President of a Toastmasters Club

From the Toastmasters Club Leadership Handbook

CLUB PRESIDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• club’s chief executive officer
• managing director
• cheerleader
• coach

The club president sets the tone for the club by providing helpful, supportive leadership, motivates, makes peace, and facilitates as required.

Upon occasion the president must make a difficult decision with the support of club members and other club leaders.

Difficult parts of this position may include showing respect for all member even when you do not
agree with them, and remembering to provide leadership for all member not just the people best liked.

The club president stays current on all new developments via the Leader Letter and the announcements published on the Toastmasters website, sharing news with the club members.

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A message from the President of Eastside Madison Toastmasters

The benefits of filling the role of club president may not be as obvious as you would expect.  I wanted to help my club help its members.  This had to be done using the talents of every member of the club.  Each officer was tasked with setting a goal in her or his area.  These areas include: Education, Communication to the Community, Communication to the Membership, Budgeting, and Setting the Environment for our club.

While all of these areas had special initiatives, the role of President is one that encourages, supports and sometimes does some of the work.

One of the ways I saw I could help the members was to increase our membership to an ideal number of 20.  The challenges of a small membership made holding a meeting difficult.  Members had to fill two and three roles in order to offer opportunities for improvement of members.  For example, when a meeting consists of 5 people, with two speakers, you need two evaluators, and a toastmaster.  Already, the attending members have filled a role.  Larger membership translates to larger turnout, thus the need to fill multiple roles is reduced.

Another way I wanted to help members was to find out what the members wanted, then provide that resource.  The VP of Membership and I met with every member, asking about his or her interests and thoughts about the club.  Using the information gained, our VP of Education set up an initiative to help out newcomers.

I didn't do this by myself.  I worked with club members.  I facilitated brainstorming discussions which helped our club do what we did this year.

I HIGHLY encourage each member to consider availability and stepping into the role of President.  The job is rewarding.  Past Presidents are a-plenty in our club.  Past Presidents are resources available to help the current President do his or her job.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Staebell
President July 2012-July 2013
Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366

Evaluator Put into Practice

This week I was able to put into practice skills gained as a Toastmasters Evaluator.  The situation was tense when an employee became vocally loud with his frustrations.  The inexperienced Karen would have viewed this as a confrontation and would have run from the situation. Karen Staebell, CC, CL, listened to the words of the employee, evaluated the message and calmly spoke with that individual about the challenging changes before him.

I am on friendly terms with someone who very easily could have become resentful of my presence. Trust has been built through the act of listening and calm response.

Thank you, Eastside Madison Toastmasters.  Thank you Toastmasters around the world.  You have helped me become the leader I want to be.  I have more to learn, but this week I felt proud that I could help prevent a melt down and gain the trust of a potentially contentious individual.  I felt more than proud, in fact, I felt very happy.

Karen Staebell CC, CL

280,000 members

Have you ever stopped to think about the enormous number of people who are Toastmasters?  People from all over the world seek out this organization to improve their speaking skills and leadership skills.

What is it about Toastmasters that keeps people coming into the fold?  The people. That's what I think! It's the people. Toastmasters are people who have a common goal of self improvement in the area of speaking and leadership.

I have asked members of Toastmasters why they joined, and why they remain members for long periods.  Some tell me that they continue to hone their skills; others tell me they like the people.  I like the organization because each club has a personality but all clubs have a common goal.  Practicing speaking and helping others practice speaking is why I enjoy the Toastmasters organization.  It doesn't hurt that I continually meet some awesome individuals at Toastmasters meeting, contests, and conventions.

Why do you like attending Toastmasters club meetings?

Speechcraft

Speechcraft.  What is it and what does it have to do with Toastmasters?  I'd often wondered this...I looked it up on the Toastmasters.org website and I asked more experienced members of my club.  What is this "Speechcraft" thing?  I was told that Speechcraft is like a mini-version of Toastmasters, ran inside the club or outside the club by members who are willing to put in the extra time. The participants are then invited to join the club once they've completed the "event".  Apparently it's a rare event as no one in my area seemed to be hosting one.  (And just why is it called an "event"?) 

