Ask people to reflect on who were their most influential mentors, and many will say that a coach in junior high, high school, or college had a strong influence on their  lives. Coaches motivate people to achieve their highest performance, to be dissatisfied with anything less than their very best. A great coach’s influence touches the future.

How would you like to touch the future? You can—by volunteering to be a Toastmasters Club Coach! If you are interested in honing your own leadership skills while helping a Toastmasters club to achieve success, we need you! Club Coaches are in short supply in District 25. At present, 36 clubs are eligible for coaches in D25. Many of these clubs meet Wednesday at noon, so finding enough members to serve as coaches for these clubs has not been easy.

Here are the answers to a few Frequently Asked Questions about the Club Coach program:
Q Does my club qualify for a Club Coach?
A A club must have 12 or fewer members at the time the coach is appointed. An existing club member cannot be appointed as coach for his/her own club.

Q If my club qualifies for a coach, how can my club sign up for the Club Coach program?
A Your club can request a coach by emailing Lt. Governor Marketing Cindy Hinckley. Information is available on this District website page.

Q What qualifications must I have in order to be a Club Coach?
A Club Coaches are experienced Toastmasters with at least a Competent Communicator award; a Competent Leader award is also desirable.

Q What credit will I earn as Club Coach?
A Being a successful club coach meets a requirement for the Advanced Leader Silver. The club must achieve Distinguished status for the coach to earn credit.

Q How can I sign up to be a Club Coach?
A The District Governor or Lt. Governor Marketing must appoint the coach. Either one or two coaches can be appointed to a low-member club.

Q What will I do as a Club Coach?
A The coach helps the club create a plan for membership growth and achievement of Distinguished Club goals. He or she also guides the club toward having strong meetings to attract new members.

Q What kind of time commitment must I make?
A The coach attends meetings whenever possible and remains with the club until the club achieves Distinguished Club status.

Working with a club while guiding it to success is among the most rewarding assignments in Toastmasters. Consider volunteering to become a Club Coach. Touch the future: Be a Club Coach!

Bonne Stroman
Immediate Past District Governor

 

by Cindy Hinckley