How many times have you heard, or perhaps even said, “I want to give
back to the organization”? If that’s so, then why is it so hard
for club members and District leaders to find help?
I was asked to share my “vision” of what the Marketing Team will
accomplish during 2005–2006. I used to think of a vision as a scenario
that could be achieved sometime in the far future—a task not accomplished
very easily. In a way, that’s partly true. An individual would have a hard
time making a vision come true, but that individual working with other people
who also share or believe in the vision . . . now that’s a team that can
get things done! And once the vision becomes a reality, everyone celebrates.
With that said, my vision is, “To fulfill the Marketing Team’s goal of assisting Founder’s District to become Select Distinguished by exceeding Toastmasters International’s goals for membership and new clubs before the end of June 2006.”
“For the Marketing Team, we will develop and maintain a pool of volunteers available to assist the New Clubs/Demo/Sponsors-Mentors/Club Coach/Youth Leadership teams.”
I am very thankful for all the Area Governors and club members who have chartered or are in the process of chartering new clubs. But the truth is, that’s the easy part. Once a new club is formed, we need mentors to go in and guide the new members as they learn to stand on their feet and deliver.
Before we can charter a club, we need club members at all levels who can assist at a demo meeting. Here, members fulfill the same roles they do at a club meeting. You can even volunteer to give a manual speech on how Toastmasters has helped you.
Unfortunately, we also have clubs that have low memberships and are desperately asking for help to survive. The role of a Club Coach is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to our organizational family. When you can help your fellow members get back to charter strength the feeling is indescribable. Sometimes, even with the Club Coach’s best efforts, the club doesn’t achieve its goal; things just don’t work out. . . . Still, you shouldn’t let the possibility of not succeeding stop you from getting in there and fighting to help another club’s members experience the same Toastmasters excellence that you have.
So, the next time you hear someone saying, “I want to give something back to the organization,” ask them to contact me or someone else on the Marketing Team (we’re all listed at www.foundersdistrict.org/DEC/DistrictOfficersList.htm#LGMCommittee).