On December 5, District 13 held its biannual club Officer training (or TLI). The three Spirit of Toastmasters award winners (Nate Stephens, Tina Kramer, and myself) took part in a panel discussion that topped off the awesome event. Kat Licause served as the moderator. Her questions were split among the three of us. In addition, it was a Christmas Carol theme and we had costumes for our Spirit roles. We also had backgrounds that tied into the theme.
Today, I am going to tell you what I did to win the award; how I can encourage you to have a true award winning Spirit of Toastmasters (plus what can really break that Spirit and your club); finally, who do I thank for this award 🥇?
I won the award because of my interest in visiting clubs outside of my own. In my nine year Toastmasters career, I’ve gone from being just a member, to serving as an area director twice, division director, and having multiple club officer roles.
However, my most memorable role so far has been serving as District Sergeant at Arms. I had a lot of people in my court cheering me on. As I performed the role at conferences and at club officer training, I began to grow. My spirit and confidence had risen. I was well trained in my role and had a lot of fun doing it.
What fuels my interest in Toastmasters? Getting the opportunity to form friendships with those members in my club and in the other clubs I visit. One of the most frequent clubs I check out is the successful, award winning Cranberry High Noon chapter. They even treat me like an unofficial member of the club.
The reason I won the award is because of my Toastmasters personality. I am a goodwill ambassador to the District. I promote Toastmasters on social media and in my blog. I am a congenial, kind person and a friend to you and everyone I meet in my Toastmasters travels.
Nate Stephens won the award for his work leading Penn Hills from Extinguished to Distinguished. Tina Kramer won it for her role in helping lead Earlybirds to President’s Distinguished. I won it for my passion for traveling to other clubs and my personality.
But how can I encourage you to develop that true award winning Spirit of Toastmasters? 1) Ask around, and see what you can do to help. Take the initiative and run with it. 2) If you’re active on social media or have a platform, get on that soapbox and promote your club and District 13. Plug the upcoming events and give shoutouts to your clubs and members when they earn achievements. Visit those clubs and participate. Talk about your experiences to get others fired up for Toastmasters. 3) In your home club, develop a passion for success and don’t give up. Push the Distinguished Club Program, and encourage your members to give those speeches and earn those awards.
One thing, however, that can extinguish that Spirit and cause division in your club is “membertude”. It’s that constant complainer who might feel they’re overworked or they don’t want to do more than they feel they need to.
It’s a detriment to your club and can cost you members and discourage others from going for their club or Toastmasters goals.
Whom do I thank for the award and for my Spirit of Toastmasters?
I want to give a round of applause 👏 to the members who were kind enough to have me visit their club. Great example of this was last December when I visited Cranberry High Noon. The members gave me a warm welcome when I walked in the door. That itself shows a true Spirit of Toastmasters and from a successful club.
I also want to tip my hat to my home club and those who are passionate about their club’s success. These people never stop pushing the greatness of their chapter.
To close, I want to thank those District leaders past and present who have been there with me from the beginning. They led the way in my early years, encouraged me as I worked toward my Distinguished Toastmaster award, and their Spirit of Toastmasters has rubbed off onto me.
Stylish 🍒 