Rising, Reaching, and Reconnecting in District 42

Hello District 42!
Can you believe it’s already October? Four months into the Toastmasters year—how is your club doing? How are you feeling? Now that summer is behind us, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to business.

District Leadership Update

In September, the district trio has been busy setting District 42 up for success by creating the district success plan, district budget, marketing plan, and a communications plan, all of which were completed by September 30. Thank you to all the leaders who attended our District Executive Committee (DEC) and District Council (DC) meetings in September. Your participation helps keep our district strong and focused on our goals.

Pathways Enhancements

By late October, members will see important Pathways updates. Each level will include specific meeting roles, and at Levels 3, 4, and 5, members will also present projects from the Toastmasters Education Series. These enhancements are designed to strengthen clubs and give every member opportunities to grow through real-world practice.

For details and preparation tips, be sure to review the Pathways Enhancements Club Officer Guide. We’re excited to see how these changes will elevate the member experience and club excellence across District 42.

District Transition Updates

At our recent regional leaders call, we learned that Mary Swanson has been appointed Transition Lead. She will guide the transition process and chair the District Council meeting for the new district in the 2026-2027 Toastmasters year.

Please note that District 42 will still hold its own District Council meeting at our annual conference. Mary is also seeking one past leader to serve as District Leadership Committee Chair and another as District Alignment Committee Chair. These appointments will be made by mid-October. Current leaders will not serve on these committees so that our focus remains fully on District 42’s goals this year.

Celebrating Our Progress

Meanwhile, Stacey, Program Quality Director, and Stanley Vong, Club Growth Director, have been busy working alongside clubs to help us achieve our goal of Select Distinguished status this year. They’ve introduced some exciting incentives to recognize and celebrate achievements. Be sure to check them out on the District 42 website—or ask your Area Director or Division Director for details.

As Daniel Rex, Toastmasters International CEO, reminded us at District Training: “Let’s keep the main thing the main thing!” Let’s focus on what truly matters—supporting our clubs, developing our members, and achieving excellence.

Let’s continue to Rise, Reach, and Reconnect as we move forward together!

Debbie Stearns, DTM
D42 District Director 2025-2026