Differences Between Traditional and Pathways DTM Achievements

You decided to pursue a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award and would like to learn more about a traditional DTM and a Pathways DTM.

The requirements for attaining a traditional DTM and a Pathways DTM are available on the Toastmasters International website: https://www.toastmasters.org/education/distinguished-toastmaster.

Here are a few of the highlights you may be interested in exploring in order to determine which is right for you or a member of your club.

Timing

Members have until June 30, 2020 to complete the requirements for a DTM in the traditional program.

There are no deadlines for completing a Pathways DTM.

Support for Clubs

In the traditional program, a Toastmaster must complete the requirements for serving as a sponsor, mentor or coach.

In the Pathways program, a Toastmaster is required to:

  • Serve as a club sponsor, or conduct a Speechcraft, or Youth Leadership Program

AND

  • Serve as a club mentor or coach

Completing requirements

In the traditional program, Toastmasters may work on speeches and leadership requirements in a variety of manuals at the same.

In the Pathways program, individuals must work sequentially on completing requirements for Levels 1-5 in their paths.

High Performance Leadership (HPL)

In the traditional program, a member can begin working on an HPL project at any time as a component of their Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) award.

In the Pathways program, an HPL project, either a Level 5 requirement or an optional elective depending on the member’s chosen path, can be started when the member completes Level 4.

Continue to stay informed:

  • Toastmasters International website
  • Toastmaster magazine (print and online)
  • Coming Soon: Pathways resources on the District 83 website
  • Club Officer Training (next sessions take place June, July and August 2019)

Blog contributed by Su Brooks, DTM 2                                                              District 83 Training Coordinator and Social Media Strategist

Su has been a Toastmaster since July 2000 and has earned two DTM awards in the Traditional program. In Pathways, she is working on three paths: Leadership Development, Presentation Mastery, and Engaging Humor. In addition, she recently began the Pathways Mentoring Program.

For 2018-2019, she serves as the Sergeant at Arms for Talk of Monmouth, an advanced club in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and as the District Training Coordinator and a Social Media Strategist.

She is a member of No Limits Toastmasters in Staten Island, New York, where she serves as the audio technician on the production crew for Toastmasters in the Community, a cable TV show.

For 2019-2020, Su will take on the role of Destination DTM Chair for District 83.

Selecting and Timing Your Leadership Roles

The leadership roles described in this post, unlike speeches, CAN carry over from the Traditional DTM track to the Pathways DTM track. However, credit for these roles must not have been applied to a previous award.

District Officer

Start now and tell Lynda Starr that you are interested in serving as a District Officer for 2019-2020 so you can complete your next award.

You might need to be flexible with the officer positions available. There could be an abundance of people in one geographical area seeking a role and a need to fill a position in another area.

Sponsor, Mentor, Coach

Start now and ask William Markert for an appointment. A Sponsor for a new club receives credit after the club successfully charters. Some clubs charter very quickly, while others take months. Up to two people can sponsor a new club.

A Mentor for a newly chartered club fills the role for a minimum of six months. Up to two people can serve. Mentors may receive credit after they complete their service AND the President of the club signs a form attesting to its completion.

A Club Coach is appointed upon the request of a Club that is in need of support to increase their membership, restore club quality and bring their club to the level of Distinguished status or higher. Clubs qualify for a Coach if their membership is below 12. Two Coaches may work with a club. A Coach is successful if the club becomes Distinguished by the end of the Toastmasters year.

A Coach can request that the appointment be extended another year. Keep this timing in mind if you are seeking to complete a traditional DTM by June 2020.

Successful club coaches traditionally receive credit toward the ALS or DTM award for their service as a coach. In addition, the ALS award also requires one year of service as a district officer. But starting in January 2019, successful club coaches will also be credited with service as a district officer. This means successful club coaches will complete two of the ALS/DTM requirements rather than one. Club coaches will still have two years to help clubs become distinguished—all of this year and through the 2019-2020 program year.

Youth Leadership Program, Speechcraft

Start on your own schedule. Materials for these programs may be ordered through the Toastmasters International online shop.

Talk to Toastmasters who have completed these community programs for insight and helpful advice.

Talk to your DTM mentor, your Club Vice President Education, a District Officer or the District Destination DTM Chair to help determine which roles might be best suited for your goals.

Blog contributed by Su Brooks, DTM 2                                                               District 83 Training Coordinator and Social Media Strategist

Su has been a Toastmaster since July 2000 and has earned two DTM awards in the Traditional program. In Pathways, she is working on three paths: Leadership Development, Presentation Mastery, and Engaging Humor. In addition, she recently began the Pathways Mentoring Program.

For 2018-2019, she serves as the Sergeant at Arms for Talk of Monmouth, an advanced club in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and as the District Training Coordinator and a Social Media Strategist.

She is a member of No Limits Toastmasters in Staten Island, New York, where she serves as the audio technician on the production crew for Toastmasters in the Community, a cable TV show.

For 2019-2020, Su will take on the role of Destination DTM Chair for District 83.