Yow Kia
Being the President of Toastmasters Club is a challenging and interesting task.
Challenging is because Toastmasters Club is a non-profit organization. Even though the president has set direction, the committee members have to work closely towards the direction set. However, since it’s a non-profit organization, most of the committee members won’t treat Toastmasters Task as their first priority. Therefore, sometimes, when I felt that a certain task needed to be completed soon and nobody seemed like working on it, I would do it myself. I understand that delegation is a very important process that I must learn and master. Hence, I will only do it by myself at very last minute when I have no choice. One thing that I’m happy about is the members are getting more and more proactive. Occasionally, they still need me to push them, but, that is just a light push. I’m still studying how to influence them to become more proactive…
Interesting is because President is the one who sets direction and plans for the growth of the club. I got to try a lot of new things. For example, I want to start a project to promote the club to nearby companies to increase the club membership. Even though this project has been delayed for 1.5 months, but it’s still progressing. I am confident that this project will definitely help to grow the club membership. After all, I am sure that no company will reject a chance for their employees to develop their communication and leadership skills in such an encouraging environment. Most importantly, the cost is very economical but the return value is very high.
The other plan that I have is to launch a speaker-exchange-program with other Toastmasters Clubs. The idea is to encourage my club members to speak at other Toastmasters Clubs. Hopefully, in January, we can have the first run of the speaker-exchange-program. Actually, I had this plan long time ago when I was a VPE. But, I didn’t really treat it seriously and I thought it’s very difficult to arrange. Sometimes, the speaker may have something to do in the last minute and can’t turn up. With these reasons, I didn’t take any action. Now, I can’t let the negative thoughts to hold me back and to block me from improving my club member’s standard.
I think Toastmasters Club is a very good platform for me to learn, practise and hone my leadership skills. I always imagine one day I will be the head of a corporate or a business. Dream will become reality one day if I keep on doing what I’m doing now. I believe…
Posted in Leadership skills
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December 17th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Hi Kia .
I am hearten to learn that you took such an huge interest wanting to grow your members by wanting to establish an member-exchange program and and grand plan to promote Toastmaster to companys nearby your club area.
I had been visting quite a good numerous toastmaster club in Singapore. I must say that i had yet met any club president that is so delicated and passionate as you are. Your club`s members are really bless to have such an examplary leader that will not hesistant to drop off all task and dive in to take the rein to ensure the club is able to spur ahead.
You certainly had set the right attitude benchmark for other whom may aspire to be club president to emulate.
I am a avid reader of your blog. I am impress with your style of writing. It is concise , pointed and digestable to the mind.
Reading your blog can be upliftingly. It tug my heartstring when you share with those challenge that you face while learning to be a good speaker. It reinvigorate my spirit when you share those exciting club goals whom you aim to strive for. It also help to purge my negative thoughts when you share your tanacity , strong grit and determination to want to be a better person despite all odds.
I am writing in to lend support on your idea of wanting to promote Toastmaster to those companys around your geograhical position. For that to happen. you surely need to undertake some preparation and craft creative message or ideas to reachout to them. I am particularly interest in these area. I will like to contribute ideas to help to widen the breath and variety of the plans. After all one more extra head is never more compare to whatever resources you already have in your arsenal.
Feel free to give me a call if you will and shall like to hear from me.
Need to sign off now. Take care and good luck to you ( Send my regards to cynthia )
Bernard gan
VP Membership
Queenstown Toastmaster Club
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December 19th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Wow.. so much compliment from you. I will call you one day.. but not this year. I will be away from Singapore soon. Coming back to Singapore on 3-Jan-08. Let’s have a cup of drink when I’m back…. I believe you should have a lot of things to share with me, don’t you? From the way you wrote to me, I can feel that you have gone through something special recently…..
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December 20th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Good
Be waiting for you to buy me coffee when you are back next year.
Advance merry christmas and happy new year.
May you be well and happy
Bernard Gan
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