Editor’s Note
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right. Henry Ford recognized that expectations were important. Faced with the challenging prospect of rebuilding a Toastmasters club, Patricia Barrett chose to be optimistic. Actually, she chose several positive attributes such as patience, determination and leadership by example. But as every Presidential election teaches us, the person who demonstrates (and communicates) the most optimistic viewpoints usually wins. The benefits of optimism are obvious. Filling in for no-show members is an opportunity to demonstrate flexibility. Lack of guests is an opportunity to improve the public relations efforts. Low membership is an opportunity to enlist the help of club for a membership campaign. In other words, optimism gives us buoyancy through less-than-desirable conditions. Moreover, it is a wonderful self-fulfilling attribute for Toastmasters and our everyday lives.
Assessment
Chartered in March of 1998, the Unity Club changed its name to the Power Speakers Toastmasters Club in 2004. A community club, they meet every Wednesday night at 7PM in the Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, Kansas. In the past six years, the club has experienced dynamic variations in membership and achievement in the distinguished club plan.
The paid-membership of Power Speakers numbered 12, less than half participated in meetings. As is often the case, one dedicated long-standing member had been holding the club above water by doing the jobs of several officers. The president was enthusiastic but inexperienced. He was a member for only a few months when he took the helm because the previous president left the state. It was obvious to me that the club needed an experienced Toastmaster to share the load.
In the fall of 2009 I sat with two of the active members, who were the only members who had showed up for the meeting. They wondered how long the club could remain viable. We knew a very understaffed, poorly attended meeting did not present a true picture of Toastmasters to potential members. I optimistically urged them to not give up, that it would take time to rebuild the club. I saw enthusiasm and dedication in the active club membership. The club also had solid fundamentals. This gave me hope. Consequently, I accepted the daunting task of helping the members and rebuilding the club.
Planning and Implementation
Any plan to improve the club required membership recruitment and encouragement of those members to earn communication and leadership awards. Rather than rashly make decisions and expect results, I took a patient approach to recruiting and training members. It is common for coaches in low-membership clubs to become pessimistic, to give up too easily and to focus on DCP points rather than members. Instead, I planned to demonstrate optimism at every opportunity. I looked for ways to encourage steadfastness and determination among the membership. Above all, I took care to focus on the members. I believed that if we took care of the members, they would make the club successful. At the appropriate time, I was prepared to lead by example because I hate the phrase, “somebody ought to do it.”
Results
I knew we needed numbers. I invited a former member who was a member of my original club to join me in coaching the club. She joined Power Speakers after she was appointment as coach. She invited two other former members to attend. They joined. Because of life changes, an experienced Toastmaster transferred to the club, adding vital life. In the last half of the year I convinced my husband to join. He attended meetings and participated on a limited basis. I talked the club’s area governor into boosting her club by becoming a member. One of the inactive members returned to meetings part of the time. A couple of guests joined. W e ended up with the five over starting membership to be eligible for a Distinguished Club Award. Sometimes the member would not show up for a speech or would change their mind about a commitment to speak at a certain meeting. Without judging, I continued to support and expect them to proceed towards their stated goal of earning a CC. I led by example as I gave basic manual speeches when no one was avail- able to speak. This made our meetings more complete for visitors and members. It also was an unexpected boost to my speaking ability and confidence as I gave speeches regularly and earned two more CCs, one for the club. I also earned leadership awards. The club’s Area Governor earned an extra CC for the club. Two of the inconsistent members finally finished the basic manual before June 30th. Another earned an AC award. The last award was earned before the end of June by one of the struggling inconsistent members. This gave Power Speakers the 9th point to be a President’s Distinguished club.
I continue to be a member of Power Speakers as it works towards more stability. Because of life changes, some of last year’s members have departed. New members are benefiting from membership in this club because we did not let it go under. The club is working toward distinguished or better again this year.
<strong>Lessons Learned
I coached this club from a “ready-to-fold” status to a President’s Distinguished club within one year. I believe that patience, optimism, determination, caring, and leading-by-example made a difference. I believe that the right attitude was essential when rebuilding this club. I would recommend to anyone who serves as coach towards earning ALS to keep this in mind. My motivation for coaching this club derived from my belief that this evening club could be a valuable asset to the community. More than anything else, know that patience, patience, patience plus optimism, de- termination, and leading-by-example can accomplish much. Caring about the club and its member’s needs to be most important. Then, leading them to distinguished or better will come naturally.
By Patricia Kohls Barrett, ACG, ALB, Division T Governor of District 22
A Letter of Praise
As an experienced Toastmaster who transferred to the Power Speakers club, a community club, from a corporate club, I initially compared the two club’s structures. I quickly learned that this was not fair to Power Speakers. My first impression of the Power Speakers club was that not all were committed; however those that did attend the meetings were enthusiastic. Observing the members over the first few weeks that I attended the club’s meetings, I recognized who was the proverbial “glue” in holding the club together, even though he did not give many speeches. I also recognized who the “cheerleader” and club mentor was in the club and that was Pat. Her official role then was Club Coach as well as VP of Education, and she remains our VP of Education. We were fortunate in that we had visitors fairly often. When we did, all of our members welcomed the visitor with genuine cheerfulness in their actions and words. Thanks to Pat we always had at least one speech for the meeting. The speech plus our time-honored Table Topics sessions always allowed a complete, enjoyable meeting for the members and visitors. Pat was our driving force in earning President’s Distinguished this past year be- cause she maintained our club’s integrity by following our Mission. Her commitment was exemplary and all of us are grateful for Pat’s steadfast belief in us. She remains our mentor, educating us in many venues, and we applaud her for making a difference in our lives. By Christine Kramer