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From the Desk of the Program Quality Director

Hour of Power

By Leanna Lindquist, DTM

Have you heard Toastmasters referred to as the Hour of Power or
the best hour of the week? When you leave your meeting is there
energy and enthusiasm? Did you learn something new? Do you feel
inspired? If not, your club needs a tune up.

Just like a car, routine maintenance keeps it running smoothly.
You take your car to a mechanic. How about taking your club
through a Moments of Truth? Thnk of it as looking under the hood,
examining the brakes, and checking the tire pressure.

Your mechanic can be your Area Director, past club president,
or a member from another club. By evaluating all components
of your meeting from proper signage to asking your guests for feedback at the end of
the meeting, you will know which components are performing at maximum capacity
and which ones need to be adjusted. When routine maintenance is neglected, it’s just a
matter of time before your brakes give out or your engine fails.

This is true with clubs. Membership dwindles, no awards are earned, and after limping
along, the club disbands. Routine maintenace is all that’s required to turn your club
meeting into the Hour of Power.

Club Incentives. . .

Conduct a Moments of Truth by August 31st and submit
your club’s action plan to Leanna Lindquist, Program Quality
Director, qpd@d7toastmasters.org, by September 7th.

Your club’s name will go into a drawing to receive one of three
$100 gift certificates to Toastmasters International. You can
purchase a banner, banner stand, lectern, ribbons, educational
materials, etc.

Now you have a plan for becoming a Distinguished Club!

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