February 9, 2023
Dear Toastmaster,
In August 2022, the Board of Directors made the decision to no longer offer the option to purchase print paths for your Pathways learning experience, effective July 1, 2023. This was not an easy decision to make, but ultimately, we felt that it was the best decision for the organization.
When the Pathways learning experience first launched, we transitioned from an education program only offered in printed materials to an education program designed to be experienced digitally. To ease this transition, we continued to offer print versions of education content. However, we have seen a trend in recent years that fewer than 1% of Pathways users request printed materials; the overwhelming majority choose to engage with digital paths.
By shifting our focus exclusively to digital content, the Education Team will have more agility to make updates and modifications to existing content. This will also enable the team to implement larger-scale changes to the education program based on feedback we have received from you, the Toastmasters members. Some of those changes will be shared in the coming months, and we’re excited about improvements that are on their way to the Pathways learning experience.
In the meantime, you may wonder how this change will affect you. If you have never purchased a print path, this change will have no impact on you or your Pathways journey. If you are currently working in a print path, you will still receive all three of your distributions of your path. World Headquarters will send you a communication in July 2023 regarding your final print distribution(s), even if you do not specifically request them.
If you prefer working in a physical copy of your projects, you will always have the option to print entire projects directly from Base Camp. You can access a downloadable/printable version of any project in your path by using the instructions outlined in the Printing a Project and Resources document.
World Headquarters will continue to support members who have limited or restricted internet access. If you do not have reliable access to digital paths, please contact the Education Team via email at educationprogram@toastmasters.
As you continue (or begin!) your Pathways journey, we commend your dedication to reaching your personal or professional goals, and we look forward to continuing to support your Toastmasters education experience.
Sincerely,
Matt Kinsey, DTM
International President 2022–2023
Toastmasters International
www.toastmasters.org
