As the end of our Toastmaster year nears (June 30th) each club has an important decision to make.
Who will be your club's leaders in 2010/2011?
What a wonderful opportunity for your club members to grow in their leadership skills! In my opinion the only prerequisite for becoming a club officer is a commitment to learn and grow for the next 12 months.
Toastmasters International will provide you with excellent training tools. First of all, you will receive a manual that thoroughly details how to accomplish your role as an officer. In addition, District 13 provides officer training twice a year to give you one on one instruction and the opportunity to network with other Toastmasters serving in your same officer position. Some will be first time officers and many will be veterans in the role.
Choosing your new officers now also affords them the opportunity to work with the outgoing officers for 2 months before the new Toastmaster year begins on July 1st.
These decisions should be made now so that your new officer list can be in place at Toastmasters International well before the June 30th deadline. Sending in your new officer list prior to the deadline starts your new Toastmaster year with one point towards becoming a Distinguished Club! This can be done online at www.toastmasters.org under Club Business. What could be easier?
International President, Gary Schmidt, DTM, explains the benefits of becoming an officer in the front cover of our May 2010 Toastmaster magazine.
"This is the time of year when we elect officers to serve in every level of leadership in our organization. Are you stepping up to the plate to serve as an officer in your club or district?" Gary goes on to explain the benefits, "Every leadership role I undertook in Toastmasters has made me a better communicator, a stronger leader and a more well-rounded person. I owe my career and increased responsibilities at work to the leadership lessons I learned in Toastmasters."
Need more information about the different officer roles to share with your club? The following link provides some guidelines and checklists to help you succeed as a club officer:
http://www.toastmasters.org/clubofficers.aspx
