Page 32 - Voices November 2016

SUCCESSFUL CLUB

Yaquina Toastmasters - A Lesson in

Leadership and Inspiration

by Cathy French, DTM

A little over a year
ago, the members of Yaquina Toastmasters in techniques that have worked for them. They
Newport, OR. were asked what they valued most come to TLI’s, officer training, and more of the
about their club. Some said the public speaking members are getting involved in the speech
experience while others liked the camaraderie. contests.
Social media, especially Facebook, is a
When I visited they had 13 members, a well- run place where you can go to see all the changes
meeting and followed an agenda. The speakers
were polished and the evaluators gave great this club is making, The VPPR announces in
feedback. They liked the club just the way it was. advance who will be the functionaries, speakers
Does that sound familiar? & evaluators. meeting Awards winners are
Then along came a new member who listened announced following the meetings. The VPPR
to other possibilities for the club. She was excited is also following the Toastmaster International
to hear there was more to the experience and Facebook page and sharing important informa-
wanted the club to experience it with her. Marissa tion directly from TI. This successful club is
became club president and decided the club following the guide for a quality club.
New members are seeking out the club
would be Distinguished by the year’s end. That because it is fun, they are providing a service,
was going to be a challenge.
Marissa found a way into the hearts of the and helping each other every day.
members. A few agreed to help her reach her Can your Club be Distinguished? Yes, it can.
goal for the club. She reached out to the district, Reach out to the Yaquina Toastmasters and ask
found out what needed to be done, and followed them how they are doing it.
It takes only one member believing in
through on every step along the way. One of the
tools she used was The Successful Club Series. your club and its potential. You can be that
The Successful Club Series contains educa- member! Motivate the others to help. Serve
tional topics like Finding New Members, your members, have fun, and before you know
Evaluate to Motivate, Creating the Best Club it, your club will be a
Distinguished Club.
Climate, Moments of Truth and other topics.
The Successful Club Series guide states: A Congratulations!
high-quality club encourages and celebrates
member achievement, provides a supportive
and fun environment and offers a profession-
ally organized meeting with variety. In those
clubs, officers are trained in all aspects of club
quality to ensure that members have access to a
formal mentoring program, are provided evalu-
ations that help them grow and are motivated
to achieve their goals.
With the help of the Successful Club Series
the club achieved the status of Distinguished for
the 2015-2016 year.
Under the Leadership of club president
Brian Norris they are striving to become Select
Distinguished this year. Brian has a written plan
and is following it. The club is using marketing

32 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 NOVEMBER, 2016 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 NOVEMBER, 2016