Bob Freel, DTM
Distinguished Area, Division Chair

Fellow Toastmasters:

The new Toastmasters year has begun, the new leaders are in place, now the real work begins. With the New Year, we need to be putting into place plans that will enable our Members, Clubs, Areas, Divisions, and District to not only match the success of the past 2 years, but to surpass it. Many of our clubs came so close to Distinguished but did not succeed.

During the Region II Conference in June of 2005, John Griener, the Toastmasters International President said, "Only 43% of clubs worldwide become Distinguished."  But many more come so very close. Our individual success becomes our club's success.

I would like to give you some food for thought.

You often hear your Leaders talk about the DCP (Distinguished Club Plan).  Why? The reason the DCP is so important is that it is a process developed by Toastmasters International to help the individual member and as an additional benefit, to help the club grow and succeed. We all joined Toastmasters to improve our communication skills. The only way that can happen is for each person to speak as often as possible. Darren LaCroix, the 2001 "World Champion of Public Speaking" constantly reminds his audiences that Stage Time is the only way to improve your speaking skills. Studies show that the average Toastmasters speaks only 4 times per year.

How can you improve your success rate you might ask? Here are some suggestions.

Members:

1. Hold your officers accountable for preparing exciting meetings.

2. Work with your Vice President of Education to establish a speaking schedule that will insure your growth. When you are scheduled to speak, speak. Illness, emergencies, and business trips are a part of life. But when you return to your club, immediately request to be put back on the speaking schedule.

Clubs:

1. Have you established a club plan and schedule that will assist your members in achieving their goals?  How you do this is by preparing a 4 to 6 week advance schedule so that the members can plan ahead of time.

2. Does the DCP plan and the speaking schedule mirror each other? The Vice President of Education should prepare a schedule that is a mirror image of how the club is going to achieve the DCP. It is the responsibility of the EVP to prepare the club speaking schedule. If an individual members cannot speak as scheduled, that’s O.K. Just reschedule them for the next available date.

3. Prepare a weekly agenda, and be sure that the agenda involves as many members as possible. Give the agenda to the Table Topics Master in advance so that she or he may plan on asking those members not on the schedule the Table Topics questions.  This will ensure more members are involved in the meetings.