Club Officer Training and District Executive Committee Meeting – December 2025
Building Strong Clubs Through Strong Leadership
Club Officer Round 2,Training Highlights
Strong clubs don’t happen by accident — they are built through capable leadership, shared learning, and connection. Our recent round of Club Officer Training brought officers together from across District 17 to sharpen skills, exchange ideas, and begin the Toastmasters year with confidence and clarity.
The District Trio — District Director Tom Bielski, Program Quality Director Maree Pickens, and Club Growth Director Desmond Miranda — set the scene by establishing a clear and motivating context for training at all officer levels. Delegates were entertained, informed, and inspired through a program designed to support officers in leading strong, sustainable clubs.
District Priorities & Leadership Insights
District Director Tom Bielski emphasised the symbiotic relationship between strong clubs and strong members. He outlined District goals and Key Performance Indicators, with a focus on club growth, membership growth, and maintaining quality club standards.
Club Growth Director Desmond Miranda shared updates on recently chartered clubs and those close to chartering.
- The City of Fremantle Toastmasters Club
- Sangam Tamil Toastmasters Club
- Technology Toastmasters
- Carpathian Toastmasters Club
He also introduced a new advanced Toastmasters club, Presentation Masters, designed for members wishing to focus on longer speeches.
Toastmasters interested in this initiative are encouraged to contact Desmond at:
📧 desmond.miranda@toastmastersd17.org
Program Quality Director Maree Pickens led officers through key Pathways updates. She also delivered a live demonstration on effectively using Base Camp Manager. Maree encouraged experienced Toastmasters to support struggling clubs by visiting, taking on extra roles, and progressing more quickly through Pathways — benefiting both individuals and clubs alike.
Inspiring Guest Speakers
Our guest speakers were a resounding success.
Bob Hooey (Canada), Toastmasters Accredited Speaker, challenged clubs to make every meeting a demonstration of excellence, reinforcing that high-quality meetings naturally attract and retain members.
Maggie Hakkou (Western Australia), Toastmaster and HR Consultant, presented on The Hidden Job Market, highlighting how Toastmasters develops confidence and communication skills that directly support job applications and interviews.
Focused Learning Through Breakout Sessions
Club officers attend training twice a year. In this round, officers who had attended earlier training were able to join role-specific breakout sessions. This targeted approach supported focused learning while respecting members’ time commitments. There are more opportunities in 2026 to attend; Choose dates and register here for round 2 officer training
Each breakout session explored realistic scenarios, encouraging discussion, shared problem-solving, and collective learning.
Learning From Each Other: Reflections from the Vice President Membership Breakout
By Robyn Richards, Outstanding Toastmaster of the Year
Club Officer Training is always a wonderful opportunity for officers to connect with others in the same role. Why is this important? Because if you’re facing a concern or challenge in your club, chances are someone else has faced it too. Training becomes a shared think tank — drawing on experience, ideas, and collective wisdom.
This year, I had the honour of facilitating the Vice President Membership breakout group. Having served in this role many times — including as Club Growth Director in 2012 — it was encouraging to see how much knowledge officers now bring to the role. At the same time, some challenges remain timeless!
Participants shared what they hoped to learn, explored expectations of the role, and worked through three realistic scenarios affecting different phases of club membership. By the end of the session, every attendee reported gaining new perspectives or practical ideas to take back to their club.
Final Thoughts
Every time I attend Club Officer Training, I leave with new insights and fresh perspectives. The learning is practical, the conversations are honest, and the camaraderie is phenomenal.
If you haven’t yet attended Club Officer Training — or even if you’re not currently a club officer — I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity in 2026. It is absolutely worth every moment.
District Executive Committee Meeting
Setting Direction for 2026
On Saturday 6 December 2025, District Officers 2025-2026 – Toastmasters International District 17 Western Australia convened for the District Executive Committee Meeting (DECM). The meeting provided an opportunity for meaningful discussion and strategic planning to support the District’s continued success.
The committee conducted an in-depth review of the District Budget, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to support clubs and members. This was followed by an evaluation of the District Success Plan, highlighting key initiatives and goals for the year ahead.
District Director Tom Bielski, Program Quality Director Maree Pickens, Club Growth Director Desmond Miranda, Finance Manager Kala Govindarajoo, Public Relations Manager, Ange Booker each presented reports from their respective portfolios. Division and Area Directors also shared updates, fostering collaboration and alignment across the District.
The next District Executive Committee Meeting is scheduled for April, 2026.
