Responsibilities

1
Is the role of Area Governor for you?
2
Whats to love?

• Its fun!
• Its interesting!
• Its a growth opportunity
• Camaraderie, teamwork
• New skills
• Hands-on leadership!

3
Whats not to love?

• Communication channels can get blocked
• Lack of response
• Lack of affirmation?
• Paperwork!
• Commitment of time

4
How to minimise the drama!

• Form an Area team, and use it!
• Hold an Area executive meeting as soon as
  possible
• Use outgoing/past AGs as mentors
• If not already scheduled, request regular
  Division meetings
• Delegate, delegate, delegate!
• Keep up the communication
• Never be afraid to ask for help

5
What are the qualifications?

• Enthusiasm
• Organisational ability
• Team-building skills are a big plus!
• There are no rules Toastmasters International
  says that, if practicable, an AG should have
  served as a member of the district council (ie
  been President or VPE)
• Candidates names are put to our district
  executive for approval

6
What are the official duties?

• This is how Toastmasters International describes
  the role
• The area governor provides support and
  assistance to each club so that it may achieve
  the club mission and fulfill its responsibilities
  to club members

7
How do you go about it?

• Toastmasters International provides a list of
  responsibilities and standards
• Some make it clear where you fit into the bigger
  picture
• Some identify the interaction you need to have
  with your Clubs
• Some help to identify the support to which you
  are entitled

8
Responsibilities 1

• Serve as a member of the executive committee
  and district council.
• Uphold the bylaws and policies of Toastmasters
  International and the district administrative
  bylaws, following them to the best of your
  ability.
• Serve under the direction of the District
  Governor and receive guidance from the LGET, LGM
  and the public relations officer.

9
Responsibilities 2

• Report regularly to the Division Governor on Area
  progress
• Serve as chairman of the Area Council
• Participate in Area Governor training provided by
  the District.

10
Standards 1

• Focus on membership growth and educational
  achievements in clubs
• Motivate and assist each club in the area to
  become a Distinguished Club.
• Ensure that each club understands the service
  roles of the AG and D69
• Participate in district training for AGs,
  executive committee meetings, D69 conferences and
  D69 council meetings.

11
Standards 2

• Make at least two club visits complete and
  forward Club Visit form
• During visits, do a presentation on either the
  DCP, the communication and leadership tracks, or
  membership growth and development

12
Contact club presidents monthly

• Items of importance
• Distinguished Club Program performance
• Follow-up re items identified during previous
  visit or contact
• District training or other district events
• And dont forget an open question Is there
  anything else?

13
Area council meetings

• Hold at least two a year and include the
  following topics on the agenda
• Each clubs plans and goals in the DCP, and needs
  for district/area assistance
• Review attendance at club officer training
• Discuss plans for inter-club events (e.g.,
  training, time and place of area speech contests)

14
What will it cost me?

• Not much!
• Your attendance at District training and
  Executive weekends is funded by D69
• Your travel and any small costs of attending Club
  meetings come from Area and Club funds (Downside!
  Your Area will need to make some money, too, to
  ensure Area funds are topped up. Bring on the
  raffles!)
• And you can make a case to the D69 executive if
  you have a special cost that needs to be covered

15
What about the D69 Convention and the Semi-annual
Conference?

• OK, you have to pay for these yourself but mark
  the dates in your calendar, and attend if you
  possibly can Why?
• Networking, friendship, fun, education, the big
  picture, and great speeches
• Note there is no cost for attending the Council
  Meetings held as part of these events

16
Distinguished?

• Distinguished Club
• Distinguished Area
• Distinguished Division
• Distinguished District
• A plan for success!
• A measure of success?

17
Is your Area team the same as your Area
Council?

• NO! The Area team is appointed by you
• Secretary
• Finance Officer
• Assistant AGs
• Conference convener
• Parliamentarian
• etc, etc, according to your needs

18
However, there is overlapThe Area Council

• As prescribed in the duty statement
• The Area Governor, as Chairman
• Assistant area governors for education and
  training, and marketing
• Area secretary
• Club presidents, VPEs, and VPMs

19
Embrace the challenge!!

• Build a team, build a network!
• Make it fun
• Learn by doing, but remember to ask for help
• And finally
• Keep an eye out for a successor, and ensure a
  great handover - perhaps even doing some
  preliminary work for the next area conference