Page 39 - 2018 August Voices

PERSPECTIVES

Calling All VPEs!

Donna Stark, DTM

Immediate Past District Director

It has been quite some time since I’ve served as a working on a new project or level, a mentor may
club VP-Education and I’ve taken on that role this help you find the motivation to move forward.
year. My home club does a great job of attracting Consider finding a mentor outside your home

guests and new members, but our retention rate club to share experiences with and to broaden
after the first six months could be better. I’m your perspective.
reading through the Club Leadership Handbook What’s in it for the mentor? Personally, seeing
(highly recommended reading for club officers), new members blossom and grow is what keeps

and apparently one of my responsibilities is to me coming back every dues renewal cycle. I’m
coordinate my club’s mentorship program. I grateful for the opportunity to be part of a new
just completed the Introduction to Toastmasters member’s growth and journey. It’s a two-way
Mentoring, a Level 2 Pathways project. I’ve also relationship, and I learn as much from them as

been asked to mentor a new coworker. Mentoring they learn from me.
is a hot topic for me right now! In addition to the Level 2 Introduction to
The value of a mentor to a new Toastmaster is Toastmasters Mentoring project, here are some
well documented—those who have had a mentor resources to learn more about mentoring:

are much more likely to progress through the https://www.toastmasters.org/-/media/files/
educational program. Lucas Murphy is a great department-documents/club-documents/
example. He visited our club, joined on the spot, online-attendance/the-role-of-mentor.ashx
then looked at me and said, “I want you to be • https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/

my mentor.” For me it was the beginning of a mentoring
special relationship that continued through his • https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/
Competent Communicator manual, Leadership articles/five-tips-for-mentors
manual, advanced manuals, and his assignment • https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/

as an Area Director. He became a mentor to articles/leadership-the-ultimate-mentor
others, who also made progress through their Does your club have a successful mentoring
manuals. An effective mentoring program program in place? I’d like to hear from you!
contributes to a culture of success in your club. “The ultimate benefit of Toastmasters

It’s not just new Toastmasters that can benefit membership is becoming someone who can
from having a mentor. Experienced Toastmasters help someone else become a competent leader
can benefit from a mentoring relationship, too. and communicator.” ~ Lance Miller, 2005 World
If you’re in a funk and looking for inspiration, or Champion of Public Speaking

40 ONE COMMUNITY