How to President the RDG Way

2. President Roles & Responsibilities In-Depth

As president, you'll be playing a big role in coordinating others to assure the club's success. Here's a look at presidential duties.

• Setup monthly executive committee meetings
  
• Setup monthly one-on-one meetings with officers

Without ongoing communication with the other officers, their tasks tend to fall by the wayside and they feel uninspired. Confusion about who should be doing what by when spreads rapidly. Setup a calendar reminder for the top of the month to remind yourself to setup these important executive meetings. Make it clear that officers can come to you outside of these meetings for help and support, and let them know how.

• Coordinate with other officers to develop club goals
  
• VPE: Educational goals for each member
• VPM/PR: Membership building goals
• Treasurer: Budget
• Coordinate with each office to develop month-by-month plan to achieve Distinguished Club status
• Takes up or delegates absent roles/tasks 

Much of the month-by-month plans are already developed for you in this course, and the goals planning should be done at the start of the year with the club success plan. You should still review these plans and add or take away tasks as needed.

Note the last item: If officers aren't pulling their weight, their tasks fall to you. Maintain strong officers and committees so you don't get overwhelmed.

• Leads the club by promoting the Toastmasters values of Respect, Integrity, Service, & Excellence.
  
• Oversee plan to achieve Distinguished Club Program goals and ensure Club is a Distinguished Club. 

These tie into each other. Your activity (or lack thereof) can really set the tone for the club. One big example is as a presiding officer, if you open with energy and enthusiasm, you're going to have a vastly different meeting experience versus opening in a tired and non-committal way. If you're not engaging with your officers and your members and making it clear you expect them to engage in kind, expect the club to crumble.

• Encourage communication and leadership development through promotion of the educational awards (Pathways or otherwise).
  

If your club isn't having consistent advancement through the education program, your members are not getting the benefits of Toastmasters. Your VPE should be also championing this, but you should be recognizing progress every meeting.

• Ensures Club Officers meet Club Officer & Club Meeting standards.
  

If you have non-responsive officers, it's on you. If you have out of line officers, you need to act, and act quickly.

• Oversee administration & operation of Club in compliance with the Club Constitution and Bylaws.
  

Keep your club legit. Review your bylaws with your secretary online.

• Participates at District Council meetings. 
  
• Exercises vote at International Convention, or tenders proxy to District. 
  
• Attends the Area and District Council meetings. 

You have a say in higher level affairs of Toastmasters. Most of the time you'll file a proxy for the International Convention.