One of the most understandable reasons why people leave Toastmasters is that they felt they accomplish what they wanted from the organization and no longer see a need to go further.  Perhaps by attending and participating in a few meetings they felt they conquered their fear of public speaking.  Perhaps getting a Competent Communicator, Advanced Communicator or Distinguished Toastmaster award is the pinnacle of their time with Toastmasters.

This question was something that I was asking myself in recent months.  After over 9 years in this organization, I’ve accomplished a whole lot more than I envisioned when I first started in 1999.  When I first joined TM I never thought I would get to be a club officer, then I never thought to be a Club President, then an Area and Division Governor.  Through my role as a District officer as well as other roles in District 30, I got to know plenty of people from all parts of the district, making many friends and learning a whole lot of how our organization works.  Getting District 30 Toastmaster of the Year was something I didn’t think I would ever reach as out of over 3000 members in the district, there had to be someone that accomplished more than I did in 2005.  And it was only around 2004 that I felt I could achieve my DTM and accomplished that two years later.  I felt I reached the pinnacle in Toastmasters to the point where I wasn’t sure there was anything else for me to do.

A lot of people over the years suggested that I should run for top 3 in District 30.  However in the last couple of years I was not happy with some of the people running District 30 and the direction they’re going to the point I vowed never to get involved with them again.  I also was not happy with the Arlington Heights club, single-handedly keeping the club alive two years ago and felt the pressure from other members to continue carrying the weight even though I was no longer the Club President or a VP.  It got to the point where I seriously considered dropping out of Toastmasters after this past June 30th, something that would shock many who knew me throughout the years.

After struggling with this choice I decided to remain involved. I felt I need to continue working on my speaking and leadership skills, taking advantage of attending my club meetings more to enhance my skills rather than to simply fill in the open spots.  I also realized that while I’ve had some major issues with some of the people running District 30, there are a lot more in the district that I like and would like to continue helping out.  Being someone who was deeply involved in District 30 over the years, I felt it was my duty to share plenty of knowledge and experience I learned over the years, with this blog being one way to express them.

However that would require me to continue changing what I can do and cannot do for Toastmasters, something that I already started at this time last year after finishing a 2nd term as Area Governor.  I already stopped attending District 30 events such as the conferences and the most recent Summer TLI, partly because there are people involved in these events I didn’t want to be associated with, but also having attended them throughout the years I was no longer willing to “go through the motions” and dealing with the same things over and over again.  The only way I could see myself attending these events is if someone in my clubs or who I hold dearly is competing in the contests or is getting an award such as their DTM ribbon.  I also want to set limits as to what I could do to help my two clubs as I’ll be willing to assist and mentor others but in a way in which the current club members don’t depend on me to pick up their slack or waiting for me to do something for them – which was a problem I saw at the Arlington Heights club this past year.  Instead of focusing on making sure everyone is doing their job and fixing their ways, something that I’ve been known to do, I want them to learn from their own doings.

For me to remain in Toastmasters, I had to change the way I’ve been doing things over the years otherwise not only I’d go past the end of the road, I’d be going over the cliff!  I felt that at this point in my Toastmasters journey I could still be involved in the organization, but only in the way that I want to, not have to.