VP PR Ian Creates Instagram Account

Each executive role at a Toastmasters Club is an individual learning experience. No prior knowledge is assumed when taking an executive position and while one is never alone in pursuing an executive position, we provide a safe learning space for this as a form of leadership development.

In January 2018 we as a club moved to a bi-annual election. It means we report our new club executive team twice a year rather than once a year. As a club we are going to develop other club executive positions that relate more to club management and our dual status as a student club mandated by our student union.

These additional positions will include a "Student Board" for our Tuesday meeting and a "Saturday Council" for the Trafalgar Alliance meeting. The club executive elected are responsible for the Toastmasters educational program delivered for both clubs and our club representations to District 86, which is a part of the Toastmasters International network. Our mandate as a Toastmasters Club is as an educational private member body and our mandate as a Student Club is meeting the guidelines of the Sheridan Students Union (SSU).

Instagram Account

In 2018 our first new social media account set up was Instagram. This is a part of our VP of PR portfolio - a portfolio which is a part of leadership credits that each club execs earns when members elect them to the executive.

Ian became our VP of PR and his first two actions were to ensure we have up-to-date posters around the college and begin opening up new social media properties. At our club we distinguish between social media properties and information sites. This WIX page represents an information page to keep our club members informed of weekly meetings - the WIX Saturday page being specific to our weekend meeting.

Saturday Meetings Begin 17th March 2018

Ian has joined the executive at a most innovative time for the club. While the regular club meeting continues every Tuesday, we recognize that some students choose a student club because it is on the student club directory of the SSU and/or they saw the club the first time at the SSU Clubs Fair, where all Student Clubs gather to present and invite membership. That led to the formation of a more formal meeting day, which will now be on Saturday's and our first meeting on 17th March 2018, begins a new mandate to create a totally focused Toastmasters Club, in alliance with our clubs where Sheridan Students are members.

Ian's Learning Pathway

Toastmasters is for the Individual - so said the Founder Ralph Smedley some 90 years ago when the Toastmasters International network was established in California, USA

The pathway for each exec and club member is governed by the Learning Pathways of Toastmasters International. A total of 10 paths are offered, one of which is entirely based on Public Speaking and the other 9 with different degrees of leadership education. The role of VP of PR is an additional choice for a club member to learn how to market and engage in public relations activity as a club member. This is why we celebrate the opening of our new Instagram page - because it is a part of our educational mandate, far more than as a showcase of marketing skills.

Leadership Opportunities at Sheridan Bruins Toastmasters

The only position which has a term limit is the role of Toastmasters Club President. Toastmasters want members to view Toastmaster executive roles as a part of the Toastmasters leadership education program, and thus it accompanies a leadership credit when so elected. For Ian, it is an opportunity to develop his marketing skills, but also leadership skills because he can appoint staff to assist with his department. Our new Instagram account is found here https://www.instagram.com/SBOToastmasters/