Our District Achievements

The Distinguished District Awards Program recognises Districts that provide a positive and supportive environment that leads to member success.

Quality clubs are at the heart of Toastmasters, and Distinguished clubs are at the heart of the Distinguished Area, Distinguished Division, and Distinguished District Programs.

What are the awards in the Distinguished District Program?

Smedley Distinguished District

Introduced in 2019/2020, this award is the highest level of recognition available. Districts achieving Smedley Distinguished status have exceptional achievement in the areas of club growth (5%), membership growth (8%), and distinguished clubs (55%). 

President’s Distinguished District

Districts achieving President’s Distinguished status have outstanding achievement in the areas of club growth (3%), membership growth (5%), and distinguished clubs (50%).

Select Distinguished District

Districts achieving Select Distinguished status have exceeded the program requirements of distinguished district status in the areas of club growth (+1), membership growth (3%), and distinguished clubs (45%).

Distinguished District

Districts that meet specific qualifying requirements and also meet their club growth (no net loss), membership growth (1%), and distinguished clubs (40%) goals achieve Distinguished District status.

District Directors and District Awards

Every year a member of Toastmasters International steps up to become the District Director for each District around the world. The District Directors have many responsibilities within their District Leadership Teams. Read more about the leadership roles.

YearDistrict DirectorDistrict Director’s Home Club
District AwardRankDistinguished Clubs
2023/24Diane RichardsonChiltern Speakers, Thame SpeakersPresident’s Distinguished District11th60.36%
2022/23Rupa DattaTrojan Speakers9th61.90%
2021/22Helena Boden-Brewer, DTMAylesbury Speakers, Wokingham Speakers24th45.76%
2020/21Arnaud Sartre, DTMKent Speakers Club21st64.09%
2019/20Florian Bay, DTMLondon Victorians, Beckenham CommunicatorsDistinguished District12th71.10%
2018/19Andy Hammond, DTMArun SpeakersSelect Distinguished District12th73.78%
2017/18Pedro Casillas, DTMGrosvenor Square SpeakersSelect Distinguished District4th77.27%
2016/17Vanessa King, DTMGuildford SpeakersDistinguished District6th75.17%
2015/16Jean Gamester, DTMThame Speakers, Stand & Deliver, BardwellPresident’s Distinguished District4th85.27%
2014/15Hilary BriggsEarly Bird Speakers, Grosvenor Square SpeakersPresident’s Distinguished District3rd85.47%

District Governors and District Awards

YearDistrict GovernorDistrict Governor’s Home Club
District AwardRankDistinguished Clubs
2013/14Luanne KentCastleknock ToastmastersSelect Distinguished District19th81.39%
2012/13Freddie DaniellsExcalibur Speakers, Holborn SpeakersSelect Distinguished District13th73.93%
2011/12James HegartySpeakeasy RoscommonDistinguished District13th59.01 pts
2010/11Teresa DukesSpeakeasy@MartleshamSelect Distinguished, District8th70.09 pts
2009/10Joe GibbsKillaloe-Ballina ToastmastersDistinguished District16th73.87 pts
2008/09Gary SanderDereham ArticulateSelect Distinguished, District9th79.17 pts
2007/08Mary MurtaghLimerick ToastmastersSelect Distinguished District7th83.57 pts
2006/07Nicholas BenningGuildford SpeakersSelect Distinguished District10th74.03 pts
2005/06Lynda M MolloyBray ToastmastersPresident’s Distinguished District4th84.01 pts
2004/05David ThompsonLondon AtheniansSelect Distinguished District8th81.57 pts
2003/04Jeremiah RonayneSpeakeasySelect Distinguished District7th
2002/03Angus GalbraithThame SpeakersSelect Distinguished District10th69.68 pts
2001/02Margaret WorthyGuildford SpeakersDistinguished District13th61.56 pts
2000/01Mary O’ConnellMidleton Toastmasters
1999/00David MacLeodMaidenhead Speakers
1998/99Cecil KirkAIB Toastmasters
1997/98Mike SilvermanLondon CorinthiansSelect Distinguished District7th
1996/97Hilda McHughLimerick ToastmastersPresident’s Distinguished District26th
1995/96Ken NormanOxford SpeakersDistinguished District13th
1994/95Ted CorcoranFingal ToastmastersPresident’s Distinguished District2nd
1993/94Norman FoxMaidenhead SpeakersDistinguished District25th
1992/93Brian O’ConnorCrusadersPresident’s Distinguished District6th
1991/92Meryll CoeAylesbury Speakers
1990/91Ian JonesThame Speakers
1989/90Joe PrendergastClonmel ToastmastersDistinguished District
1988/89John EarnshawOxford Speakers
1987/88Harry KnoxDLS CommunicatorsDistinguished District
1986/87Norman RhodesMaidenhead Speakers
1985/86Mary DwanDun Laoghaire
1984/85David LindseyThame SpeakersSelect Distinguished District12th
1983/84Mary O’ConnorWaterford Club
1982/83George Gallagher-DaggittOxford Speakers
1981/82Gerald KeenGrosvenor Square Speakers
1980/81Mike MurdockShillelagh
1979/80Andrew DuckerEpsom Speakers
1978/79Patrick DullaghanEngineers Club
1977/78Patrick DullaghanEngineers Club
1976/77Niall BrunicardiFermoy Toastmasters
1975/76Niall O’RiordanCork Club
1974/75Mike MurdockShillelagh
1973/74Geoffrey BarkerBedford Speakers
1972/73Ben MarriottSouthend-on-Sea
1971/72Gaylord Giles

Excellence Awards after 2015

YearExcellence in Leadership
(Distinguished District for 3 or more years)
District DirectorExcellence in Program QualityProgram Quality DirectorExcellence in Club GrowthClub Growth DirectorPresidents 20+
(For successfully motivating clubs to achieve and maintain charter strength)
2022/23AchievedDiane Richardson
2021/22AchievedRupa Datta
2020/21AchievedHelena Boden-Brewer, DTM
2019/20AchievedFlorian Bay, DTMAchievedArnaud Sartre, DTMAchievedHelena Boden-Brewer, DTM
Achieved
2018/19AchievedAndy T. Hammond, DTMAchievedFlorian Bay, DTMAchievedArnaud Sartre, DTMAchieved
2017/18AchievedPedro Casillas, DTMAchievedAndy T. Hammond, DTMAchievedFlorian Bay, DTM
2016/17AchievedVanessa King, DTMAchievedPedro Casillas, DTMAchievedAndy T. Hammond, DTM
2015/16AchievedJean Gamester, DTMAchievedVanessa King, DTMAchievedDorothea Stuart, DTM

Excellence Awards before 2015

YearExcellence in Leadership (Distinguished District + for 3 or more years)Excellence in Education and TrainingExcellence in Marketing Presidents 20+ (for successfully motivating clubs to achieve and maintain charter strength)
2014/15AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2013/14AchievedAchievedAchieved
2012/13AchievedAchievedAchieved
2011/12AchievedAchievedAchieved
2010/11AchievedAchievedAchieved
2009/10AchievedAchievedAchieved
2008/09AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2007/08AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2006/07AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2005/06AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2004/05AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2003/04AchievedAchievedAchievedAchieved
2002/03AchievedAchievedAchieved
2001/02AchievedAchievedAchieved
2000/01AchievedAchieved