When my club's new president proposed hosting a Speechcraft event, I eagerly jumped on board.  The event was to be held at Alliant Energy (our president is an employee) for interested employees.  To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Yes, I've been a Toastmaster for about three years, and yes, I've completed both my Competent Communicator and Competent Leader levels.  Yet, I still felt like this was it--how would my new skills hold up in front of a room full of business professionals? 

Speechcraft is aimed at a select group of people to help them improve their basic speaking skills.  I was there to teach and to mentor.  After eight weeks of leading and critiquing and cheering, I realized that I learned just as much as I taught.

Unlike the club environment, this was "real".  This group of people were counting on me to show them the way.  Every time I spoke to this group, I was painfully aware of every mistake I made.  When I came unprepared (and I did) I felt like I let this group down.  I let myself down.

This experience taught me where my weaknesses still lie.  I have the basics; I can prepare a speech and include all the essential elements.  I can lead a meeting and get things done.  None of this matters in the face of my greatest weakness--procrastination.  Unlike in college, I can't stay up and prepare anything of worth the night before it's needed. 

Preparation is key.  Time to pull my information together--to create a spell-binding presentation that will not only hold my audience's attention but move them as well, takes preparation.  I'm learning this.  Every time I give a speech, I can hear and feel the impact time and preparation leave on my speech.  It's true: practice makes perfect.

Our "event" ended today.  The skills our "Speechcrafters" learned were evident in the successful final meeting in which I was able to sit back and watch them shine.  Eight weeks of dedication from all parties.  I will miss it. 

So I thank Karen, my club president for initiating this event.  I thank Jim and Stephanie whose presence and participation made eight weeks possible.  And I thank the six warm bodies who allowed me to hone my craft that much more.  I encourage you to participate in Speechcraft should you be lucky enough to encounter this "event".  Whether you participate as a Toastmaster, there to mentor, or as a newbie to public speaking.  The rewards are substantial.

The gift of experience

Thanksgiving time gets me thinking about the mountain of gifts I've received.  The gifts I appreciate most are those which offer memories of good experiences.  1 1/2 years ago I gave myself a gift which I did not expect to be as important to me as it turns out to be.  I signed up to improve my speaking skills.  I feared standing in front of a group.  I saw this as a huge responsibility and feared I would let my audience down.  Toastmasters has been and continues to help me be a better speaker and a better leader.  I was just looking for a way to become a better speaker.  What I got back was improvement in speaking AND the opportunity to practice my leadership skills with a group of amazing people.

Thank you, Toastmasters.
Respectfully your student,
Karen Staebell
President Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366

My adrenaline is up!

Every first and third Monday of the month my adrenaline increases. Actually every Sunday evening before these Mondays it begins.  Planning. Thinking. Looking forward to the big event.

Eastside Madison Toastmasters gets my enthusiasm going.  I'm excited about attending these meetings. WHY?

It isn't about me, really. It must be about helping others and others helping me become a better leader and speaker.  I like my co-members.  Each and EVERY person has qualities I admire. I look forward to listening and interacting with members of club 1366. I like the smiles, the jokes, the relaxed atmosphere, the conversations.... I like Eastside Madison Toastmasters.

What gets your adrenaline up, you enthusiasm going, your excitement rolling? I told you.  Now it is your turn to tell me.  I'm eagerly awaiting your feedback.

Karen Staebell
President
Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366

I am working on it, but more practice is in store

Some things are natural. Some things take practice.

The other day as I was transitioning from one meeting to the next, I was reflecting when I looked at the person approaching me.  A smile spread across his face.  Right behind him another smile spread across her face. I realized I had been smiling. This flitted my thoughts to another train, I must smile a lot.  I find people smiling at me, people I do not know. I often have to do a personal check: is something hanging from my hair? is my zipper up? is something on my face?  THEN is when I realize I am smiling at the other person.

Smiles are contagious.  Why is it when I stand in front of a group that the smile disappears? Nervousness? Focusing on getting other things right? This is an aspect I need to work on.  Relax, be myself, smile, speak.

Nothing ever happens by itself.  I do not become a better speak unless I practice.   Speaking is difficult for me, but I am getting better. I have my ups and downs, but I keep plugging away at this skill.

Take some time and think about what you need to do to meet your personal goals.
Feel free to share. Maybe if I know what you're working on, I can help encourage that habit or skill.