The DCP improves club meetings and boosts enthusiasm
By Joe McCleskey
If you've been a member for more than a few months, chances are you've heard of the Distinguished Club Program, or DCP. You may also know that each year, clubs that perform well in the DCP are recognized for their efforts and can proudly display a Distinguished, Select Distinguished or President's Distinguished ribbon on their club banner. But what's in it for you, the individual member?
Here's why focusing on your club's performance in the DCP should matter to every Toastmasters member.
The DCP promotes club quality. A club that performs well in the DCP provides a higher-quality club experience for all of its members. Each aspect of the DCP, from membership to education awards to club officer training, is designed to enhance and reinforce the supportive atmosphere for each member, every time the club meets.
The DCP ensures productive meetings. Focusing on the educational goals of the DCP will keep members moving through the education program. When people earn communication and leadership awards, they gain much more than just a certificate or points toward the DCP; they gain the satisfaction and confidence that comes from completing a goal. They also provide an inspirational example for other club members, who can see the transformation that has occurred as a direct result of Toastmasters training. Other aspects of the DCP help keep meetings productive, too. Keeping club membership at or above 20, for example, will fill club meeting roles and maintain the energy level needed for a successful meeting.
The DCP provides structure and guidance. Clubs that perform well in the DCP always know who should be doing what and when they should be doing it. The club officer training requirements of the DCP, for example, help ensure that club business is conducted fairly, efficiently and in accordance with Toastmasters policy. Similarly, the educational goals of the DCP provide direction and incentive for all members to achieve individually as well as collectively.
The DCP increases the enthusiam of the club. The goal is not for clubs to compete against one another; its for all clubs to strive to achieve the same standards of excellence. Nonetheless, striving for achievement in the DCP program is a way to engage the spirit of friendly competition that can help motivate club members to perform their duties with gusto.
So remember: When you work hard to help your club achieve in the DCP, you're not only helping your club - you're helping yourself as well.
Joe McClesky is the Manager of Educational Development at Toastmasters World Headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
You can read this article from the Toastmaster International website. Or click HERE.
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