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SUCCESSFUL CLUB
Professionally Speaking
Toastmaster Clubs Cannot
Rest on Past Laurels (Part I)
Marv Serhan, DTM
When Marv Serhan was asked to write an article sharing Professionally Speaking’s secrets of success, little
did we know that a club model for success would be forthcoming. Over the next three issues, Mar explains
in detail why his club has earned top tier awards for the past several years. [Editor]
Every professional endeavor cherishes a favorable An effort to recruit members committed to an
outcome and typically characterizes such a organizational culture with the specific purpose
result as a “Success.” Nonetheless, the reality of pursuing excellence in both communications
is that “success” can be fleeting. That subtle and leadership skills training was underway.
transformation from a favorable-to-struggling Twelve years later, Professionally Speaking
condition can easily occur if the leadership has flourished and earned President’s
of an organization becomes complacent and/ Distinguished Club (PDCP) designation every
or inattentive to key factors that ultimately year since its re-establishment/charter in 2007.
influence organizational success.Professionally At this writing, the club is well on its way to
Speaking, Toastmasters Club 3091, provides such earn PDCP designation with 9 goals earned to
an example. date and a potential 5 additional goals on track
Background: Toastmaster Club 3091 was for PDCP achievement well before June 2019,
chartered in January 1977 as the I-5 Club. the end of TMI’s Distinguished Club Program
It was an excellent club with a rich history competitive cycle.
of accomplishment, but in the 2004-2006 When asked why this trend has continued
timeframe, the club was struggling. After through the years, my response is simply it’s all
attending meetings with three or four local clubs, about learning. One cannot rest on past laurels
I discovered that the I-5 club {was about to be to guarantee future success. Club culture must
placed in a “suspended” status by Toastmasters be such that learning is paramount. Every club
International (TMI). The club had no members procedure or standard must lead to knowledge
and soon would be disestablished. I coordinated sharing which leads to individual learning, team
with TMI and District 7 to assume oversight learning, and ultimately organizational learning.
of the I-5 Club. The name was changed to Bottom line: Knowledge sharing and
Professionally Speaking Toastmasters 3091. organizational learning provide a rock-solid
VOICES! |DECEMBER 2018 33
