Then it occurred to me that the why had been answered during our Region District Officer training in Rapid City. The first session of the Friday was a segment on Building Effective Teams. Part of the session included a breakout time for the District teams. Tim, Greg and I (and the other District teams) were each given the challenge of coming up with our Guiding Principles for our year ahead.
This is what we, as a team, determined are the guiding principles we will live by during this Toastmaster year (which filters out into our lives). They were, in no particular order:
- One voice
- Respect
- Act with integrity
- Transparent
- Innovative
- In touch
It's really the last 3 that have led to this blog. Transparent, or transparency ... we want you, the members of our District, to be aware of what we are doing, when we are doing it and how we are doing it. Innovative ... part of our goal in reaching out to our members, working our best to meet your needs, is to ensure you know what's going on - that's why we've championed Greg's podcasts, are moving to an "automated" method of contacting members by email using Constant Contact, the on-line club officer training; all of this is a part of our goal to be innovative.
But it's really the last guiding principle ... in touch ... that is at the core. This was the guiding principle that took the longest to formulate, not because we didn't know what we wanted, but because we didn't know how to phrase it. Special thanks to TI's Senior Vice-President Jana who came up with the final phrase of in touch.
It is important to Tim, Greg and I - and Keith who is an incredibly important part of our team - that we be available to you. It's not always possible to be there in person (so feel free to phone or email me), but when we are there, whether it's at Division Contests, TLIs, club meetings or District conferences, we want to make sure that we're available to you.
Our organization is founded on the principle that the member is the most important member of our organization. If we don't hear your stories, celebrate in your successes, and essentially just be in touch with you, then we won't get to know you and you won't get to know us. And our District would suffer if that were the case. It is your spirit of innovation, your dedication, your ideas, your willingness to challenge that is what we need to succeed this year and in future years. Because each of you brings something new and unique to our organization, whether you're a brand new member or someone who's been around since dirt was invented.
When you see us out at an event, don't ever hesitate to come up and talk to us. We love to see old friends and make new ones. Our goal though is to be the one going out to meet you. We'll be spending as much time as is possible, given that this is a volunteer organization (and we have that pesky thing called "work") in meeting as many of you as possible this coming year.
I know, that with the incredible spirit that we have in District 42, you will truly Impact Our World this year. I hope that we will also impact your world.
Until next time, Joan
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