Toastmasters Committee Training
As I mentioned briefly a few posts ago, I now have a minor (but vital!) role on the Maidenhead Speakers Club committee – Sergeant at Arms.
I’d been Sergeant at Arms a couple of times as a stand-in for Keith last year, and was asked to take the role on “for real”, when he moved on to higher things (V.P. PR).
It’s the lowest rank on the Toastmasters committee pecking order. Right now, that suits me. I’m responsible for making the tea, bringing the milk, telling the odd joke, calling the meeting to order and collecting (and counting) the voting slips on normal club evenings.
I also order supplies (milk, coffee, tea and flip charts) and go along to committee meetings, though I don’t deliver a formal report. I really use it as a chance to try out as many funny stories as possible.
Last night was a committee training session for local Berkshire clubs, and I went to that. Clubs have to send along at least 4 committee members, so they can claim a point towards their Toastmasters goals.
Usually, the more senior roles are discussed in these training sessions. Still, I didn’t get the feeling I was just making up numbers. As well as (interactive) speeches to discuss how best to perform some of the senior roles (Education, Membership and President), at the start of the evening there was chance for us all to participate. Each club to confer on what makes each club unique. A member of each club was asked to stand up and present the case.
When the clubs shared several of their “unique” attributes, it made me smile.
It was a chance to meet some of the local Toastmasters movers and shakers, and to get a brief insight into other clubs.
