Yes but…

Our new president at First Oakville Toastmasters has published his first post on the club blog.

As President Dave Webster’s points out, First Oakville is a very successful Toastmaster club with a terrific new executive but we have some challenges.

For example, normally Toastmaster clubs expect a 30 per cent drop in membership from one year to the next. That turnover is filled with new members joining by year’s end.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, First Oakville which ended the year with 50 members saw only five members deciding not to return (and three of those five left us because they have moved out of town).

So that leaves us with a club that has 50-plus members and often sees five or more guests visiting nightly.

A “normal” Toastmaster club has somewhere between 20 and 40 members. These clubs will see around 25 members attending meetings on a regular basis and thus can meet all of their members’s demands for speaking spaces.

At First Oakville with 50-plus members we can’t do it. Or at least we can’t do it and end on time.

So it comes down to a decision about whether or not to have four speakers (at a minimum of 5 to 7 minutes of speaking time each) plus four evaluators (at three minutes each) plus all the extra seconds of getting up and sitting down that involves or do we keep to three speakers and end on time?

In his presidential address Dave has acknowledged that ending on time is an issue for the members (as determined by a member survey) however he concludes by saying “so with the structure of our meetings, there will be times we run over.”

This isn’t really an acceptable answer IMHO.

If it’s the structure that is causing the issue then let’s change the structure.

But it’s not really the structure is it? First Oakville has too many members. That’s the issue.

If we try to provide speaking spaces for all these members every meeting will end at 10 pm  on a regular basis and that is not acceptable to many members – myself included.

Besides if we try to accommodate every person who shows up at the door with a cheque in hand where will this end?

No, the answer IMHO is to keep to three speakers per night.

Those of us who are not getting their education needs met will have to make a decision about whether to stay at First Oakville or go and join another club.

Besides this added pressure might help motivate some of us to contact the area governor and start or mentor a new club (or two) in the Oakville/Burlington area. That’s the real answer and it’s an issue for the club leadership to reconsider.

If you agree that ending when we say we’re going to end is both important and an issue of showing leadership (which is what Toastmaster’s is all about) then please let the executive know your thoughts.

The right to rule and the right to protest

Two articles in the weekend newspapers gets me thinking on this topic Sunday morning.

Article one is from Saturday’s Globe and Mail. It’s an essay by Michael Ignatieff (yes that Michael Ignatieff) about a government’s right to rule.

In it, he says, that one of the tasks of government and perhaps the first task, is to protect, to defend and to secure.

Any government that does not, loses their legitimacy, their capacity and their competence.

Mr. Ignatieff then lists the failures of the American government  which include 911, weapons of mass destruction, Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, New Orleans, the economic crisis, the mortgage bubble, the Gulf of Mexico wellhead burst and the US national debt.

He says that when you look at this list of government failures there’s no surprise that the American people have grown cynical of government.

The second article, from the Sunday New York Times, is about a woman in India who has been on a hunger strike to protest government policy!

The 39-year-old poet and activist was returned to her hospital bed to be feed by a court-ordered feeding tube after she refused to drop her hunger strike.

And what is she protesting? Her cause is to get India to remove the laws that shield security forces from prosecution.

And she has held to this protest for 11 years.

So what’s this got to do with Toastmasters?

Here’s another illustration that might help to set the stage.

Another national organization of which I was an executive member until I resigned last year (somewhat in protest as I could no longer in good faith support the decisions being made or not made by the leaders of the organization) is facing total collapse as the membership falls and few, if any, seem inclined to put their names forward for office.

Why has this happened? IMHO it’s because the leaders of the organization ran the national association like a private business. Decisions were made that served the organization but didn’t serve the members and now the members are voting with their feet.

This is a failure of governance. The executive team lost its legitimacy to govern and the members are not supporting them and the organization is going to fail.

So back to Toastmasters.

We can take these lessons right down to the club level and apply them to individual meetings.

Our club executives are elected to serve and not govern.

Executive teams that understand this principle thrive even in difficult times. Why? Because they have the support of the members of the club behind them. And while there maybe differences of opinion, which is healthy, there is no descent or protest that results and the members will rush to the defence of its executive group and support their decisions if subject to outside attack.

Even the chairperson of the night is wise to remember that their agenda does not represent the sovereign will of the assembly. The agenda is merely a guide to what might happen during the night. The actual power to change the agenda rests with the assembly.

And it is the responsibility of every member to be ever vigilant and ready to protest whenever they think the will of the assembly is not being served.

Thankfully in Toastmasters we do not have to go on 11-year hunger strikes.

It is absolutely essentially and our duty as members that we remember that our leaders (whether they be the chair for evening, the executive team or our national leaders) are fallible and need our help and support. We can help support them by being vigilant and willing to share our thoughts with the greater assembly every time we think we can be helpful.

In Toastmasters we find how to do this in Robert’s Rules of Order.

Every member should be aware of what is happening during the meeting.

If for any reason you are not certain of what to do, you are allowed to stand and say “Mr. Chair, I rise to a parliamentary inquiry.”

The chair may reply or ask the Parliamentarian for an opinion.

BTW when you’re the Parliamentarian, you are not expected to know all the answers.

If you do not know you may ask an individual from the assembly to offer an opinion of which you may or may not take. The chairperson should not allow members to comment without being first recognized and then asked to stand.

In the situation where you believe that procedurally something is out of order you again rise without waiting to be recognized (and you may interrupt a speaker who has the floor) and say: Mr. or Madame Chairman I rise to a point of order. You do not need a seconder.

