Page 42 - 2018 September Voices

Coaches Corner

You Can’t Tell a Book (or Toastmasters Club) by the Cover

Paul Fanning, DTM - Club Coach Coordinator

For thirty years, I had been going to an antique You can’t tell a club by its “cover” either. Yes, we
and bookstore run by a seemingly well educated can review reports on the TM website, etc., but
and scholarly gentleman by the name of it’s not until you open the “volume” of that club

Wendell P. Hammond. When I was a teenager, and peer inside can you see its actual makeup,
I was impressed by the bookshelf behind his vision, and membership experience. That’s one
counter that had a series of bound books with of the reasons why Toastmasters had created
colorful covers and gold leaf embossed lettering the position of Club Coach. It is to assist a club

written by him. One title always caught my in their efforts to deliver a quality, positive
eye, All I Know About Gold Dredging, and his membership experience, and help them discover
name “Wendell P. Hammond.” After he died what their “secret” behind the “covers” may
his store, stock, and fixtures went up for sale. be. What’s the makeup of the club? Are their

Having the fond memories of Wendell P. (as he restrictions that hold back membership growth?
was called by all of us,) I went to the sale and Why have they lost (or never added) members?
actually found his opus for sale. Then I made a What can we, the district, do to help them? What
great discovery. I asked the clerk if I could see resources can we share with them-and on and on.

it and after I was handed the green bound tome I have been asked in my limited time as
with the decorative designs and gold embossed coordinator one reoccurring question: Why
lettering, I discovered his great secret-every page do we need a Club Coach? I could answer that
was blank behind the elaborate covers! All his question with a stock answer of “because TMI

impressive shelf full of self-written books were has you on the list needing a coach”, but the
the same. This was Wendell’s greatest joke on answer isn’t that simple. I see the club coach as
us all. You really can’t tell a book by its cover. someone who will come to your club, conduct an
It’s the same with our Toastmaster Clubs. assessment, and agree to help you for the next

42 ONE COMMUNITY