Page 28 - June 2019

SUCCESSFUL CLUB

Our Public Speaking

Journey is a Marathon

Rufino Ayala, ACB

The Distinguished Club Program is one measure of club success. Other metrics that should be

considered, when determining whether a club is successful, are member satisfaction and retention.
In this article, Rufino Ayala shares his views of what makes a club truly successful. [Editor]

The transition to new officers has now begun. and improved hand gestures is music to my ears.
This is a moment of reflection and planning. If at the end of the year we have Distinguished
Over four years ago, I attended my first training Club or higher status, great. If not, that is fine
in Eugene as the incoming VP of Education. too. Rarely does the status cross my mind.

There was one speech in particular that continues What I believe makes our club successful is the
to guide me now. relaxed environment. If I was to poll the club
The premise is simple: At the start of the and ask them how many knew about the various
year, tell the club what you plan to do and set possible statuses, would I be embarrassed by

your expectations. If, for example, achieving how few know about it? Absolutely- not. For
Distinguished Club is your goal as an officer for now, their focus is improving themselves. Low
the club, communicate that expectation early and pressure atmosphere emphasizes that our public
often. As I sat on the last row of that auditorium, I speaking journey is a marathon, not a sprint.

knew that focusing on attaining a club status was We emphasize that their improvement and
not what interested me. I wanted an environment betterment comes from their willingness and
where the only pressure a speaker felt was from their commitment.
within.

Speakers were scheduled, roles were
assigned, and the meetings continued.
Was there encouragement from the
district to attain more goals? Absolutely,

and I understand the argument that
club points are a reflection of a club’s
status.
However, I measure the club’s

success by the improvement’s I see
in each member. Seeing a general
trend in less fidgeting, more confident
expressions, more effective eye contact,

28 ONE COMMUNITY