Page 32 - 2018 June Voices

PERSPECTIVES

At the End of the Trail

Leanna Lindquist, DTM

Immediate Past District Director

July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2018—It is almost four two homes. After 26 years in the same house, we
years to the day since I became a member of were moving. This was no small undertaking.
the District 7 Trio. I had prepared for months The new house was painted; we packed, and
to be elected Lt. Governor Marketing, now held multiple garage sales. We moved in two

Club Growth Director or CGD. Incentives were phases, pre staging and after the sale. Every day
planned, marketing strategies were laid out, and we drove 40 miles round trip to the old house
committee members were recruited. I was ready! to water plants. Day after day the tempratures
Three new clubs were chartered in July. Three were in the high 90’s – 100+. After only 8 days

more were chartered in August. And three more on the market, the house sold. The process took
were chartered in September. District 7 was on the better part of three months. During the same
a role! At the end of the year the score was nine time, we had to complete club officer training.
new clubs in the first three months and three I could have put the move off until after my

new clubs in the last nine months. stint in the Trio was over. That was the original
I learned that the CGD is dependent on plan. I woke one day and realized my husband’s
our members. Leads that don’t come from physical needs to live in a house free of four
Toastmasters International come from our flights of stairs needed to take priority over my

members. We need to bring ideas for potential Trio position. It was a lot of work but it all came
new clubs to the attention of the CGD. Members together.
sponsor and mentor new clubs. Whether a club At the end of the year we exceeded the goal
charters or not, and whether a club is successful for Distinguished clubs. This occurred because

or not, is for the most part, dependent on our our members valued their own personal growth.
members. They were proud of their clubs and wanted
When July 1, 2015 came along, there were to carry on or begin the tradition of being a
two significant changes in my life: 1) I was the Distinguished Club.

Program Quality Director, PQD; responsible On July 1, 2016, I was in the driver’s seat. The
for club officer training, contests, conferences, Grand Poobah if you are a Flintstone’s fan. The
and the Distinguished Club Program; 2) my role of the District Director is to be responsible
husband and I were now the proud owners of for it all. The buck stops here. The challenge is

32 ONE COMMUNITY