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A Journey of Triumph: District 101 Becomes President’s Distinguished for the First Time

By Abhijeet Joshi, DTM

 
It is with immense joy and pride that I share the news: District 101 has achieved the President’s Distinguished status for the first time in its history. Reflecting on this monumental accomplishment, one word resonates deeply: “GET.” It was our guiding principle, our secret to success.
 
The Turning Point
On August 19th, during our final day at the Toastmasters convention in the Bahamas, I was exhausted from adjusting to the Eastern time zone, waking up at 6 AM each day. Yet, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. We gathered for our last morning meeting with Regional Advisors Brad and Christine, surrounded by the top leaders from the 10 districts in our Region 2. Christine and Brad posed a pivotal question: How do you see your district at the end of the year?
 
Setting the Vision
Our goal was clear but ambitious. We aimed to meet the Distinguished District Program (DDP) criteria, which evaluates districts on key metrics such as membership growth, club growth, and educational achievements. The recognition levels include:
  • Distinguished District: Meeting minimum criteria in membership payments, club growth, and educational awards.
  • Select Distinguished District: Surpassing the Distinguished District criteria with higher performance.
  • President’s Distinguished District: Exceeding both the Distinguished and Select Distinguished criteria significantly.
  • Smedley Distinguished District: The highest level, achieved by exceeding the President’s Distinguished criteria significantly.
I glanced at Raji, our Program Quality Director for 2023-2024, and signaled our intent to become distinguished. Her nod confirmed our shared vision. However, Anna, our Club Growth Director, had even loftier aspirations: she aimed for us to be President’s Distinguished. Initially, I thought it was a tall order, but Anna’s enthusiasm was contagious. We committed ourselves right then: District 101 would be President’s Distinguished for the year 2023-2024. We had our goal.
 
Strategic Execution
Anna introduced an incentive for early renewals, a move that set a strong start for the year. Despite the challenges in March where many clubs were under eight members, constant follow-up and timely support from the district executive committee ensured these clubs were in good standing. New clubs were formed, capturing the interest of new members and encouraging participation. Raji’s relentless follow-up with clubs ensured adherence to the Distinguished Clubs Program, achieving their goals and elevating our district’s status. This was the execution phase of our strategy.
 
Teamwork: The Heart of Our Success
This monumental effort was a testament to the power of teamwork. The unwavering dedication of members, club officers, area directors, division directors, and our top seven leaders was crucial. Everyone rallied beyond their immediate responsibilities, inspiring and supporting one another. This collective effort provided the final piece of our success equation: teamwork.
 
 
Reflection and Inspiration
Looking back, achieving the President’s Distinguished status means so much more than a title. It symbolizes our ability to “GET” it done through Goal setting, Execution, and Teamwork. These pillars are not just strategies for our district; they are life principles that drive success.
Our journey proves that with a clear goal, effective execution, and a dedicated team, anything is possible. District 101’s achievement is a beacon of inspiration, showcasing what can be accomplished when we unite and strive for excellence. Let this story inspire you to set lofty goals, execute with precision, and value the power of a cohesive team. Together, we can achieve greatness.