Page 26 - 2017.May Voices

SUCCESSFUL CLUB

Swan Island Toastmasters

by Trenna Xavier, ACB, ALB

In 2010 the Swan four meetings a month, nothing stops the Swan
Island Toastmasters Island Toastmasters from holding a special
club was chartered as a closed club with the goal meeting to help someone finish a manual
of supporting self-improvement and personal before they embark onto another phase of life.
growth among Daimler Trucks North America Relocations, promotions and retirements—you
(DTNA) employees. If there is one thing that has name it—the club celebrated and made sure that
shined the most in the Swan Island club, it’s the every member has the opportunity for personal
support. The club started out as one large group growth and self-confidence. Programs such as
which met weekly. the Mentor 1-2-3 were introduced when volumes
By 2013, the club meetings had been reduced of new members was too large for one-on-one
to twice monthly and membership was dropping. mentorships. Monthly writing workshops were
The club seized the chance to revive with generated to support members who couldn’t
Chapin Zakrzewski as the club mentor. Chapin’s find any other time to write a speech.
continuous smiles and encouragement reminded Today as I write this, our club had its first
everyone why the Swan Island Toastmasters club ever “Not-A-Tuesday” meeting. A third branch
was created. We won distinguished club with the of meetings set up to support employees who
guidance of Chapin for 2012, and in 2013 she can’t make Tuesdays. These meetings will be held
set a trend of Presidents Distinguished for our on Fridays twice a month. The second Friday of
club every year. the month will be for those employees located in
Her drive motived other members to challenge the new Daimler facilities, and the fourth Friday
management support. In 2014 with the help of of the month will be for those employees still
David Hunt, DTNA agreed to have Toastmasters located at Montgomery Park.
membership listed on the employee intranet A total of 6 meetings every month will be
under “Training and Development”. This supported by the Swan Island Toastmasters. All
allowed Toastmasters membership to be paid to support different avenues for our members
as part of the training budget. Management was schedules and work/life balance. SUPPORT is our
encouraged to support Toastmasters and began number one goal from Swan Island Toastmasters.
to see tremendous changes in those employees Last month we said congratulations to our
who joined our amazing club. esteemed Chapin as she embarked on her newest
Around this same time Swan Island journey—retirement! Before she left, she set one
Toastmasters was tasked by upper level more trend for the Swan Island Toastmasters—
management to create a place to give women earning a DTM. As the current President of the
employees a supportive venue to hone their Swan Island Toastmasters, I was beyond proud
public speaking skills. Chapin, Stephanie Hope, to serve with Chapin, and hope to pass her drive,
and Dawnette Hale created a separate meeting enthusiasm and determination on to the fellow
for women at DTNA. The women’s only meeting members. No dream is too big when you have
was a huge success! Women from all different such an amazing support structure as the Swan
levels and walks of life working for Daimler came Island Toastmasters.
together to share a common bond. We were Trenna Xavier joined Toastmasters in April, 2013.
women, working in a male dominated industry She is currently serving as club president.
and Toastmasters could help us thrive.
Our club has an ever evolving and
continuously improving mindset. Even with

26 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11 MAY, 2017