The Founder’s District Past District Governor’s Club 407 is unique in its purpose, activities, and membership. A. W. “Art” Hofner, ATM/PDG, 1974–1975, initiated the club’s organizational activities in August 1978. Art envisioned a “first ever” Toastmasters Club comprising only Past District Governors as members. Active Past District Governors were then serving as members of the District Governor’s Advisory Committee.
Art, in collaboration with Max R. McVay, PDG, 1970–1971, sent a survey questionnaire to all active Founder’s Past District Governors asking for input concerning the proposed club’s name, leadership (officers or Master of Ceremonies), functions (social or service), and meeting schedule (quarterly, monthly, or other).
An organizational meeting was held in the Presidio Room at Griswold’s Restaurant in Claremont on Monday, October 23, 1978. Eugene R. Beckwith, DTM/PDG, proposed the name “Past District Governor’s,” and it was adopted. Past District Governors became Regular members, and the current top three District officers became Associate members. A. W. “Art” Hofner, ATM, President; Vance J. Mingus, DTM, Vice President of Education; and Max R. McVay, ATM, Secretary/ Treasurer, were elected to serve for one-year terms. We also adopted a quarterly meeting schedule. We also adopted the following vision statement:
The Vision of the Past District Governors’ Club is to provide ongoing educational opportunities for speaking and leadership development for the regular members who seek to continue their skill-building in communication and leadership. Additionally, the members are committed to providing a mutually supportive and positive learning environment for the associate members who are current District Officers.
Toastmasters International President Hubert E. Dobson, DTM, presented the Charter to us during a breakfast meeting at Founder’s Fall Conference at the Saddleback Inn, in Santa Ana, California. Charter members and guests included:
During the 27 years since this chartering ceremony, our membership, leadership, meeting schedules, functions, and sites have experienced many changes. Membership began with only Founder’s Past District Governors and the top three officers. After Founder’s spun off two divisions to form the new District 12, membership consisted of those from both Districts. In 2006, membership includes members from Founder’s and Districts 1, 4, 5, 12, 33, and 52. Meeting sites have included lengthy stays at Griswold’s Restaurant, Claremont; the Arbor Restaurant, Upland; Kellogg West Conference Center, Cal Poly– Pomona; and our current site at the Embassy Suites in Brea.
Club activities initially focused on performing assignments for the District Governor. Meeting programs included update reports from current district officers plus historical reviews by past Governors. Later, we began inviting special guest speakers from Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association to entertain and conduct workshops for Club members.
Over the years, we have expanded our quarterly meetings schedules to add district officer installation programs for both Founder’s District and District 12. The current adopted schedule is 12 meetings per year to fulfill Toastmaster’s International required annual minimum. Meeting activities now include installing officers for both Founder’s and District 12 plus our regular August meeting at the Toastmaster’s Annual Convention site. The 407-F business meeting quorum is easily met.
Past District Governor’s Club 407-F live long and prosper.