Page 34 - voices November

COACHES CORNER

WANTED—Bold, Confident & Savvy Toastmasters

Paul Fanning, DTM

Toastmasters, without a doubt, is a place service above self, share their expertise,
communication building program whose practice diplomacy and work and guide a

aim is guiding and growing individuals in the struggling club to become a distinguished club
dynamic arts of communication, evaluation, and by June 30th. Does this sound like something
leadership. Here’s a good table topic question: you’d be interested in? Let’s talk a little about
Have you ever thought about communication what the qualifications are for a club coach.
in the past? How did people communicate First off, I would say that the club coach needs

without cell phones, Facebook, the internet, and to be familiar with the Toastmasters program
other modern social media? Oh, my goodness- on their own personal level. He or she must
they had to w-r-i-t-e—i-t—d-o-w-n in a letter! have Toastmasters experience-be an Advanced

What we take for granted today is instant Communicator Silver or Gold and Advanced
communication-and then we feel that’s too slow! Leader Bronze to have under their belt the
In 1860, it took over a month for a letter to knowledge of club officership, effective meeting
get from New York City to San Francisco. planning, and roles performance, and of course,
Then-a miracle happened! The Pony Express be a master communicator. They should also be

guaranteed for the princely sum of $5.00 to get Pathways proficient and be able to guide not only
a letter from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, individuals but a club through the beginning
California in 10 days. An advertisement was Pathways path selection, accessing Base Camp,

posted in all the newspapers on both coasts- and how to apply for educational awards in both
“WANTED-Young, skinny, wiry fellows not the “traditional” program and Pathways.
over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk One also should have been a club president
death daily. Orphans preferred.” They ran their or vice president education to help assist and
service through 1861—18 months in all—before guide clubs through the pitfalls and roadblocks

the first instant communication service called often encountered in setting up an executive
the telegraph became operational. committee, planning for the club year, and goal
Toastmasters has their “pony express” riders setting and assessment. (We call this the Club

today—we call these hearty riders and expert Success Plan and Distinguished Club Program.)
communicators CLUB COACHES! Yes, we are Like the Pony Express riders of old, the club
calling for people to set aside their comfort zone, coach also needs heart, courage and stamina to

34 ONE COMMUNITY