Thursday March 12, TI announced that it had lifted restrictions on online meetings, and online virtual speech contests. (correspondence here). We had a meeting with Senior District Leadership Friday evening to discuss and review implementation plans for support.
Saturday, March 14th, the Toastmasters International Board of Directors met to discuss options to protect and support our members, club leaders, and district leaders. After much deliberation, the board made the following decisions regarding current and upcoming District events, effective immediately.
- Area, Division, or District events can no longer be conducted in person, on or prior to June 1, 2020. As an alternative, we encourage Areas, Divisions, and Districts to host events online to help clubs and members through this difficult time.
- Each District must conduct its Annual District Council Meeting online, rather than in person, on or prior to June 1, 2020.
- Each District Executive Committee is authorized to determine whether they will continue to conduct or cancel Speech Contests for the 2019–2020 contest cycle.
On March 15th, we held an emergency District Executive Committee meeting to discuss the impact on District 106, and the best means to support clubs and contests through this crisis. The following items were discussed.
Club Meetings: The decision to meet in person or by utilizing online meeting software or telecommunication is a club decision. We have included some resources for conducting virtual meetings in this link. If your club has been displaced and needs assistance conducting virtual meetings, please reach out to your Area and Division teams.
Area Director Visits: All remaining Area Director visits will be conducted virtually, either via video conference, or via teleconference. This may be coordinated with your Area Director to attend either a meeting with all members, or with the club officer team. We will continue to provide information to division and area team through this period.
Special Events: Open Houses, Speechcraft, HPL Projects may be conducted as online virtual events if meeting in person is unsafe, impractical. District organized events will be postponed until this crisis has passed.
Speech Contests: After Deliberation, the District has decided to suspend the current Table Topics Contest. The International Speech contest will continue as an online virtual contest only. (refer to March 12 correspondence from World HQ). The District Championship for the Humorous Speech contest is scheduled for May 1st and will be conducted as a Virtual online Contest unless it is rescheduled.
District Council Meeting (May 2nd): The District 106 Annual District Council meeting, and elections will be conducted as a Virtual Online Meeting. More information will be released as it becomes available.
District Leaders Candidates Forum (May 2nd): Candidates for elected positions will participate in candidate’s forum. This will be broadcast live as a virtual online event. More information will be released as it becomes available.
District 106 Annual Conference (May 1st, and May 2nd): The District Annual Conference has been cancelled, with exception of the previously mentioned events. We sincerely want to thank the entire Conference Planning team for their hard work and dedication thus far. We will be working with the team to provide refunds for all clubs and members who have registered.
Please understand that these decisions were not taken lightly and were made in the best interest to protect and support our members, club leaders, and district leaders. I would encourage you to stay in touch with your Area & Division Teams for the latest developments as we transition through these challenging times. Please keep yourself and those close to you safe.
Sincerely,
Dave Gibson, DTM
2019-2020 District Director
District 106