District ONE
Protocol Guidelines
(Download the current 2009-2010 Protocol List, last revised 3-2-10.)
These guidelines list the order for introducing dignitaries at Toastmaster events.
- Visiting Non-Toastmaster Dignitaries
- Honorary Toastmasters and other Guests of Honor
- Current International Officers (including Immediate Past President and Executive Director)
- Current International Directors (Region II, our Region, first, followed by other Regions)
- Current District One Officers (Governor, LGET, LGM, IPDG, PRO, Secretary, Treasurer)
- Current Division Governors (host Division first, then alphabetically)
- Current Area Governors (host Division first, then alphanumeric)
- Current District Officers from other Districts
- Official candidates for elected District One office who are not current district officers (alphabetically)
- Past International Presidents (start with most recent; Immediate Past is a current officer)
- Past International Directors (start with most recent; Immediate Past is not a current officer)
- Past District One Governors (start with most recent, Immediate Past is a current officer)
- Past District Governors of other Districts (alphabetically)
Introduce current officers before past officers (e.g. Area Governors before Past International Directors).
If a person such as a past district officer is competing in a speech contest, then they should not be introduced as a dignitary
even if their name appears on this list.
Introduction should be phrased in this manner:
- Office (and highest past office held if both higher than current office and District Governor or above)
- District One Candidacy (Nominating Committee Approved)
- International Candidacy (District Supported)
- Toastmaster Designation (one only except for Accredited Speakers; in full, no abbreviations)
- Name
- Office of spouse or guest (if applicable)
- Toastmaster Designation (one only except for Accredited Speakers; in full, no abbreviations) of spouse or guest
- Name of spouse or guest
Example: “Past District Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Jane Doe and her husband, John”
Announce each dignitary only once. A combined announcement of two dignitaries (e.g. spouses) where both are in attendance takes precedence over a separate listing in the Protocol of either, which should be read only in the absence of the other dignitary.
Example if both dignitaries are present: “District Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Mary Smith and her husband, Division Q Governor, Advanced Toastmaster Bronze John Smith”
Example if only the first is present: “District Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Mary Smith”
Example if only the second is present, and has a separate listing elsewhere in the Protocol: “Division Q Governor, Advanced Toastmaster Bronze John Smith”
The District One Protocol List is used to introduce dignitaries at all District-Sponsored events as well as Division and Area Contests. Download a copy shortly before the event; the list is updated as changes occur.
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