Like any well-run organization, every Toastmasters club relies on effective leadership to accomplish its goals. The goal of every Toastmasters club is to…”provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth….” This requires a dedicated executive to ensure club members are getting the most out of their Toastmasters experience.
However, taking on an executive role in Toastmasters doesn’t just benefit the club. Members find that stepping into the leadership role of club executive is a learning experience with real-life transferable value. In taking on an executive role, you are learning skills that benefit your personal and professional life and are an impressive addition to your resume.
Here are the executive members you may be introduced to the first time you visit a Toastmasters cub.
Club Officer Roles
The Sergeant at Arms may be the first person you meet at a Toastmasters meeting. It’s the Sergeant at Arms’ role to greet guests, prepare the room for the meeting, open the meeting and introduce the chairperson. The Sergeant at Arm is also responsible for looking after the club’s supplies such as awards, ballots, manuals and other items used at each meeting.
The Vice President of Membership is also responsible for greeting guests, providing them with information about Toastmasters as well as helping them enroll as a member. This role also involves record keeping, promotion and following up with guests and former members.
The Vice President of Public Relations is the link between the club and the community. This person will help you understand how Toastmasters can benefit you in your particular situation, as well as promoting the benefits of Toastmasters through media channels such as newspapers, online media, radio and television.
The Treasurer is the caretaker of the club’s finances and is the bill payer and dues collector. Each Toastmasters club starts out its new year with a budget created by the Treasuer in conjunction with the other members of the executive.
The Secretary records the events of each meeting and is the creator and curator of club records and meeting minutes.
The Vice President of Education helps to plan the educational aspect of each meeting as well as working with individual members to help them achieve their goals. They work closely with each member, monitoring their progress and motivating them to reach higher. The Vice President of Education is a pace setter and cheerleader.
The President is a team leader who works towards creating a successful club climate by planning, delegating and being a role model. In some cases, the president may be a mediator or conflict resolver if the need arises. The president is responsible for maintaining an organized, effective executive and a healthy club environment.
While you are just exploring Toastmasters, an executive role may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, Toastmasters supports the growth of members every step of the way, easing you into each role, so you can fulfil it with confidence. All the executive roles provide a safe learning environment for skills like delegation, motivation, organization, negotation, and more. These skills are useful in your personal life and are in-demand in the work world.
Barrie Toastmasters Club 