7 Ways to Succeed as a Club Officer

The seven nominated club officer positions are president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, sergeant at arms, treasurer and secretary. The responsibilities for each role are specific, though they may overlap or require cooperation between two or more officers. To make your term successful, consider these suggestions.

1) Attend club officer training

This training is developed by Toastmasters International and conducted by your district leaders. Your district probably offers several sessions to choose from, allowing you to find one that fits your schedule. Most seasoned officers agree that attending training is invaluable to start your year.

2) Do some self training

Read the Club Leadership Handbook. Explore the Toastmasters website for additional resources. Peruse the Resource Library in the Resources section of the website where you'll find lots of informative handbooks, fliers templates, slideshows and more. Become familiar with Club Central on the site. Connect with other members via social media outlets. Visit different Clubs to observe how other officers perform their duties. Search the internet for useful blogs or documents about your position.

3) Seek mentoring from former officers

Ideally, meet with your immediate predecessor to make a smooth transition.

4) Just do It !!

In Toastmasters you "learn by doing." Don't fear making a mistake. Most mistakes can be corrected. Take your role seriously enough to commit to it but lightly enough to allow yourself some slack if something goes wrong.

5) Resist doing another officer's job

While some role overlap, clearly define where your responsibilities end and where another officer's begins. Coordinate and delegate.

6) Attend club officer meetings

Even if your role is quiet or not visible, the other officers should know the status of your efforts.

7) Enlist an assistant or team when the workload increases or if you will be unavailable to perform your duties.

The benefit? You train a successor in the process!!