President's Inaugural Address
2008-2009

The District Governor, Friends, Guest, Visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I wish to thank the Nomination Committee and members for bestowing me the honour of being the President of the club for the year 2008/2009. I joined the club through the Speech Craft programme that was run by Willem and Susan le Roux. As this was my first introduction to Toastmasters, I could have been forgiven for having thought that Toastmasters was about speaking only.

A few seasons ago when I joined Forum, I found that they were busy about all sorts of things mainly the “goals” for the club and speaking was part thereof. For their activities they had what appeared to be a score-card that reflected the progress made by the club on a fortnightly basis. There was also a requirement of a jacket and tie for members which initially irritated me but I soon discovered that the club not only developed one’s public speaking and leadership skills but also taught him life skills and groomed him to have style. Those were the good years I remember of Forum at the German Club.

Our peace and tranquility were rudely interrupted by the announcement that the building had been sold and we had to search for a new venue. I could not wait to leave that old building which was located in an area resembling a red light district. However, my happiness was short-lived as we moved from district to district looking for greener pastures like nomads. During this period, there was no talk of club goals as the concentration was to keep the body and soul of the club. Two seasons ago we settled at the present venue. Before we could get accustomed to it, we were told that it would not be available during certain periods. The result was that recruitment of new members was interfered with and members could not keep the momentum of completing their assignments. As a result, there were no club goals to talk of at the end of that year.

However, last year was different. Members showed individual growth by completing assignments and the club itself has grown, as is evidenced by goals acquired for new membership and completed assignments. For that, I wish to congratulate Nigel and his Executive Committee. In other words the present Committee and I are inheriting a running business that is showing profit.

The Future of the club

We are assuming office at a time when attending meetings could be a luxury because of the rising fuel prices. Nevertheless, we are confident that as long as we can concentrate on the needs of the members, we will be able to overcome this problem. After all, Forum has been able to outlive many side attractions such as Television, with soapies, realty TV and 24 hour news and entertainment broadcasting.

The strategy of the new committee will be focused on satisfying the needs of individual members. Satisfied members will be committed and participate in all aspects of the club and completing their assignments. Such members will most likely invite friends and this will mean growth of the club and eventually DCP goals.

I also wish to thank the Club for electing a balanced committee to run its affairs. The committee is mixture of new blood and experience. In my assessment our strengths are as follows:

• Andile Xaba, the Sergeant-at-Arms. From what I could see, he is an enthusiastic person eager to get on with the business.

• Raselepe Matlhoane- the Treasurer he has served in the previous committee as a Sergeant, a task he performed with diligence. I have no doubt that the club’s money will be in able hands.

• Gert van Eeden, the Secretary. Although new to the club he has shown such enthusiasm that within a very short time he had completed four to five speeches. He looks much organised and I am sure that he will be equal to the task.

• Etienne Marais, Vice President Public Relations; this is a wiz kid when it comes to websites and this has become an essential skill for the position. TMI does award some recognition for clubs who run websites at a particular level and we hope that we will receive that award this year.

• Ab Vonkeman, Vice president Membership, he is the most experienced member of the committee, having been a president of the club and an Area Committee member. I want to confess that half the time, I cannot hear what he says but the man has achieved a lot for the club.

• Rob Pittroff, the Vice President Education, is a man I have also known for some time and has remarkable energy and organising skills. When he first joined the club, I once expressed my fears to Willem Wolmarans, the then VPE, that if he is not stopped, he might burn out. This did not happen and he is still going strong.

It appears to me that I have not been give a team that will be great in drawing strategies, refining them, interrogating and extrapolating them, but a team that appears to be strong on action and accordingly our motto and our request is Just Do It. We will do whatever is necessary for the members and request them to “just do it” also. It is this kind of spontaneity that will bring fun in the club whilst we are growing.

Vuyani de Bees