TOASTMASTERS helps members improve their public speaking, presentation and leadership skills. TRANSFORMERS CLUB meets the 2nd and 4th Monday's of the month at the Morningside Country Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. Come and visit us to see what TOASTMASTERS is all about!
Theme for 2011/2012: The Club is the newest member

Club Officers will be asking themselves this question again before the second round of Club Officer Training (COTii) on the 26^th January (in South Africa):  what is the return on my investment of a Saturday morning?

Firstly, from a Toastmasters point of view:

• -An exchange of ideas with other Club Officers
• -A chance to learn something or refresh your memory about aspects of your role in the Club
• -An opportunity to pass on some knowledge that you have gained to other Officers who are newer in the role
• -Update yourself about District 74 and Toastmasters International
• -Renewing contacts and friendships

Secondly and most importantly, COT is another opportunity for personal growth and a honing of the skills you need and use in your working life. It is about managing the job which embraces the following factors:

• -Planning - not just for the next meeting but for the rest of this year and for the next as well.  Surely you want to leave a firm foundation for your successor.
• -Organising - after the plan has been set you organise for action, not just yourself but the other members who will be helping or achieving.
• -Motivating - the members of your team, committee and other members.
• -Measuring - during the planning and organising phases you set objectives which are achievable but with a stretch factor, measurable and with a time-line.
• -Educating - every manager (and yes, you are the manager) should ensure that the team is trained, updated and communicated with.
• -Developing - the best managers ensure that they develop their people, and naturally their successors, because the reward is not just the satisfaction of a job well done but also the satisfaction in the advancement of those around you.

So, the return on the investment of your 5 hours for COT is more than you will get at current interest rates.

(As the VPE of Transformers Toastmasters Club I suggest that this training is excellent for anyone considering becoming a Club Officer in July next year. It will provide you with a completely new perspective of the organisation of which you are a member. ~ John-Peter Gernaat)