Page 43 - September 2020 Voices

COACH CONVERSATIONS

Donald “Tiger” McAndie
Be Part of the Process

Michelle Alba-Lim, DTM -
Club Coach Coordinator

Last month, we launched COACH What has been your greatest joy as a club
CONVERSATIONS, featuring interviews with coach?

successful club coaches. For September, meet I joined WSO (the first club that I coached) so
Donald “Tiger” McAndie. Tiger recently earned that I could participate fully in the meetings and
his Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in the become part of the culture of the club. I enjoy the

traditional education program and is currently storytelling aspect of the club and the friendly
serving as Area 22 Director. He is a member atmosphere. When Covid-19 hit, thousands of
of six clubs and serves in various officer roles, Toastmasters went online and many visited WSO
including President of Roseburg Speakers and as it is an established online club. Many of the

Storytellers. guests asked to join as members and we ended
the year as President’s Distinguished.
Tiger, tell us about your Toastmasters
experience. What qualities help you to be a great coach?

I joined Toastmasters in 2013 and was I am a hands-on coach. I believe in being part
enthusiastically working the traditional of the process and leading by example. I lead
education program until I experienced a from behind and tend to encourage and support
devastating and utterly unexpected rejection in others whether they be members or guests. I

2016. For three years, I refused to have anything reached out to guests during the meeting to greet
to do with Toastmasters. Thankfully, my mentor them and make a connection with them. I then
continued encouraging me to visit other clubs. followed up by reaching out via email. I showed
Thanks to the warm welcome I received at an up early to meetings to assist in welcoming guests

online club, I rejoined Toastmasters in 2019 and and stayed after to engage guests in conversion.
resumed my disrupted progress with renewed
gusto. What advice would you offer to new or
prospective coaches?
Why do you like being a club coach? My best advice to new club coaches is to assist

I am an educator by profession and have an the club to achieve their goals (not yours). Also,
Masters of Science in Education. I love teaching, do not give advice unless it is solicited.
coaching, and mentoring.

VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2020 43