District ONE - Toastmasters Triumph Through Teamwork
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District ONE

Protocol Guidelines

(Download the current 2010-11 Protocol List, last revised 8-31-10.)

These guidelines list the order for introducing dignitaries at Toastmaster events.

  1. Visiting Non-Toastmaster Dignitaries
  2. Honorary Toastmasters and other Guests of Honor
  3. Current International Officers (including Immediate Past President and Executive Director)
  4. Current International Directors (Region II, our Region, first, followed by other Regions)
  5. Current District One Officers (Governor, LGET, LGM, IPDG, PRO, Secretary, Treasurer)
  6. Current Division Governors (host Division first, then alphabetically)
  7. Current Area Governors (host Division first, then alphanumeric)
  8. Current District Officers from other Districts
  9. Official candidates for elected District One office who are not current district officers (alphabetically)
  10. Past International Presidents (start with most recent; Immediate Past is a current officer)
  11. Past International Directors (start with most recent; Immediate Past is not a current officer)
  12. Past District One Governors (start with most recent, Immediate Past is a current officer)
  13. 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:

  1. Office (and highest past office held if both higher than current office and District Governor or above)
    1. District One Candidacy (Nominating Committee Approved)
    2. International Candidacy (District Supported)
  2. Toastmaster Designation (one only except for Accredited Speakers; in full, no abbreviations)
  3. Name
  4. Office of spouse or guest (if applicable)
  5. Toastmaster Designation (one only except for Accredited Speakers; in full, no abbreviations) of spouse or guest
  6. 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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