How did we measure Toastmasters club success before 1999?  There were several versions of the Distinguished Club Program (DCP) before the 10-goal system we now know and love was put into place.  Let’s look at how the DCP worked in 1989-90.

Points were awarded for educational awards: 750/CTM, 600/ATM, 400/DTM.  Only one award of a given type per member (per club/per year) was recognized for DCP purposes, just as today (but there was no total limit).  Presenting educational programs like Success/Leadership, Youth Leadership, and Speechcraft earned 100-250 points each when registered with WHQ.

Membership was also recognized, with 200 points for each new member, 300 for the club serving as a new club sponsor, and 300-400 points for each member serving as a new club sponsor or mentor or struggling club specialist (the program that came before the current club coach program).

Retention also earned points — retaining 75% of the members at each semi-annual renewal picked up 750 points, with another 10 points for each additional percentage point (retaining 100% of your members at renewal picked up a total of 1000 points).

The club also earned 100 points for each member holding district office, 300 for each club officer that went to training, and 50 points for voting at the district business meeting.  On-time club officer lists were worth 150 points, on-time dues worth 200 points, and submitting the club newsletter in the WHQ-run contest netted 300 points.

A good club would often rack up 4,000, 6,000, even 8,000 points in a year.  Recognition was based on how many members they started the year with (July 1):

• Less than 20 members: 2500+ points to be distinguished, 6000+ to be select distinguished
• 20-29 members: 3000+ points to be distinguished, 6500+ to be select
• 30-39 members: 3500+ points to be distinguished, 7000+ to be select
• 40+ members: 4000+ points to be distinguished, 7500+ to be select

All clubs had to be at 20+ members at the end of the year (June 30) to qualify (no “+5” for small clubs).  The top five clubs globally in each of the four size categories were given the “President’s Distinguished Club” award, so these were very rare, and they were individually recognized at the Hall of Fame during the August convention.

Much more complex than the current (1999 and later) DCP — but much simpler than the DCP that came before, in the 1960s (a future blog post!).

Read the 1989-90 DCP manual here: OldDCP (Thanks to D7 historian Harvey Schowe for making this document available!)