President's Inaugural Address
2006-2007

Madam District Governor-elect, distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen and in particular Forum members.

It is a privilege to stand here as the elected president for the coming Toastmaster’s year, that is from July 2006 to June 2007. I thank you for the trust that you have placed in me to be the President of this esteemed club. Since we have the same title I can now rub shoulders with people like Thabo Mbeki and George Bush.

I pledge to do my best in the task that you have elected me to do, and that is to provide the leadership and guidance the club needs to continue to meet its standards and to be a Distinguished Club.

Of course I cannot do this on my own. I will need the assistance and support of the Executive Committee whom you have elected. Our responsibility is:

to make sure that the Club provides the positive, supportive environment the members need to fulfil their self-development goals;
to see to it that members participate in and benefit from the Toastmasters educational programme;
and to ensure that the Club actively recruits new members and, very importantly, retains current members.
The following members have been nominated and elected by the Club as club officers, who, together with Leon Botha, the now Immediate Past President, and I, make up what is generally referred to as the Executive Committee:

Sergeant at Arms – Rob Pittroff

Rob is a first time elected officer and relatively new member of the Club. He has already contributed to the Club, has ably assisted our previous Sergeant at Arms in his duties, and is well equipped to attend to these duties on his own.

Treasurer – Larry Pienaar

Larry is also a first time elected officer and relatively new member of the Club. Once Larry sets his mind on doing something, it gets done. He is a natural candidate to collect semi-annual dues and other outstanding moneys and I do not foresee any difficulties in this regard. The fact that he can also do sums is a bonus!

Secretary – Frederick Malleson

Frederick is by now a dedicated club officer and well acquainted with the operation and functions of the executive committee. It speaks volumes that he is still willing to serve as a club officer, notwithstanding his 24/7 commitment to his demanding family business.

Vice President Membership and Public Relations – Bruno Schostar

Not much can be said about Bruno, that hasn’t already been said of this pillar of the establishment! He has acted in every official Toastmasters capacity up to Area Governor and will be the stalwart to keep us on the right track. I really appreciate his willingness to once again become involved in the management of the Club.

Vice President Membership – Gareth Gregory

Forum Toastmasters will always be an interesting place while Gareth is a club officer or even a rank-and-file member. We all can but wait to see with what new ideas and initiatives he comes to light within the new year. Referring to his vast interest in music, it might be best not to elaborate on this point at this stage!!

Vice President Education – Lucian Strachan

Lucian is the only person I know of who has been president of a Club but not yet vice-president education. A task that I, quite honestly, am relieved to be rid of. The office of vice-president education is a daunting and exhausting task – but, let me add, also a highly rewarding one, given the interaction that it gives with every member of the club. However, with Lucian’s vast experience and commitment, even up to Division level, he will take this task in his stride especially within Forum Toastmasters.

Which brings me to the Club theme that I have adopted for the year: Commitment.

Now if you have a look at my Toastmasters career, I should be the last person to even mention this word. Having concluded my term as Vice-President Education, I long ago came to the conclusion that in my earlier years of membership, I must have been a vice-president education’s worst nightmare.

I joined Forum Toastmasters as far back as 1995. Only Will, Ian, Peter, Fritz, Bosman, Hansel, Rob Scarborough and Tony have a longer standing connection with this Club. My connection was, however, a let us say interrupted one. From July 1995 up to June 2003 (8 years) I completed the unbelievable total of 5 speeches. I was not involved, never mind committed as a member of Forum Toastmasters, and I attended meetings on an irregular basis.

But then, Herr Uwe Kahl came into power. Under false pretences and immense duress, he forced me to complete 5 speeches within a year, thereby obtaining the status of competent Toastmaster, and he of course, the status of President of a Distinguished Club.

You might be thinking that I am exaggerating, but let me take my last speech from the Communication and Leadership Programme as an example. I really was not up to it at that stage. I had a new job and believed I did not have the time for it. Yet I did not want to disappoint Uwe.

Then came the opportunity not to present my speech. I broke my foot while watching a rugby match – yes, WATCHING a rugby match! Due to time restrictions I will not elaborate on this. Bottom line is, I phoned Uwe from the hospital on the Wednesday afternoon, the day of the last meeting of his reign, and informed him that I would not be able to deliver my speech.

That afternoon I learnt the meaning of a cold-blooded person. He replied that he would arrange that I could deliver my speech at another Club in the course of the next week. Needless to say, I delivered my speech that same evening on crutches with my leg in a cast.

After obtaining my CTM status, I realized what it meant to be a Toastmaster and a member of Forum Toastmasters. I became involved and approximately a year ago, out of the blue I was asked whether I would be prepared to be the Vice-President Education. I could hear Uwe’s voice in the background and had to say yes. I have developed an immense respect for the members who are prepared to serve as club officers.

I also realized what a privilege it is to be a member of Forum Toastmasters. Although I had my work cut out to arrange programmes etc., the commitment of our members pulled me through, both the new members and the so-called buffaloes. Never did anyone back down from an allocated task. To be expected, some speeches did not proceed, but not without good notice and reason.

Gentlemen, that is why, although you have already shown it, my theme for the year is Commitment. I want you to be pigs. Not behaving like them, but to be committed, not only involved, like the pig in an English breakfast of bacon and eggs. The chicken is involved, but quite clearly the pig is committed. To make this a successful year, I want each and every member to become crispy bacon and, who knows, we might again receive an award as a Distinguished club.

In conclusion, I look forward to the new year, and with everyone’s co-operation and commitment I am sure we will once again have a successful year. And to Leon Botha, I look forward to your continued participation in our Club’s affairs. Remember – you are not the late president but the immediate past president.