A Message From Your New District 62 Governor

Welcome to another helpful Toastmasters year in D62! We are 85 clubs strong with over 1700 members and growing. From Muskegon to Petoskey to Bay City, Brighton, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo— District 62 includes all clubs within that circle.

But as you think of your club, do you find that you and your fellow Toastmasters are time-challenged? Employers demanding we do more with less, your club-mates saying they cannot accept the responsibility of being a club officer because “I’m really slammed at work” and maybe even saying they’re not sure they have time for Toastmasters?

Well maybe it’s time we all remember just why we joined Toastmasters, and why many of our employers subsidize our dues. We--  and they--  thought Toastmasters would develop our abilities to succeed.

Our participation in Toastmasters can still do that, but only if we stop thinking of our jobs and Toastmasters in conflict. In my case, I would not have the job I love were it for the skills I continue to develop in Toastmasters.

I think we need to stop developing our speeches for Toastmaster meetings and start doing “dress rehearsals” for our presentations at work--   “dress rehearsals” that will be manual speeches benefiting from feedback at our meetings. Imagine how much better your presentations at work will be with the benefit of evaluation at your club meetings!

Please think about it. Your future success both at work and in Toastmasters begins with your belief in a simple paradigm: Toastmasters is a part of your career. Exploit your membership for all that it is worth.

Mike Bacon, ATM-S

District 62 Governor (July 2012 – June 2013)