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“If you steal from one
speaker you are condemned as a plagiarist, but
if you steal from ten speakers you are
considered a scholar, and
if you steal from thirty or forty speakers, a
distinguished scholar.”
Frank Storey, DTM |
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| DTM |
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| What is the DTM? |
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| The Distinguished Toastmaster is Toastmasters International’s highest individual recognition—awarded to members who’ve demonstrated advanced communication, leadership, mentoring, and service across the organization. |
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| A (very) short history |
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| The DTM designation was first awarded in 1970; fifteen members earned it that inaugural year. It’s remained the pinnacle credential in Toastmasters ever since. |
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| How you earn it (Pathways, 2025) |
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- Finish two unique learning paths.
- Serve as a club officer for two six-month terms or one annual term, help prepare your Club Success Plan, and attend District-sponsored officer training.
- Serve one full year as a District leader.
- Serve successfully as a club mentor or club coach.
- Serve successfully as a club sponsor or conduct a Speechcraft or Youth Leadership program.
- Complete the DTM Project (design and implement a significant project that demonstrates your skills). Access to the DTM Project appears on Base Camp after you’ve completed one path and Levels 1–3 of a second, and you request it via email.
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When you have everything done, you (and a club officer) submit the official DTM Award Application to World Headquarters.
Why it still matters in life and work (2025)
- Proof of real leadership & service. The path requires hands-on leadership at the club and district levels, mentoring/coaching, and delivering a substantial capstone project—signals of initiative and follow-through that employers and communities value.
- Career-friendly documentation. Toastmasters provides employer letters and digital recognition (badges/certificates) you can share on resumes, LinkedIn, and in performance reviews.
- Transferable skills that compound. DTM earners frequently cite gains in confidence, presentation, team leadership, and project execution—skills that translate directly to promotions and broader opportunities.
- Credibility inside Toastmasters. Wearing the pin is a visible nudge to serve—DTMs are often tapped to coach clubs, mentor members, chair programs, and lead initiatives.
Practical notes
- Timing: It typically takes multiple years because requirements span education, mentoring/coaching/sponsoring, and elected leadership terms. (There’s no official “time cap”—progress is self-paced.)
- Plan early: If DTM is your goal, map the officer roles, district service, and sponsor/mentor/coach opportunities now, so they align with your path progress and future DTM Project.
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| CUSTOM FLIERS |
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| Download and Print the Flier |
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