William Faulkner told authors:
In writing, you must kill all your darlings.
How does that apply to a Toastmasters District?
Toastmasters International is a great organization to help you learn speaking and leadership skills. Each year, TMI encourages Clubs, Divisions, and Districts to reach the President’s Distinguished level.
The key requirement to become President’s Distinguished is Growth. Eight new members at the Club Level. “No Net Loss of Clubs” at the Division Level to become Distinguished; add a new club to reach President’s Distinguished. And at the District Level, President’s Distinguished requires an 8% increase in BOTH members and clubs.
It’s hard work1. And sometimes it has perverse effects. Districts close to the President’s Distinguished Level sometimes start clubs, that aren’t, shall we politely say, designed to last. Clubs with membership lists that look a lot like a list of “friends of the current administration.”
And maybe that’s OK if your District is tantalizingly close to reaching President’s Distinguished. But what if you’re in one of the Districts that isn’t going to sit up front at the International Convention? What can you do to help your District next year?
Continue reading “Kill your (Toastmaster) Darlings”