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Success Formula for Area Governors
by Division B Governor Peter Geissler, DTM
After years of being in Toastmasters, attending area contests and officer training, and holding every club office except President and Vice President Education, I acquiesced to the wish of District Governor Gale Young, DTM, and became an Area Governor. "Don't worry! I'll help you, and so will your Division Governor," she said. But it just seemed an enormous job visiting clubs all over the place and fitting it into my work schedule. After a few months of just going to Division and District Council meetings and completing the Fall contest, I quit.
The following year, another district asked me to be an Area Governor, and I accepted. That was because I now had the confidence to do the job, since I was also the President of my company club and knew my club members would support me since they wanted to reach their goals too!
That time and each time since when I have served as a District officer or committee chair, I created a plan for what I wanted to achieve by the following June 30th. I always wanted my group to achieve the highest level of success. In this case, it was to be a "President's Distinguished" area. I always select the best qualified people I know; I don't need to micro-manage them because I am confident they can work independently. Of course I follow-up on a monthly basis to see how they are doing. I offer support myself or from an assistant Area Governor. That is what teamwork means to me.
First, I worked on my Distinguished Area Plan. I wrote down what I would need to do to make it to that goal. Who would I get to be my Contest Chair and get the judges? Who could help me in my club to host the area contest and cater it? Could the division provide the timing device and someone to help count the receipts? Would the other clubs in my area all chip in with personnel to staff it? As the Area Governor, I attended all monthly Division Council meetings and worked with the other area governors.
Second, when I visited my clubs, I observed how they were implementing their Distinguished Club Plan (DCP). This also encouraged me to meet the my area's CTM and ATM goals. One stumbling block was starting a new club, and it was lucky I had a couple of ideas.
Third, I began working on my own CTM and CL. I became the area's chief cheerleader at my club and the ones in my area. I discovered that it was not the club presidents who supported me; my support staff and I actually supported the clubs to help them meet their goals!
This has been my formula of success when I was Area Governor:
1. Write a Distinguished Area Plan, flexible to change if the circumstances dictate;
2. Visit the clubs and learn how their Distinguished Club Plan can help the Area, and if there are any new club leads;
3. Become your Area's best motivator with a non-Area Governor staff to help you reach your goals.
Good luck this year, Area Governors!
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Division Governor," she said. But it just seemed an enormous job visiting clubs all over the place and fitting it into my work schedule. After a few months of just going to Division and District Council meetings and completing the Fall contest, I quit.
