My strong belief is that Toastmasters always has been, and always will be, about the individual member. It is through the success of each one of us that the District grows strong and flourishes.
One by one, members deliver presentations. One by one, members give evaluations. One by one, members practice impromptu speaking. It is this foundation to the educational program that serves each one of us. You learn the communication skills that will help you be successful in your career. You get involved in your Club and you grow as a leader. And if you choose, you can even venture outside of your club to other types of opportunities that broaden your horizon.
Members; One by One.
That is my vision for the future.
Focus on the member experience at every Club meeting.
- FUN: Make sure the atmosphere is fun and friendly. Welcome your existing members with as much enthusiasm as the new guest who attends for the very first time. Keep it light and have a good time. We know the best mid-day medicine, or pick-me-up after a hard day’s work, is laughter, so make it an energizing experience for everyone.
- FORMAL: Follow the educational program and keep the formality of the meetings. Structure breeds professionalism, and professionalism keeps members coming back. We waste enough time in poorly run meetings at work — don’t let your Club meeting fall victim to the same fate. Know who will be filling meeting roles and have backup plans for those inevitable occasions when things don’t go according to plan. Yes, that even means having members who have speeches in their back pockets.
- FOCUS: Know what your members need and want, and strive to provide the best possible experience. Stay focused on the important things, while still allowing for some creativity where it enhances the Club’s objectives. Know how you create value in your community and in your company and stay focused on achieving key results.
Members; One by One.
That is my vision for the future.
As your Club conducts incredibly fun meetings, with an air of formality that keeps it professional, and stays clearly focused on what matters most, members will continue to attend meetings regularly because it’s worth their precious time and energy. These meetings are sure to impress guests who will want to experience what you have created and they will want to be part of a winning environment. And in the end, everyone wins. The Club wins because when it is focused on members achieving their educational goals, the Club achieves its goals of being Distinguished. Distinguished Clubs lead to Distinguished Areas and Divisions. All of this leads to the success of the District as a whole.
So for 2017/2018, I ask you to think globally (consider our own District as well as our close neighbour) and to act locally. This means attending your own meetings and setting your own personal goals. Especially if you have been around for a while, I encourage you to set goals as well. Often times it is us old-timers, oops, I mean seasoned professionals, who need goals more than anyone! This means inviting your friends to Toastmasters meetings and talking about the benefits you’ve gained with your colleagues at work. It means helping new or struggling members to re-ignite their passion for learning and growth. It means encouraging others as they step outside of their comfort zone, and it means being willing to do the same yourself.
Members; One by One.
That is my vision for the future.
