My first Annual Business Meeting
My first experience with the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) was in 2012—and I wasn’t even there! As District Administration Manager, I volunteered to be the one who encouraged clubs in our District to vote, either directly or via a proxy like our District Director. It was my first taste of leading district-wide action, and certainly not the last!
Time zones and the next ABM
Now, years later, I’m looking forward to the 2025 ABM and thinking about proxies again. This year’s meeting is scheduled for 4–9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4). For clubs and Districts in Regions 8–14, this means the meeting may fall in the middle of the night or early morning.
Here is what the timing looks like for different cities around the world.
You can check the timing for your location here.
Making sure your votes count
No matter where you are, if you want your club and District votes to count, plan ahead. Will you attend in person or online? Will you assign a proxy? A proxyholder can be a club member, District Director, or another Toastmasters member. Learn more about voting here.
District Directors: how will you let clubs know you’re ready to vote on their behalf? Do you have someone in your District to manage proxy gathering, like I did years ago?
You are, of course, also welcome to give me your club’s proxy[1]. You can direct how I vote, or I’ll use my judgment to serve my view of members’ best interests.
What will we be voting on?
This year’s business includes elections for International Officers and Directors, plus eight proposals. Clubs in good standing get two votes per election and proposal.
The Elections
How to choose? You can learn about the candidates (including me), and the roles and competencies. District leaders receive invitations to interview candidates before convention. There is a Candidates Corner, a showcase where candidates answer impromptu questions and a 2 minute speech. This helps voters—whether in person or online—make informed decisions.
The Proposals
Every three years, our governing documents are reviewed for clarity and updates. With 96,000 words, a tidy-up is worthwhile! This year there are eight proposals to change the Bylaws and Club Constitution, including:
- Proposals A & B: Improve clarity and cross-referencing in the Bylaws.
- Proposal C: Clarifies disciplinary procedures as internal, not legal—e.g., changing “persons charged” to “persons involved.”
- Proposal D: Changes routine language about how the board works, e.g. recognizing written notice as preferred.
- Proposals F & H: Amend the Club Constitution to reflect current club and committee practices, also improving clarity for non-English speakers.
I support all proposals, especially Proposal C. It uses more open language, showing care for members during challenging times.
And Dancing
No ABM is complete without dancing! While waiting for vote tallies or tech issues to resolve, the music starts—and so does the dancing. I may not be any better at getting the moves right to YMCA or the Macarena than when I went to my first ABM in 2013 as a bright eyed Club Growth Director, but I look forward to the fun and energy of that moment every year.
Maybe Dr Smedley would even say we vote best in moments of enjoyment!!
[1] If you do want to give me your proxy, you will need my member number which is 00880987.
