Stroll (Back) To Smedley 2023-2024

In December 2022 we created a predictive model of where clubs would finish in the Distinguished Club Programme in June 2023. This became “Stroll to Smedley”, emphasising that steady progress throughout the year is preferable to a last minute dash. The model proved right to within 1 DCP point for 65% of clubs, 43% exceeded their prediction and 29% fell short. However, as a District, the overall improvement enabled us to achieve Smedley Distinguished status for distinguished clubs. Well done and thanks to everyone who took part in the “stroll” and got us over the line.

We’re repeating the stroll this year, starting a month earlier, and the table below shows our first prediction. We have seven months in which to pick up our strolling pace and do better! The principle is simple: every club is compared to its DCP position on the same date the year before and is either the same, ahead, or behind. If the trend is maintained, the club will attain the same DCP outcome, do better or poorer accordingly. Each of the ten DCP metrics is tracked, although it is the club membership strength that confers or denies eligibility. This is a team sport! 

In the table below, clubs that are in the left column are currently on target to improve on last year, and those in bold may become distinguished this year with a modest increase in strolling pace. Clubs that are in the right column are currently expected to fall short of their attainment last year, and those in italics would be advised to pick up their pace to retain their distinguished club status.

You’re invited to join us for the stroll. Please help us make our prediction turn out to be unduly pessimistic! We can do this!

Update: 11th January

Now we have passed from December to January, a perfect “stroll” would involve having at least 2 Level 1s, 2 Level 2s, 1 Level 3, 1 Level 4/5/DTM and four new members. If you haven’t planned your Open House event yet or geared up for our “Talk Up Toastmasters” campaign, now would be  a great time to start it. It’s also a great time to start your membership renewals campaign if you’d like to win our “20+80 Challenge“. Keep your membership building going to be able to win our “Net Growth 8” incentive. Why not look at our incentives page to remind yourself what’s on offer?