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GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

coming off the track because the third initial, TRACK. Of course, a train needs tracks to reach

P for PLAN, was not engaged. This stage of the goal of the station. Did you know there are
your journey by rail is now when you refill no steering wheels on trains? Just a lever for
your coal box, fill the water tank, and begin forward and reverse—even on our wonderful,
the honest setting of your speed and progress. I local commuter trains. But this track stands

once attended a not-for-profit board retreat that for keeping track of all the things you have
spent from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm setting the done in the previous initials. Toastmasters
goals and objectives. This was the commitment International helps you track your progress
required to be part of the board, and I believe towards Distinguished status through the

out Toastmasters Clubs deserve and need the ten goals outlined in the plan. You take that
same time involvement. Be specific, assigning information, the goals you want to achieve, and
responsibility to individual officers, and be again be specific. Who is going to be a Level One
realistic in that which you set. Calendarize your achiever? Complete a Level Five or DTM? Your

efforts. One of the keys to success is letting your VP Education or Base Camp Manager should be
Club know what the plan is so that all can have the one doing this. How about the membership
ownership in it. goals? VP Membership would be your go-to for
You now have a full head of steam and are that. Club officer training? The Area Director

clicking down the tracks to success. Begin now can help you there with District support. You
to employ our fourth letter O for ORGANIZE. can make up your own charts. I went a little
Oh, my goodness! Dreaming is fine. Evaluating overboard and made my own education award
is crucial as is Planning, but unless one puts this chart for each member to track their progress—

all down on paper and figures out what actually which helped when I needed roles for meetings,
is needed to achieve the goal, you might become etc. The sky was the limit!
a runaway locomotive-out of control without Now you have it. Your locomotive is slowing
direction which may lead to missing your goals down as it enters the confines of the yard and

and objectives. It may be wonderful to say, “we the D.E.P.O.T. ahead. You have now DREAMed,
are going to conduct an open house in 2023” EVALUATEd, PLANned, ORGANIZEd, and
and be sincere about that goal, but who, what, finally TRACKed your program year.
where, why, and how are the age-old questions Fellow Toastmasters, I gift this to you to as

one must ask. Again, be specific. Dates, to-do yet another tool, another method for becoming
items, etc. can be changed later, but without the the Club you want it to be, and your members
“mile markers” on your route to success, it may to be successful in the Toastmasters journey. It
not be successful, achievable, or even realistic. would be wonderful to see more Clubs achieve

Organize is a group effort, just as the engineer Distinguished Club in the 2022-2023 program
of the steam trains had a fireman and conductor year. Just listen for the “All Aboard” at the
to keep the train moving ahead and on schedule. D.E.PO.T.! May your miles be safe and easy and
This now brings us to our last initial T for your journey a success.

30 ONE COMMUNITY