Last November, I declared my candidacy for Second Vice President of Toastmasters International, along with 7-8 other people.  This past February, the ILC (International Leadership Committee) reviewed all applications plus the results of the IOCS (International Officer Candidate Survey) sent out to top district and international leaders.

The ILC slated Mohammed Murad and Jim Kokocki.   The reasons for the ILC’s choices will never be known as its deliberations are secret.  That’s OK with me.

I was honored to receive the highest number of votes in the IOCS, and as a result, I decided in February to continue my campaign with a run from the floor.  A floor candidate won the contested officer position for each of the last two years, so we’ll just make it three consecutive years!  It does mean that:

• My name isn’t included on the TI web site where the candidates are listed.
• I am able to campaign like a nominated candidate (e.g., my web site and phone calls), including a one-time mailing next month to voters.
• I won’t be included in the pamphlet of candidates and their statements that will be handed out at the candidates’ showcase at the convention.
• I will have a table at the candidates corner at the convention.
• I will be in the candidates showcase at the convention.
• Someone will nominate me from the floor at the business meeting, instead of being part of the ILC report.
• Members who want to vote for me will need to write in my name on the ballot at the business meeting.

But this doesn’t explain WHY I’m running.  That really goes back to my PASSION for Toastmasters, and continuing to practice  and enhance my leadership skills.  This organization really does change people’s lives, and I’ve seen this first-hand, in myself and in other members.  We give people confidence to succeed, try something new, and not be afraid to fail (though of course, we help them succeed).

The leadership track has always been my stronger interest.  Of course, being a good leader requires being a good communicator as well, though not all good communicators are leaders.

I served as a club officer (VP-PR) in my first full year as a member, and as a club president and Area Governor in my second full year.  During that year, I also served as the district summer TLI dean, which I ran as a High Performance Leadership project.  For a few months, I was a CTM/AL (to use the old designations; this would now be called a CC/ALS).  I had completed the entire leadership education track before completing my first ATM (AC now).

I’ve worked my way through the organization leadership in a very direct way, without skipping any offices.  After AG, I was elected Division Governor, then served in all of the district trio offices. My home district was distinguished when I served as Lt. Gov’r Marketing and District Governor.

I then announced my candidacy for International Director (which is a year’s campaign itself), and served two years on the board.  Now I am running for Second Vice President, and that election will be next month.

I love helping our members succeed, whether it’s by mentoring a new member with their first speeches, serving on an Area Governor’s HPL advisory committee (hi Bill!), coaching a club, mentoring a district trio member, or helping another director with their board agenda item.

In my home region V, 5 out of 8 districts were distinguished both years that I served as a director.  Prior to those two years, the region had 5 distinguished districts only 3 times in 15 years.  The success continues … this year the region again has 5 distinguished districts.

Now I want to expand my wings even further, to serve the global organization as an international officer, and to help set and achieve the objectives that will further our mission of bringing the Toastmasters program to more people around the world.

We’re at an inflection point, a time of major change, starting with our new strategic plan (which I helped write), rebranding (which was initiated while I was on the board), and new district goals (the new Distinguished District Program starts in a year, another area where I contributed).

I’m not content to create meaningful plans.  I intend to be a part of helping to implement them, bringing them to fruition, and of course, fine-tuning and adjusting them.  I’ve received a lot of strong encouragement from many of my fellow leaders around the world (both board and district level), as reflected by the IOCS results.

Toastmasters has a clear purpose, one that I passionately believe in.  With passion and purpose, we will progress toward our goal of becoming THE premier and best-known organization for communications and leadership training in the world.

To convert this passion and purpose to progress, I ask for your vote for Second Vice President on August 20 in Las Vegas.