From your LGM

Hello District 31 Officers!  I'd like to share a few ideas I have with you: inviting a friend, being a club coach and spending District marketing dollars.

Two years ago, Bil introduced the idea of “Speakers Invite Guests”.  I bet the videos are still on YouTube!  The idea is that if you are going to give a speech at your corporate or neighborhood club, invite your cube-mate or neighbor along to see you speak.  At the very least, they will be impressed with your work.  You might even get a new member out of it.

Become a Club Coach

We have a number of clubs in the District that can use a club coach. What is a coach?  Someone who comes to a club with a fresh eye to see what might be holding their club back from becoming Distinguished. Someone who can help the club get to the next level.  Let me know if you are interested at lgm@district31.org!

Spend Marketing Dollars

I’m looking for people to help spend marketing dollars for District 31.  I have some ideas for Division G, but I need help with all of Eastern Massachusetts!  Let me know if you know how to toss around advertising money!

Stefano McGhee
Lt. Governor Marketing

 

 

A Message from Your
Lieutenant Governor Marketing

The 2010 Toastmasters International Conference in Palm Desert. I certainly didn’t know what I was in for. Arriving at Palm Springs International Airport, I was struck by just how hot a desert in Southern California could be. And so dry! It’s a dry heat, they say. I had heard it so many times, but what did it mean? It means that Stefano can tolerate 108 degrees in a suit for 20 minutes. That same temperature in downtown Boston would cause melting of pavement and the local population! Don’t get me wrong, it was hot, but the lack of humidity changes things. Every woman had a good hair day, every day.

But what about the convention? What would the world of Toastmasters be like? I rolled into the hotel with my family/entourage expecting, well, I don’t know what. Once I saw all sorts of interesting individuals sporting their official oastmasters International badges, I knew I was in the right place! It was like you were in a special club. I hadn’t received my badge yet, so I was on the outside. I watched everyone else interact like they were old friends and sharing stories and jokes. The next day I received my badges (thanks Linda Strano!) and put it on. The world changed instantly. People chatted me up in the elevator, at breakfast, yes, even in the bathroom. The hotel staff commented on how upbeat this group of convention goers was. We were different. And now, with my tricked out Toastmasters name badge, I was one of them. The lesson learned here is to always wear your name badge!

The convention itself was pretty interesting. There were people selling things everywhere! Comedy (Darren LaCroix), movies (Speakeasier, the Movie), and ideas (all the International Director candidates). I met interesting people that were very dedicated to Toastmasters in a major way. They each spoke to me about challenges in their district and I shared as well. We all collectively came away with new things to try to boost membership across the districts and made some friends in the process. I even scored a speaking slot at a District Conference at a neighboring District. Some might think the conferences are about the education, but for me, it was about problem-solving with peers from around the world. If you have the means and opportunity to go, I’d recommend going with the District Trio next year!

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Hello District 31 Toastmaster!

On July 1st, we will begin the next Toastmaster year in District 31.  I'm humbled to have been elected your Lieutenant Governor of Marketing for this 2010-2011 year.  I've had one thing in mind that I wanted to make centerpiece of my work this year and that is retention.

Retention means a lot to me.  All too often, we see evidence that retention is not valued as it once was.  Our jobs may not value retaining employees over the long term.  Cellular phone providers give bigger discounts to new customers than to existing ones.  You nearly always get a better deal with a new magazine subscription than with a renewal!  My focus this year will be to ensure that you, the *existing* member are getting the value for what you put into Toastmasters.  Not only will extra focus be put on coaching clubs with low membership that need
rescue, but also to inspire clubs with ample membership to achieve more by bringing the basics of a great meeting right to you through a club visit by a District officer.  I believe that if we retain a higher percentage of our members, it will be a positive indicator of our overall success!  I want *you* to stay in Toastmasters and enjoy your stay!

When I'm not serving the District, I am an Information Technologist that works on everything from wireless communication, to virtualization technologies, and just about everything else that plugs into a 110 volt outlet.  I'm also a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve.  My hobbies currently include the study (and enjoyment) of wine, video gaming, travel and motorcycling.  I'm fairly familiar with the northern and central Italy and speak intermediate Italian, when provoked.  I have a wife, Jennifer, that compelled me to join Toastmasters as a guest 5 years ago.  I also have a three year old son, Tucker, that demands to come to "meetings" every so often. Presumably to make sure my story isn't a cheap ploy.

I'm excited and honored to be your Lieutenant Governor of Marketing for the next year.  I have lofty goals for myself and you've set goals for me that I want to fulfill.  I'll need your help.  Along with Bil and Ben, we can all take this District to the next level.

Stefano McGhee, ACS, ALS
Lieutenant Governor of Marketing