Posted by Dorothea Stuart
"I heard of Toastmasters seven years before I joined - the seven most wasted years of my life!" So says Jim Hegarty District 71 (UK and Ireland) PR Officer. Jim has been a member of Toastmasters, in Ireland, for 13 years and continues to love it.
At this time of year clubs are thinking about who will become next year's club President and who will take on committee roles. Jim is adamant that you can only gain by stepping forward and having a go at a leadership role. If you have been on a club committee why not become an Area Governor? If you have the experience...the role of Division Governor beckons!
Jim himself is immensely glad that he took up the challenge and stood for election for the role of PR Officer for District 71 last year. He is someone who very much "operates on the positive". Initially on a steep learning curve he is now looking forward to the final three months of his year as PRO which includes the start of a new TV show The Speaker.
Some of you will already have heard that starting on Tuesday 7th April 2009 a new show called The Speaker, goes out at 8pm on BBC2. Based to a large extent on the achievements of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge!, in which teenagers learn public speaking skills and compete in a speaking competition, the show will bring the art of communication and public speaking to a huge audience.
Jim has been working on a PR campaign (with Toastmaster colleagues) to help clubs to make the most of the opportunities that the programme could bring. We will be telling you much more about this over the coming days and weeks. You'll find more info on the show now and as it progresses the show's website.
On a personal note Jim has become very adept at selling Toastmasters wherever he goes. When the World University Debating Championship was held in Cork Jim made sure that he was there. It was a lesson that "what we think is not do-able is do-able". Starting by making a few phone calls, asking people for their advice and help, Jim was not only an honoured guest at the gala dinner but had plenty of opportunity to network and spread the word about Toastmasters.
"I've learned not to be put off by the word No! You might call at the wrong time when someone is busy but by being considerate and asking for help in the right way its amazing what you can achieve." His advise to all of us - be bold with your PR activities. We know that membership of Toastmasters brings great benefits so make sure you use every opportunity to tell as many people as you can.
