Page 26 - August 2020 Voices
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      as a club officer to qualify. It still includes the  District Director. Speechcraft and YLP programs

      preparation of a Club Success Plan and attending  do not require District approval.
      an officially sanctioned club officer training             And finally, the last step is for a
      session (the  one where your club receives credit  Club Officer to sign the form in the
      for the Distinguished Club Program goals chart).       Club Officer Verification Field and

          Familiar to us all is requirement four, District  send to TI.
      Leadership Role completion, which was formerly             By now, being active in both District and Club
      part of the ALS requirements. It is                    officer roles and activities, you have achieved
      still a full year as a member of the                   something remarkable and commendable—the

      District Executive Committee. A                        Distinguished Toastmaster award! You have
      list of those roles can be found on                    gained great insight into not only the art of
      the TI website. (Pathways Guide                        speechcraft but also become an accomplished
      may be used here as well.) No                          evaluator and an exceptional leader. You

      change or reinterpretation here.                       understand what your style of leadership is and
      Remember some people may still earn credit  how to use your communication style in an
      for their District role by serving as a Club Coach  effective manner. You have an entire “toolbox”
      until  June 30, 2021.                                  and bag of magic tricks at your disposal to be

          Now comes a new change as well as major  a truly competent, effective, and inspirational
      confusion in what role counts for what and  Toastmaster.
                where. The fifth requirement was also            Here are the changes between the two
                part of the Advanced Leadership Silver  DTMs. I see the legacy as being a progressive,

                award (ALS) but has been redefined  guided learning experience contained within
                somewhat as well as expanded. You  parameters that all Toastmasters used.
                must serve as a New Club Mentor                  The Pathways program, although still
                or Club Coach. Both roles require  progressive, is a more individualized program

      appointment by the District Director.                  containing eleven Paths where you learn and
          The New Club Mentor requires a minimum  practice skills pertaining to that Path. Lke the
      of six months service and the Club Coach  legacy program, your journey in each Path
      requires that the coached club become a  begins with an Icebreaker speech that allows

      Distinguished club. The time commitment could  you to “get comfortable and confident” in your
      be up to two years.                                    speechcraft and evaluation techniques before
          We now face the change that has                    bringing in the third portion of the Toastmasters
      caused a little head scratching—                       “triangle” of leadership. Pathways allows you to

      Club Sponsor, Speechcraft, or                          explore more indepth the role of leadership, its
      Youth Leadership Program (YLP)                         ins and outs, as well as your personal leadership
      achievement for requirement six.                       style development. It has also adjusted to the
      Club Sponsors are appointed by the                     new technology and 21st century in the myriad




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