Youth Leadership: Dare to Make a Difference!

by Valerie Clymer

Valerie Clymer

As the chairperson for the District 84 Youth Leadership Program, my first goal is to make every Club in our District aware that we have a Youth Leadership program and the benefits it can have on the children in their communities. I would like to let my fellow Toastmasters know that the Youth Leadership Program can be used towards their DTM.

Second, I would like to see Toastmasters International recognize the Youth Leadership Program and add it to more of their marketing materials.

Third, I hope to see the Youth Leadership Program in 50 schools before the end of the 2011/2012 school year. Here in Flagler County we are off to a good start; we are scheduled to be in 5 schools. That leaves only 45 more to go.

What can Toastmasters can gain from the Youth Leadership Program? One benefit is that the Students who participate may become future Toastmasters. Furthermore, if their parents see what the Youth Leadership Program has done for their children, they may be interested to see what Toastmasters can do for them.

I cannot do all of this alone, so I have a Committee, and we are building an Army of Volunteers to go out into their Communities to see how they can bring the Youth Leadership Program into schools near them.

I currently have the Committee working on contacting each County to find out what the rules are for Volunteering in the School District, because some schools require background checks and some do not. Some background checks are done on the spot and some can take several weeks. We are putting a list of requirements together to help
the Toastmasters that want to participate in the Youth Leadership Program know what is expected from the School District.

We are working on marketing materials and a YouTube video to get the word out to our fellow Toastmasters.

My first suggestion to any Toastmaster that is interested in the Youth Leadership Program is to order the Coordinators Guide and Participant Guide, look thru them, and see how easy Toastmasters has made this program to administer.

Next, find a Teacher that you would like to work with.

Let the Teacher know the benefits of this program:

• The students elect a Slate of Officers to run the meetings;
• The students not only learn how to give a speech, but they also learn what goes
• into a good speech.
• We show them how to organize the speech, and we teach them about vocal
• variety and body language to help get their point across.
• Students learn about impromptu speaking, which can help them if they are
• standing before a judge in a contest who is asking them questions. Impromptu
• speaking skills also helps with giving answers in class, because it teaches them to get to their point quicker.
• They learn how to evaluate each other using the Sandwich method : start with
• something positive, indicate something that can be improved upon, and end with
• something positive.
• They learn how to be better listeners.
• We even touch on Parliamentary Procedures.

Third, I highly recommend having the Teacher come to a Toastmasters meeting.

Fourth, meet with the Teacher to see if they have any particular concerns or ideas to help us all succeed. Know the age of the students, as High School Students may run thru the program quicker than 5th graders. Do you have an advanced class or a remedial class or a mixture? Your planning will differ accordingly.

Having this information can help you to plan your 8 Sessions.

Finally, HAVE FUN DOING IT!

Last year I started this program in one classroom with one teacher. We then took it to Tallahassee to introduce it to other schools throughout the State.

I had the pleasure of watching former wallflowers become confident speakers. Additionally, I watched the Chatty Kathys learn to organize their thoughts and use fewer words to get their point across.

One of our greatest accomplishments last year was when the students participated in the Future Problem Solvers Bowl. They had to do a project, and then explain that project. The finalists had to appear before a panel of judges and answer questions.

These Youth Leadership Program students placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd here in the State of Florida. The Teacher swears that the reason for their tremendous success was their speaking abilities; those skills put them over the top.

Over the summer these students represented the State of Florida at the International Future Problem Solvers Bowl, where they met students from all over the World.

Imagine what a little of your time can do to help the students of your community.

If we all work together, we can make a difference in the lives of young people across District 84. Watch for more details about the Youth Leadership Program, and contact me if you have questions, or if you would like to participate!