Who Wants The Job?

Every club office in Toastmasters is an elected position This ensures that the responsibilities and duties of the' office go to those who want to assume them

The top district officers are also elected to their respected positions for the same reason that club officers are.

But thre is one job, and only one job, that is not an elected position In Toastmasters International, the Area Governor is the only position that is appointed by the District Governor or selected by the division Lt Governor with the DG's approval

The big question becomes, "Who wants the job in the first place?" What kind of Toastmaster would subject himself to the paperwork, travel, pressure, and responsibility of the Area Governor?

The answer to that question is obviously the person who cares about TI , his district, and the clubs in his (or her) area It's the Toastmaster who feels that the operation of the area and district can always be improver through the work of good Toastmastering

Many Area Governors have made one basic mistake in performing their jobs They have only visited their clubs during the time that speech contests are being prepared This leads many Toastmasters in the area to believe that the Ara Governor's only duty is to organize speech contests This is particularly true for the new members in the clubs My fellow Area Governors and former Area Governors can attest to the fact that there is more to their duties than mere-

The Area Governors alone with the assistance from the Division Lt Governor is the direct connection between the many clubs in the district and the district management team The Area Governor is responsible for the training of club officers, assisting clubs in their educational and administrative needs, and providing the motivation the club needs to contribute to the district's goals

Dixon, CTM, AVP

Gaspar T M Club

No. 3668

TI introduced the AG Handbook this year The merits of this handbook can not be denied, but as my fellow Area Governors realize, what works on paper does not always work in practice The new Area Governor learns quickly that each club has its own personality and none quite fit the mold presented in the

AG Handbook

An Aren Governor can only be successful if he learns the principles of motivation and leadership, as well as the handling of administrative duties of his office

One of the best methods of motivating a club to perform is to delegate the duties of his office to his respective clubs Care must be taken not to delegate all of the duties to the clubs The danger of too much delegation is that the clubs will think that the Area Governor is not working for them. Therefore you must delegate, but you must work harder tha nthe clubs so that they will work to equal your level of performance

You must also maintain contact with your own club. You can not make a visit twice a year and maintain contact You must visit your other clubs monthly, but go home to your own each week if possible — even if for but a few minutes. At home in your own club while visiting the others at least monthly ensures you that you know what is going on throughout the area. You can carry ideas from one club to another Also, while you are visiting, you can compile the monthly reports; and we can use all the help we can get on those.

The Area Governor's job is involved, but it can be made easier if the Area Governor uses the proper techniques Delegation of duties, and keeping in close contact with the clubs are two of the best methods for making the job easier

So, who wants the Job? Any good Toastmaster should want it

Ken Clinton, ATM, AG-6