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The Best Value on Planet Earth. . .
Kay Watson, ACB, ALB
2014-15 Area 63 Governor
I remember it clearly. One morning after a club meeting at
Milwaukie-Talkies, Jacqueline Bakke, Area Governor for Area 64,
Division E, approached me with her best "friend and leader"
smile. Her direct question to me went something like this: " Kay, would you consider
serving as an area governor for District 7 next year?"
At the time, I'd only been a Toastmaster for two years! I had the vaguest idea of the area
governor position. My first thought centered on my lack of experience and qualifications
for such a role. Jackie and Erik Bergman, the incoming division governor, assured me that
with the available training and the team support I would receive, I could certainly
handle the job. With their commitment to me, I made my commitment to them and the
District.
Never for a moment have I regretted my decision.
We attended an all-day governors training in late June.
District leaders defined our responsibilities clearly during
that day of intensive training. At least one of us left that
day on sensory overload with an undeniable crisis of
confidence.
Recovery occurred rapidly as our team began planning for
officers training in late August. After our first monthly
executive meeting, I felt reassured. We adopted a theme
Willamette Division Club Officer
centered around the anatomy of a successful club, and Training at Milwaukie Talkies
hired a near "life-like" skeleton named Harry to help us. We engaged a heart specialist to
talk about Club presidents and a spinal specialist to explain the importance of the
distinguished club program. Dr. Bergman, the spin doctor, made a special appearance to
explain how important public relations is to a club for developing new membership.
Other important features of our work included overseeing club speech contests;
organizing the area contest; and supporting our division governor as he organized an
exciting and well-run division contest. We followed this process in the fall and then
again in the spring.
Each governor visited clubs in their respective areas serving as a liaison between local
(Continued on page 23)
22
Kay Watson, ACB, ALB
2014-15 Area 63 Governor
I remember it clearly. One morning after a club meeting at
Milwaukie-Talkies, Jacqueline Bakke, Area Governor for Area 64,
Division E, approached me with her best "friend and leader"
smile. Her direct question to me went something like this: " Kay, would you consider
serving as an area governor for District 7 next year?"
At the time, I'd only been a Toastmaster for two years! I had the vaguest idea of the area
governor position. My first thought centered on my lack of experience and qualifications
for such a role. Jackie and Erik Bergman, the incoming division governor, assured me that
with the available training and the team support I would receive, I could certainly
handle the job. With their commitment to me, I made my commitment to them and the
District.
Never for a moment have I regretted my decision.
We attended an all-day governors training in late June.
District leaders defined our responsibilities clearly during
that day of intensive training. At least one of us left that
day on sensory overload with an undeniable crisis of
confidence.
Recovery occurred rapidly as our team began planning for
officers training in late August. After our first monthly
executive meeting, I felt reassured. We adopted a theme
Willamette Division Club Officer
centered around the anatomy of a successful club, and Training at Milwaukie Talkies
hired a near "life-like" skeleton named Harry to help us. We engaged a heart specialist to
talk about Club presidents and a spinal specialist to explain the importance of the
distinguished club program. Dr. Bergman, the spin doctor, made a special appearance to
explain how important public relations is to a club for developing new membership.
Other important features of our work included overseeing club speech contests;
organizing the area contest; and supporting our division governor as he organized an
exciting and well-run division contest. We followed this process in the fall and then
again in the spring.
Each governor visited clubs in their respective areas serving as a liaison between local
(Continued on page 23)
22
