Training and building people who will carry on our good work after our term ends and the new term begins

It is my personal experience that what we do in Toastmasters is more easily done and is done more successfully if we are trained in what we do, especially by our successor.

By training and building up people to be our successors in our various roles, we ensure that the good work that we had started will continue after our term is over.

For example, I had trained the current Lieutenant Governor of Education and Training, Sandy Dunning, in her previous role of Lieutenant Governor of Marketing.

I was the then current Lieutenant Governor of Marketing in March 2007 when I started Sandy's training, taking her along with my visits to prospective clubs, demonstration meetings, and so forth. She took to the role with great enthusiasm, and decided to run for the office of Lt. Governor of Marketing, being elected at the District Conference on May 12, 2007.

She had great success as Lt. Governor of Marketing for 2007 - 2008, having introduced several new programs to build and maintain Club Membership, and worked tirelessly in bringing in new clubs. Sandy and her team were instrumental in District ONE becoming Distinguished - enabling District ONE to reach its membership and club goals.

Sandy trained her successor, Ron Edwards, who we expect to be as successful, if not more successful, as Lt. Governor of Marketing.

The take-away lesson: Create your leacy - train and build up the people who succeed you and your good work will continue. As each new group of successors are trained and built up your good work will go on indefinitely.