Page 19 - December 2019

IMPRESSIONS

Paul Fanning, DTM

or the rarely seen possum and the millions of area director. I had arrived early, walked in the
squirrels bounding about on their business, but, door-and was not even greeted, questioned as

AHA Watson-Here’s the proof-the game is afoot! to whether I was even in the right meeting or
We in Toastmasters are in the business of introduced to other members. I sat alone in the
making impressions too. Think about that for back of the room, wondering what I had got
one second. What impression does your club myself into, cursing silently the district director

make? Is it “set in concrete” like the paw prints who had cajoled me to be an area director. It was
of the racoon? What impression upon visitors nothing like the training video! Finally, at the
and new members does it portray? end of the meeting, I was asked if I was interested
Amazingly, Toastmasters recognize the in joining Toastmasters. Not at that club. Other

importance of “first impressions” that a club successful clubs had one or two greeters at the
makes in the Area Director Club Visit Report. door, welcoming members and guests into the
They ask about the ease of finding the club meeting room, introducing other members and
meeting location, the friendliness of the members club officers, and the experience was 180 degrees

and greeters, and especially, is this setting easily from club number. First impressions count-the
identified as a Toastmasters meeting? I took the smiling face, the open and welcome handshake,
time to review about three years of these area etc. We are all in Toastmasters to grow, progress
visit reports for clubs that have now closed their and assist each other in our personal and

doors and or ceased to be a Toastmasters club professional development. Be friendly-make it
in good standing. Three salient points emerged fun-and be willing to take the risk of meeting
from this unofficial study that I wish to share someone new!
with you about “impressions”. The other key element I discovered-which

First, those clubs who are no longer with did not come as a surprise-was the “secret” club
us (sniff, sniff) did not welcome guests to their meeting. No, I’m not talking about the challenge
meeting. One of the reports I reviewed had of a corporate club and the need for going
been written in my first cycle of visits as an through security, etc., but the community club

VOICES! | DECEMBER 2019 19