Apple Polishers Toastmasters Club No. 5018 has been pronounced “a Club of Leaders”, by Immediate Past District 26 Governor Alan Swartz at a recent club meeting. What characterizes a Club of Leaders? This Club of Leaders has enthusiastic members who step outside of the club environment to take on leadership challenges in the area, division, and district. Recently, 3 members of this club have been honored with District 26 recognition awards.

Apple Polishers Member and former Club Coach Michelle Chapman, DTM, was awarded the Division Governor of the Year for Foothills Division. Under Michelle’s leadership, Foothills Division achieved President's Distinguished Division status.  Michelle participated in demonstration meetings at Hindman Sanchez and Cloud 9 Clubs.  She set up area contest in Grand Junction and made visits to the clubs in Grand Junction and Montrose during a time when there was no Area Governor serving these clubs. Michelle sponsored highly rated speech contests and went beyond the call of duty in fulfilling her Division Governor responsibilities.

Apple Polishers member Ed Morgan, ACB, ALB was awarded the Area Governor of the Year FY2010 for serving as Foothills Area F6 Governor. As Area Governor, he led Area F6 to President’s Distinguished status, one of only two areas to achieve this status in 2010. He also participated in and helped plan three demonstration meetings for start-up clubs. Ed was active in organizing several speech contests, and assisted with logistics for the Denver Toastmasters Leadership Institute. Ed has also served as a new club mentor for the recently chartered Hindman Sanchez club, and is currently doing a High Performance Leadeship project (HPL) as Club Coach for the Mountain Toastmasters Club in Evergreen.

Apple Polishers member Linda Van Wert, CC, CL was awarded Foothills Division Toastmaster of the Year for FY2010. Linda accepted the Apple Polishers club nomination to serve as Vice President of Membership when she was herself a new member. She succeeded in growing the club’s membership. Linda helped lead a Speechcraft program at her employing company. She was the “food and beverage committee” for the Denver Toastmasters Leadership Institute. Linda helped organize and work at the Area and Division speech contests. Linda accepted the challenge of serving as Area F6 Governor for FY2011, where she organized and hosted a joint Area speech contest in the Fall of 2010.

Each member of the Apple Polishers Club serves in leadership roles at meetings, by using their Competent Leadership Manuals to put their meeting roles in the context of leadership development exercises. Experienced members are expected to mentor new members. Members at all levels of experience step forward to serve as club officers. Apple Polishers Club has three Distinguished Toastmasters (Norm Chichester, Larry Van Horn, and Michelle Chapman) who continue to model leadership by giving manual speeches and working through the Competent Communicator and other Advanced Manuals. Beyond a doubt, Apple Polishers is a “Club of Leaders”!