A weekly journal of Toastmasters International Philippines Driving lessons

Queen City Toastmasters Club

As soon as I reached the age when I could learn how to drive a car, my siblings encouraged me to get driving lessons. I immediately dismissed the thought. I knew that I was never going to be a good driver and I never wanted to learn how to drive, anyway. First, I enjoyed being a passenger. Second, I did not like being responsible for the safety of my passengers and that of the other drivers on the road.Third, I would rather run from point A to point B. That I hurled these excuses to refuse to learn how to drive was one thing that made my siblings (who were tired of driving me from point A to point B) go crazy.

Like all things in my life, I prefer taking the passenger seat. I prefer sitting and watching the scenery blur past me.And if I have more than ample travel time, I would rather lace up my running shoes. I enjoy taking the point of view of a runner on the road watching the oncoming traffic of motorists and pedestrians.

Early this year, I was confronted with this need to learn how to drive. There was no denying it. To accomplish that, I would have to take the necessary driving lessons and get the mandatory driver’s permit. Among other rituals, I would have to go through the unique rite of passage my siblings went through - drive a VW bug. No problem with that. This was my driving lesson. Or so I thought.

Last week, I was confronted with another concern. Members of my club campaigned for my presidency. They asked me to take the driver’s seat. It was something I never imagined I would have to do in my life. Most Toastmasters members took the challenge with enthusiasm. Not me. My fears crippled me from accepting the leadership role. And while I would like to think that I am knowledgeable of the club’s history than most members, I still refused to contribute my services to the club.

What am I driving at? (Pun intended.) Fellow Toastmasters, we have now come to that time of the TI year when club members are ready to elect new officers. I am talking about choosing a new set of drivers. The challenge of every club is this: To be able to recognize those new drivers who will lead the club; To work with the club’s drivers so that DCP goals will be met; To hone their leadership skills in the club so that they will be the future drivers of District 75.

So we need drivers who can lead with motivation and passion and who have a sense of direction and intention. Motivation is the fuel that drives people to join and become members of a Toastmasters club. Passion will certainly get members pumped up to attend meetings. A leader with a sense of direction will give the members the comfort that their ‘ride’ will be a great one, while accomplishing many club goals. And a leader with intention will make sure the efforts of every member in the club will be appreciated and recognized.We also need drivers with a vision. The term of the officers will only be for a year so these drivers must consider the future of the club (as far as the next five years). A whole TI year can either make or break a club and it is up to the drivers to steer clear from dead ends called dwindling membership, cancelled meetings, and zero club growth. Underlying all these is the mission of each and every driver to stay true to the Toastmasters promise.

I never really understood the beauty of being in the driver’s seat until I talked to a good friend. Being in the driver’s seat meant having the freedom to go anywhere. For these drivers who are ready to take leadership roles in the club, it gives them the opportunity to accomplish things that have never been done in their club’s history.

I can only look up to Toastmasters members who are ready to jump into opportunities like these. At the same time, I look up to the past leaders of my club, Queen City TMC. I am lucky that my club has had brilliant drivers in the past. I am lucky that I can learn from them, my ‘backseat drivers’.Those who assumed the role of the president and took the ‘driver’s seat’eventually became area, division and district officers. Only time can tell when I will assume that ‘driver’s seat’. And when I do,if I do, I can only wish that I will have the best driving lessons of my life. (FREEMAN)