The chair is obliged by our procedural law (Robert’s Rules) to recognize you immediately and say “State your point of order.”

If the chair makes a decision that you disagree with or you feel offends the will of the assembly then it is your responsibility as a member to rise (again without being recognized) and state (loudly) “I appeal from the decision of the chair.” This appeal requires a seconder and the chair may choose to explain their decision but he or she is obligated to call for a vote of the assembly.

Chairpersons and executive groups and national leaders don’t make perfect decisions. They do the best they can. It is up to the rest of us to offer them our guidance. If we fail to do so, we have no right to complain when they attempt to fulfill their roles.

By the way, when challenged the chair may ask the assembly to comment and thereby start a debate.

The chair may also ask the Parliamentarian to give an opinion and when the Parliamentarian rises all debate must cease and all other members, which the exception of the chair, must be seated and be silent.

How To Write And Deliver A Speech in 10 Minutes Flat

(THIS POST ORIGINALLY WAS PUBLISHED ON THE FIRST OAKVILLE TOASTMASTERS BLOG.)

Okay so let’s say you’re asked to say a few words at your company’s annual meeting or your best friend’s wedding or your Toastmaster meeting.

The only problem is you forgot about it. (Sorry to tell you kids but this happens a lot when you get older. I carry a tape recorder around somedays.)

So rather than sneak out the door, you decide you can do this!

Here’s what I’ve done in the past:

1. Write out the first line or two that tells the audience what you’re going to say;
2. Write the topic line for two or three stories that illustrate your point;
3. Write out your closing so you’re sure you hit it (If I’m going to screw anything up, it will be the big closing line);
4. Walk confidently to the lectern, shake the presenter’s hand and put a BIG smile on your face;
5. Read the first line, tell your stories, read your closing line (if necessary) and receive the applause.

What I don’t do regardless of what happens:

1. I never apologize for anything or say I’m sorry:
2. I never let anything distract me. (Once had the lights fail during a major talk at a conference. The mic still worked so I said: “Well I’ve never had this effect before.” Got a big laugh and lots of sympathy);
3. If I forget where I am, I insert a dramatic pause (It’s sure dramatic to me.);
4. If I really forget everything I stall by saying” “The next thing I say will be the most important part of my speech”*
5. After the speech, I never admit to anything.

Do you have any tips for new (or more seasoned) members that you care to share on the blog?

* I’ve actually done this during a speech. Totally lost my train of thought and was in front of the lectern without my notes (which probably wouldn’t have helped me anyway) and stood there smiling like a mad man at the audience whose members kept leaning in to hear whatever gem it was I was going to impart. After what seemed like an eternity I figured out what to say and said it with great emphasis. The audience was enthralled. Marion was laughing her head off at the back of the room as she knows this is one of my ways of getting out of a bad situation.

We Grow Leaders

(THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE FIRST OAKVILLE TOASTMASTERS CLUB BLOG.

 

Joining a Toastmaster club is a privilege. Guests who wish to join fill out an application and the club members vote whether or not to accept the application.

Once the cheque clears the bank the applicant can now call themselves a Toastmaster. But the formalities don’t end there. Very soon the vice president of membership holds an induction ceremony where the new member and their fellow club members exchange a series of pledges.

While the wording may change from club to club essentially the member pledges to attend meetings regularly and prepare fully for each assignment. They also are required to apply themselves to the Toastmaster program, participate in club activities, evaluate others in a positive, constructive manner, to create open, friendly relationships with fellow members and to bring new members into Toastmasters.

This is a big pledge.

Among other things it means that even if you’re not on the agenda you have pledged to attend meetings regularly. When we attend meetings regularly we get to know our fellow members. We have the opportunity to speak during Table Topics and the business session. We can offer helpful positive evaluations to the speakers and in this we learn how to become better evaluators. Not showing up when we’re not on the agenda means that not only are we missing out on a learning opportunity but we’re not keeping out word.

The same thing goes when we decide we’re not going to complete the role assigned to us on the agenda.

Not only does this inconvenience your fellow members but you are missed and it is noticed. If you can’t attend for whatever reason, it’s your responsibility to find a replacement. Firing off an email to the club list is allowed but it remains your responsibility to ensure the role is filled. Members who regularly miss filling their roles can expect a call from the vp of ed or their mentor.

Agendas are sent out in advance so that we can make plans to fulfill our roles. Whether it’s something as simple as greeting or helping the sergeant-at-arms or being the chair or the Toastmaster each role is important in its own way. New members who are greeters have an opportunity to meet their fellow members and, perhaps more importantly, are the first person guests meet when they come in the door. A warm and welcoming greeting can do much to encourage newcomers to join Toastmasters.

The chair for the evening sets the tone for the entire night. A well-prepared chair (and Toastmaster) can deliver a memorable and enjoyable meeting that starts and ends on time (a rare feat lately).

But is all this emphasis on pledges and keeping our word just so much pedantic babbling.

No not at all.

Toastmasters International has just launched a new branding campaignfor the world-wide organizations and leadership skills are now on a equal level to to speaking skills. There’s a new slogan” Toastmasters International – Where Leaders Are Made.”

The world needs leaders who inspire and motivate others to help solve the global issues that befall us whether it’s to do with the economy or war or hunger.

This is the role of Toastmasters and it starts by keeping to our word around showing up and completing the task to the best of our abilities.

Your comments are always welcome on this blog.