Page 32 - March 2020

FIELD NOTES

BurnsMasters Toastmasters: 90 days to Charter Status (Part 2)

Marv Serhan, DTM

When Marv Serhan was asked to serve as the sponsor for a new corporate club in Vancouver, Washington,

he elected to apply a project management focus on how that club establishment and charter process
would take place. This is the first of a four-part Voices article that will outline many of the key tasks,
milestones and deliverables that helped the BurnsMasters club achieve charter status in less than 90
days. All projects are team efforts and this club-charter initiative was certainly that with Patrick Locke,
DTM, Bob Hall, EH5, and Greg Hawkins, MS3 coming aboard as co-sponsor and mentors to support

this new-club launch initiative.

Here is a continuation of the task/deliverable to expect and then gauge interest in forming a
listing from Part I of the BurnsMasters new-club corporate club. You mentioned doing a demo
project plan: meeting here at our office too. That could be a

great way to show people what a club is all about
Identify and coordinate all activities and how a meeting is run. Thanks again for your
through the local “champion” for this support.” Jeff Bourgeois, PE Burns & McDonnell
new club initiative.

Of all the 40+ employees at Burns & Having a local champion to coordinate, plan,
McDonnell Vancouver, only one had previous and disseminate information throughout the
Toastmaster experience. He (Jeff Bourgeois) led company is an absolute must. Jeff ultimately
the charge to investigate establishing a local, became the ‘Interim President’ and eventually,

corporate club. In late August 2019 he approached the first-term president of BurnsMasters. The
the lead sponsor to request guidance on next lead sponsor coordinated all activities and
steps to make this club become a reality. He communications through Jeff. His commitment,
stated: timely support of project initiatives, leadership,

and professional example motivated others on
“Marv, it was nice to meet you today. We are his team to contribute to the success of the club’s
looking forward to starting a Toastmasters club early charter.
of our own here at Burns and McDonnell, but
we are just in the beginning steps. We have been Schedule and conduct an “Orientation”
talking about setting up a demonstrating meeting meeting for all employees that can

to tell our co-workers about Toastmasters, what attend.

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