DCP Progress: We've become a Distinguished Club!

It's time for the club to celebrate again!

Lambs to Lions just got it's 5th point for the 2013-2014 Distinguished Club Program (DCP). With the 5th point, our club has earned the status of Distinguished Club.

Bhushan completed all the requirements to obtain Advanced Communication Silver (ACS). By earning his ACS designation, he helped our club get the 4th DCP point.

We got our 5th DCP point when four new members joined our club. Welcome to those new club members and a big thank you for helping us earn the 5th point.

We need 4 more points to become a President's Distinguished Club this year.

Meeting Role Prep: The Meeting Chair

What is a Meeting Chair?

The Chair is basically the meeting director who runs the meeting. You exercise overall control of the meeting and make sure that it runs smoothly.

Toastmasters International recently combined the roles of Meeting Chair and Toastmaster, but our club still keep both roles separate with few duties each so that more club members can participate without being overwhelmed.

Do I have to get my CL manual filled?

Yes. In your CL manual, you can get your performance evaluated under the title of Toastmaster

Projects that have a Toastmaster section are: Project 4 (Time Management), Project 5 (Planning and Implementation), Project 7 (Facilitation), Project 8 (Motivation) and Project 10 (Team Building).

Who evaluates me?

Before the meeting starts, hand your CL manual to the VP of Education who will find you an evaluator. Or you can directly ask any club member in the audience to evaluate your performance.

What does the Meeting Chair do?

Before the Meeting

1. Choose a meeting theme as early as possible. This lets other members who have a meeting role to prepare accordingly.

The theme can be anything you want- a word, phrase or even a celebration. Put the theme on the EasySpeak agenda. If you have any problems doing so, contact your VP of Education.

2. Talk to the VP of Education about the line up and the times on the meeting agenda. Ask for a copy of the final agenda if you didn't get one. Check which roles are still empty, etc and get a general idea of who will be doing what. This will help you prepare.

If you need something specific put on the printed meeting agenda, tell the VP of Education in advance so that the agenda can be changed.

On the Meeting day

1. Come to the meeting place early so that you can get comfortable with the podium setup and get your required materials (the gavel and printed meeting agenda) from the Sergeant-at-arms.

2. Go through the agenda. Keep track of who is present for their roles. Take note of roles that are empty and need to filled up. Try and fill up any empty positions by asking the club members in the audience. Ask a club executive for help if you need it.

3. When it's time to start the meeting, have someone close the meeting room door and hit the gavel on the podium to officially begin.

4. Your Opening Remarks: You can talk about the meeting theme you chose or just tell the audience what they can expect from the meeting and why it'll be helpful for them. Keep this introduction 3-5 minutes long.

5. Call on the club member with the role of Humor.

6. If there is no Humor section, call on any guests present to introduce themselves. Give clear instructions when you call on them. Say something like “Please stand, tell us your name and why you came to today's meeting...”

7. Call on the club members who have taken up the Grammarian, Timer and Quizmaster roles. Ask them to stand and give a short explanation about their role and it's importance to the meeting.

8. Introduce the meeting's Toastmaster. Wait till they come to the front podium, shake their hand and then go back to your seat until it's time for you to come back front.

9. After the General Evaluator gives their meeting report near the end of the meeting, they will call you back to the front. Shake the General Evaluator's hand and take your place at the podium.

10. For the Club Business session, call on the Club President and ask if there's any club business to discuss. If the President is absent, call on another executive.

11. Call on the guests once again and ask them for their thoughts and opinions about the meeting.

12. Call on the speaker for the Thought of the Day, if any.

13. Give your closing remarks for the meeting.

14. End the meeting by hitting the gavel on the podium.

Some Tips

1. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure about your role. Talk to the club executives or other club members about their own experiences as the Meeting Chair. They'll share their own tips for the role.

2. Have your watch or cellphone with you so that you can track the time. You could even arrange with the meeting Timer to have them give you a cue at the appropriate times so that you won't have to constantly check your watch. Start and finish the meeting on time to make a good impression on the audience.

3. Applaud. During most meeting, the audience doesn't know when it's time to applaud. As meeting chair, you can make this simpler by leading the applause at the appropriate times such as:

• After each guest introduces themselves at the start of the meeting. And again when they comment on their meeting experience at the end of the meeting.
• When members with meeting roles are first called on and then again when they are done speaking.

4. Check your CL manual. Each project has a different set of requirements for completion that will help you better prepare for your role.

DCP Progress: We got our 3rd Point!

It's time to celebrate!

Why, you ask?

Lambs to Lions just got it's 3rd point for the 2013-2014 Distinguished Club Program (DCP).

Bhushan completed all 10 projects in his Competent Leadership (CL) manual. By earning his CL designation, he helped our club get a DCP point.

We need 7 more points to become a President's Distinguished Club this year.