Besides the change that I have already experienced so far, my Toastmasters meeting at work today was quite interesting.  I gave a presentation about managing change.  More specifically, I talked about managing change for Tuesday Talkers: A Club that has been a President’s Distinguished Club for 16 years in a row (Perhaps longer.  I couldn’t find any data that went further back…).

For Tuesday Talkers, I have always seen it as a club that other clubs should strive for.  The model club that leads by example.  With so many wonderful leaders in the club over the years, it has served as the source of the club’s ongoing success.  With the merger of Dow and DuPont, and the split into three companies (Dow, DuPont, and Corteva), this has affected the club’s core membership.  The layoffs and restructuring.  The loss of valuable members due to job changes and other things happening in their lives.  This is and will be a challenge that will test the strength of this club that was built on a solid foundation.

In the speech that I gave today, I outlined a plan that would keep the club strong.  This plan, of course, would only be effective if we have the support of the members.  As the core membership gets rebuilt, this will be the key to the club’s future.  A legacy needs to be established for this club from the members that made it successful in the first place.  A lot of those members don’t attend the club anymore, but their wisdom that led the club would be a useful thing to pass on to the future members.  This is a new age and a new era, and the club needs to change with that era.

My goal is to try to keep Tuesday Talkers as the club that I remembered when I first heard of it.  The rumors of it achieving President’s Distinguished every year and having an outstanding program for those who join it.

With the speech done and my sister’s birthday card bought, I will now take it easy for the rest of the day.

Today’s high is going to be 40 degrees and the silver lining is giving a good speech at my club today.

To those of you who have ever had to manage change before, I hope that you all have a fantastic day.

 

Muse:  I know all about that. In one of my clubs, I’m noticing the core starting to dwindle.  I better start making a plan for that one…