Personal Development

Nashua-Hudson Toastmasters

Opportunities for Development

Toastmasters International is widely known for its successful, self-paced program that helps its members improve their public speaking and leadership skills. Toastmasters clubs also offer members other opportunities for learning and development. These include holding leadership positions as club officers or area and district officers; competing in speech contests; and participation in conferences.

Club Officers

Each local club is lead by a team of officers. In addition to fulfilling the administrative responsibilities associated with their positions, NHTM officers attend an executive board meeting every month. Officers are also expected to participate in at least one of two bi-annual club-officer training sessions sponsored by District 45.

More detailed information about each of these roles is available on the Toastmasters International website.

The President provides the leadership and guidance required for the club to meet the needs of its members. They work with the other officers to provide a supportive environment to ensure the club retains current members and define goals for recruiting new ones. The President chairs the executive meetings and represents the club at Area and District council meetings.

The Vice-President Education is responsible for ensuring members benefit from the Toastmasters Educational Program. They help maintain the positive environment and programs through which members can learn and grow. The VPE is responsible for managing the mentor program, ensuring all members understand the benefits of and participate in the educational program, and keeping a record of each member’s progress in the program. The VPE also represents the club at Area and District council meetings.

The Vice-President Membership is responsible for recruiting new members, helping them become oriented to the operation of the club and our meetings, following up with guests, new members and members not attending meetings, and working to ensure the club is satisfying the needs of all members. The VPM represents the club at Area council meetings.

The Vice-President Public Relations is responsible for promoting the club and its activities to the general public and to the club's members. This work includes distributing announcements to the local press, publishing the club newsletter, and managing the website.

The Secretary is responsible for club correspondence, maintaining an accurate club roster, keeping attendance records of club meetings for purposes of monitoring trends, and recording the minutes of the monthly executive meeting.

The Treasurer collects the club dues each March and September and ensures the dues are submitted to Headquarters on time. The Treasurer is also responsible for collecting and submitting dues of new members when they join, and for paying all bills promptly.

The Sergeant-at-Arms sets up the meeting room prior to the meeting, and is responsible for welcoming guests at the door. The SAA also calls club meetings to order.

Beyond Club Level

There are a number of leadership opportunities beyond the Club level at the Area and District levels. Members can also go on to serve in elected executive positions on Toastmasters International's board of directors.

More detailed information about all of these positions can be found on the Toastmasters International website.

The Area Governor focuses on membership growth and educational achievements of the clubs in his/her area. Responsibilities of the office include visiting each club a minimum of two times a year, promoting the benefits of Toastmasters, installing club officers, and organizing club officer training. The Area Governor acts as a resource person for the clubs in their Area. NHTM is part of Area 7 in District 45.

The District Governor has overall responsibility for all clubs in his/her district. The District Governor works with the other District executives and Area Governors to ensure the District meets its goals, which are a reflection of the success of the clubs and members within the District. The District Governor establishes a theme for his/her year in office and appoints the Area Governors and other team members. NHTM is part of Toastmasters District 45, which encompasses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

The District Public Relations Officer works to increase awareness of Toastmasters and its programs to members and the public through all available media. Individuals who hold this position normally continue in the leadership chain, eventually becoming District Governor. In even years, the PR officer comes from a clubs on the US side of District 45 and in odd years, the PR officer comes from a club on the Canadian side. The Public Relations Officer serves as a resource to District clubs and is also responsible for the publication of the District newsletter four times a year.

The District Lieutenant Governor, Marketing is responsible for ensuring the District meets its goals for the number of clubs and for the number of members. This is done by working with the Area Governors and promoting membership-building efforts to all clubs within the District.

The primary responsibility of the District Lieutenant Governor, Education and Training is to ensure clubs in the District help their members to meet their educational goals. This is done by working with the Area Governors to promote the benefits of both the communication and leadership tracks of Toastmasters' educational program.

International Director – Every year, one Director is elected from each of the eight Regions within Toastmasters International. An International Director is part of the Board of Directors and helps to set policies which govern the operation of Toastmasters International. The Directors also continually review the educational programs and the requirements necessary to achieve each designation.

3rd Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Senior Vice-President and President - These positions, along with the Immediate Past President, form the Executive Committee of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors and are elected positions.

Speech Contests

Speech contests are a tradition of the Toastmasters program. The purpose of speech contests is to provide an opportunity for participants to improve their speaking abilities and to recognize the best speakers as encouragement to all members.

Contests begin at the Club level and winners advance through the Area, Division, and District levels. Subsequently, competitors in the International Speech Contest advance through Regional contests to the International level.

Contestants in the International Speech Contest, held in the spring, deliver an original speech on a topic of their own choosing that is 5 to 7 minutes long. To be eligible to compete, contestants must be members in good standing and have completed at least 6 speeches in the Competent Communication manual prior to the contest. Club winners have the opportunity to advance through Area, Division, District, and Regional contests, all the way to the World Championship of Public Speaking, which is held during Toastmasters' annual International Conference. NHTM is part of Area 7, Division A, District 45 and Region VII.

The Table Topics Contest is held in the spring. Contestants are required to deliver a 2 to 3 minute speech in response to a question of a general nature, which does not require detailed knowledge, but should lead to an opinion or conclusion. All participants receive the same question but do not hear any previous contestant’s speech. All members in good standing (i.e., dues paid in full) are eligible to compete.
The Humorous Speech Contest is held in the fall. Contestants must prepare and deliver an original speech, 5 to 7 minutes long, with a clearly evident theme that uses humor to enhance the value and purpose. The speech must be thematic in nature (opening, body and close) and not a monologue (series of one-liners). All members in good standing (i.e., dues paid in full) are eligible to compete.
The Evaluation Contest is held in the fall. Contestants listen to the same speech, usually a project from the basic speech manual, and are allowed five minutes to prepare an evaluation. Each participant then delivers a verbal evaluation that is from 2 to 3 minutes long, but does not hear any previous contestant’s evaluation. All members in good standing (i.e., dues paid in full) are eligible to compete.

Conferences

Toastmasters offers regional conferences and an annual International Convention to round out your experience. Conventions and conferences are a great way to improve your skills through seminars, learn from world-class speakers, and have fun with fellow Toastmasters from all over the world.

The District 45 Spring Conference is held each May. District 45 encompasses clubs in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The conference features a Table Topics Contest, the International Speech Contest, educational sessions, the District business meeting, and plenty of time to socialize with your Toastmasters friends from around the District.

The Region VII Conference is held each June. Region VII includes clubs throughout the Mid-Atlantic states, the New England states, and the Maritime provinces of Canada. The date and location of the conference vary year-to-year as each of the eight Districts in the Region takes a turn hosting the conference. The conference features a number of educational sessions, the International Speech Contest, and lots of fun and hospitality.

The International Conference is normally held the 3rd week of August. This is an opportunity to meet Toastmasters from around the world, hear some excellent presenters, and listen to the best speakers compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking. Learn more about the convention on the Toastmasters International website.
The District 45 Fall Conference is held in early November. In addition to the Humorous Speech Contest and the Evaluation Contest, there are a number of educational sessions and the District business meeting. And, the conference offers ample opportunity to meet Toastmasters from around the District. District 45 encompasses clubs in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.