Many, if not all of you Toastmasters have received this email recently. While I have a built in resistence to change especially when it would seem that in that change we are sacrificing some things. However, I will try to make this educational moment informational and also try to put a positive view on it . Here is contents of that letter:
September 6, 2024
Dear Toastmaster,
We are excited to share that we are actively testing the new and improved Base Camp to ensure it’s ready to launch soon.
To prepare for transitioning to the new system, there will be a Base Camp outage beginning on October 9, 2024, that is expected to last through October 25, 2024, while we conduct critical platform testing. If you’re working on a project you may want to reference in that time frame, we recommend you download the project PDF by using the Print My Project link on the Your Evaluation page of your project. Plan to download any needed materials or wrap up any loose ends before Base Camp is inaccessible. Remember, the following items will not transfer to the new system:
- Feedback sent on Base Camp – If you have comments, constructive feedback, or encouragement you would like to reference later, take a screenshot or copy and paste the text of the feedback elsewhere.
- Documents uploaded to My Documents – If you have previously uploaded files you would like to reference later or save in the new version of Base Camp, download them from your My Documents folder and save them to your device. When the new Base Camp is available, you'll be able to upload your files there.
- Assess Your Skills – In the new version of Base Camp, projects will be redesigned, and the Assess Your Skills activity included in your projects will be replaced with a new type of before and after reflection. If you would like to reference any of your Assess Your Skills answers after the transition, be sure to record them now, either by taking a screenshot or recording them in another manner.
- Understanding Your Leadership Style or Understanding Your Communication Style projects – The answers to the questionnaires in these projects will not transfer to the new system. If you would like to reference them later, go into the project, take a screenshot of your results, or record them in another manner.
- Story Collection Tool in the Engaging Humor path – The information you recorded here will not be available in the new Base Camp. Please copy, paste, and store it elsewhere if you would like to access it later.
- Meeting roles – If you would like a record of meeting roles you’ve logged on Base Camp, please save your record elsewhere.
- Completion certificates – While progress and credit will be transferred to the new system, certificates will not. If you would like copies of certificates you have earned, download and save them.
Additionally, to ensure your education progress is up-to-date and accurate when you log into the new system, ask your club officer to approve any pending Level completions and submit them on Club Central before October 9.
A reminder message will be posted to the Toastmasters website in advance of the outage and we will send you more information during the outage period. We can’t wait for you to explore the new Base Camp experience!
Sincerely,
Education Team
Toastmasters International
toastmasters.org
This email has been sent to all members.
The link at the beginning of the letter (See Above) will take you to the Toastmasters International Webpage and to an Education Program "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) which also has a lot of good info. I would encourage you all to read it.
There are some improvements coming to include easier navigation of base camp, A mobile device application available in the future, The ability to share your accomplishments directly to social media and much more mentioned in the FAQ.
I would emphasize the dates that Pathways will be down and be prepared for speeches or projects you might be doing during that time. Backup documents that will no longer be accessible and join me in trying to be patient and embracing change.
