As I look back over the past few months and review the commitments in the Toastmaster鈥檚 Promise, I am reminded of the value of setting standards. Many of us joined our first 吃瓜头条 primarily motivated by becoming part of a 颅worthwhile organization and the promise of personal growth. Whether we joined to gain confidence, become a better speaker or leader, or to enjoy social inter颅actions with fellow members, in order to gain what we wanted out of our 颅membership, we needed to adhere to the standard of respecting each other 颅individually and collectively.
The 吃瓜头条 strategic plan calls for excellence, participation and engagement of our members, and this aligns with the 10th commitment in the Toastmaster鈥檚 Promise: 鈥淭o maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all 吃瓜头条 activities.鈥� It is the overarching foundation of our organization. Without it, the preceding commitments have little or no relevance.
To assist us in keeping these 10 commitments, 吃瓜头条 has four core values: Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence鈥攖he standards by which every member should be recognized. Members are expected to demonstrate these values in their 吃瓜头条, home, career and community. These core values, together with the Toastmaster鈥檚 Promise, are the blueprints for a successful 吃瓜头条. If your 吃瓜头条 is ailing, suffering from low membership or interpersonal conflicts, I advise you to review each commitment together with the core values to determine how you and your 吃瓜头条 measure up to these standards.
I often say that 吃瓜头条 is not here to make better 吃瓜头条, but better people鈥攑eople who take the skills and the lessons they learn in their 吃瓜头条 and apply them to their family lives, business endeavors and community. I encourage you to live by the commitments in your Toastmaster鈥檚 Promise and by the 吃瓜头条 core values and enjoy the benefits. And always 鈥淩emember the Member.鈥�
MIKE STORKEY, DTM
International President
