For the Toastmasters organization to be successful, we must have mission-focused, quality leaders at all levels–Club, Area, Division, and District. Our need for good leadership has never been greater than at the current time. Therefore, I encourage each member to take that first step and serve at the next level in the Toastmasters leadership track, either at the Club level, as a Club Officer, or at the District level, as an Area Governor.
What exactly is the role of an Area Governor? The Area Governor’s primary responsibility is to make sure that the clubs in his or her Area are meeting the needs of their members, thereby fulfilling the mission of Founder’s District ( . . . to enhance the performance and extend the network of Clubs offering greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters’ educational program). Our Area Governors serve as the link between the District and our clubs in support of that mission.
Among the Area Governor’s tasks are planning and helping implement strategies for club membership growth; supporting the educational program for members and club officers; organizing the Area contests (held twice a year); establishing new Toastmasters clubs; and ensuring high standards of Toastmasters membership.
Serving as an Area Governor has its rewards not only in Toastmasters but also in our personal and professional lives, through the improvement of communication and leadership skills. In the workplace, employees who have excellent communication and leadership skills are definitely at an advantage. Therefore, it is essential for every member to take full advantage of the opportunities that Toastmasters offers in leadership training.
However, many members are reluctant to serve in these leadership roles, because of the time commitment involved, the fear of not being successful, and other reasons. And these are reasonable justifications for not taking that first step. But ask members who have served as an Area Governor about the skills they obtained during their tenure, and you will get a great motivational 5- to 7-minute speech.
Having served as an Area Governor, let me tell you how this experience has benefited me. Not only has it helped me expand my speaking capabilities but also my leadership experience. It taught me the importance of having a mission statement and a vision statement in whatever major task I undertake. What is the difference between a mission and a vision? A mission describes what an organization is all about. A vision is what the organization wants to become. My mission during my tenure as Area Governor was to help Club Presidents be successful in delivering the best quality educational products to their club members. My vision was to have all club members achieve at least one educational goal (e.g., CTM, ATM, CL, AL) that year. And, if it had not been for the opportunity of serving as an Area Governor, I doubt that I would have learned how to form a team of members to accomplish a goal, how to persuade others (delegate) to take on noteworthy endeavors such as planning for a speech contest, how to manage my time efficiently, and how to have fun doing all this. And best of all, I met and interacted with a lot of wonderful Toastmasters during this time.
I also completed my first High Performance Leadership project, which helped me to understand my leadership style and to focus on areas that I needed to strengthen–self-confidence and effective delegation. These enriching experiences have helped me tremendously in my growth as a leader.
During the past year, other Toastmasters members have taken leadership roles in Division B and made tremendous progress in their endeavors.
Carmen Bomar, CTM, past Area B-1 Governor, recently developed a plan of action, the focus of her High Performance Leadership program, to revitalize the Rose Bowl Club membership base (currently 6 members) and restore the club to its former (two years ago) strength. She held a kick-off membership drive meeting that attracted 23 guests. One guest signed up that day, and 9 other guests indicated that they would join in the near future. Carmen set up a plan, created a team that supported this endeavor, and then persevered to see it to fruition.
Gregg Van Citters, ATM-S, Area B-5 Governor, before taking personal time off in October, completed all his scheduled club visits and now has plans to begin a new club at Citrus College. Earlier this year, he initiated the establishment of a new club at Azusa Pacific University, which chartered in July 2005.
Judy Turpen, DTM, past Area B-2 Governor, has stepped up to help with rebuilding the Business Technology Club (BTC). It was chartered in June 2005 but unfortunately has lost many members due to job-related issues. Judy has initiated a plan of action to locate a new Club President and see to it that a new Executive Committee is in place before taking the next step of building the club membership to charter strength. Judy is also mentoring a newly formed club in Anaheim and serves as VP of Education for the ACTS 416 Club, which meets in Pasadena. Judy continues to demonstrate commitment and excellence in leadership.
My mission for this term is to facilitate leadership awareness, so that we
will have more members wanting to serve, not only as club officers but also
as Area Governors. My vision is that our Division has committed, focused
leaders, so that when our present leaders complete their terms, our new leaders
will step up and continue the leadership succession.
So I invite you to follow in the footsteps of our founder, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley,
who captured the imagination of millions, helping them to achieve their full
potential as they found the courage to CHANGE: CHANGING fear and self-loathing
into self-confidence and CHANGING “not knowing what to say to an audience” to “motivating
and inspiring people” and “calling them to action for great and
noble purposes.”
So, what are you waiting for? Take the First Step