Many remember their first Toastmasters speech. But do you remember your first Toastmasters committee role? As a first-time Vice President of Public Relations (VPPR) for my club, Chelmsford City Communicators, the responsibility initially seemed daunting.
Thankfully, help was on hand through Club Officer Training (COT). Kalpana Ramesh, Division H Director, organised District 71’s first in-person event of the current Toastmasters year, welcoming 63 Toastmasters from Essex, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and beyond.
The day’s agenda promised a Triple A experience: Aspire. Achieve. Advance.
Aspire – we learned how Pathways’ educational programmes aid our ability to create and give personalised speeches. The Club Success Plan guided us through 10 goals required for achieving Distinguished Club status. Moments of Truth opened our eyes to every step of the club experience. For example, finding a club online, warmly welcoming first-time visitors, or keeping long-serving members engaged.
Achieve – breakout sessions covered different committee roles. My key takeaways from the VPPR group were posting member experiences and photos online to create interest and putting up posters on local noticeboards (think libraries and cafes).
Advance – invited committees to translate the day’s lessons into continually delivering a great club meeting experience for all. Clubs awarded Distinguished Club and Smedley Club status demonstrated what is possible with sound planning, creative inspiration and consistent effort.
A wise man once taught me you can learn a lot from post-event conversations. Therefore, I followed others to the pub. We discussed committees, conferences and contests!
For those willing to venture beyond their home club, COT offers valuable learning and networking opportunities while easing you into your committee role.
If you are motivated to support your club’s growth, don’t miss your next COT session. Then you’ll discover what everyone’s talking about!
