I have learned a lot about my ability to lead during the past year as president of my Toastmasters International club. It’s the first time I’ve really been comfortable moving a group of people from one point to another. Well this is a truly significant year for us. We are the Talk of the Town Toastmasters Club and this year we are poised to become a President’s Distinguished Club for the first time ever in our four year history.

If you’re not familiar with the program there are three levels of club achievement based on club members doing their part to earn points towards the Distinguished Club Program along with the accompanying recognition. There are ten possible points related to members learning basic and advanced speaking and leadership skills. By documenting where we intended to be at the begining of the club year we actually are getting there.

Five points makes a club Distinguished, seven earns Select Distinguished and nine points is the highest club honor of all. President’s Distinguished. It takes a lot of forward planning to make sure you achieve either of the goals.

In addition to working the master plan we have significantly improved our membership building. We haven’t always been consistent with it over the years but as those of you who run other groups know, new blood is the life blood that sustains any organization. We have definitely elevated our efforts on that front and it’s showing the benefits in all other operations of the club. It takes twenty members on a roster to qualify for the club recognitions and the fruits of our labors are finally beginning to show.

It has helped increase the number of individual speaking certifications. More people are intentionally focused on being Competent and Advanced Communicators because they have put it on the plan. They are working on becoming better Competent and Advanced Leaders because they have put it on the plan.

Our two pronged attack of membership building and speaking & leadership improvement has us on the cusp of a historic day. There’s no stopping us now and I have to admit I’m feeling pretty proud of myself and the club. Listen. Do yourself a favor where ever you live on the planet. Join your nearest Toastmasters International club and change your life forever.