Organising Voting For A New Committee at Harrovian Speakers Club

President Seema, left, presents award to Angela Lansbury, right.

How and Why I Volunteered
1 I asked for a role in order to complete my Competent Leader manual and President Seema of Harrovians said I could Chair (organise) the Committee Election/Contest.
2 President picks meeting date, last one before handover, and allocates ten minutes in a busy programme of four speeches.
3 I am already down that day to do timer. I mistakenly think I can do both roles.

Organising the voting in of the new committee involved more than standing up and saying one sentence of introduction. A week of emails, each day a query from me to the president or from the president to me, and three replies, and a conclusion; each day involving up to half a dozen people with all the committee or all the members copied at each stage or at the end.

1 I list the committee posts and current holders.
2 I ask exiting post holders if they wanted to stay on? One wants to switch roles. I ask all if they want to switch to a new role?
3 I find out which posts had no takers so that anybody wanting to be on the committee could be asked if they would take the vacant role.
4 I tell current committee members we are obliged to advertise all posts to all.
5 I email all members to ask for volunteers to fill all vacant roles or all taken roles. Follow up email to all members asking if they were interested in joining committee, either taking on a vacant role, competing for a position, or being a helper.

Paperwork and Props
6 President asks me if I need any props, paperwork such as ballot paper.
7 I ask for a flip chart; then decide a projected list of candidates on screen would look more professional. I decide in case the computer fails I still need a back up of flip chart. I express doubt whether I can print the ballot papers or slide and ask if the President or VPE or another committee members can help. President says they are all busy and I should email everybody.
8 I email all members asking for help.

Martina (left)

9 Martina, a relatively new member who I would not have thought of asking, volunteers to do both essential tasks, print ballot papers and make a slide.

10 Assorted emails between us about whether we need ballot slips for all candidates - no just those posts where we have to vote for two.
11 On second thoughts must list all posts in case two new people pop on the night, standing for a vacant post, or an extra candidate from the floor stands for a post which already has a mandate.
12 President asks if I would like to announce candidates and speak at start of meeting, then re-appear at end with results.
Debate about where in the programme the Checking whether we needed to allow time for competing candidates Emailing date of committee contest date to all and asking VPE to allow time.

Angela Lansbury, CL, ACG.

How Should You Dress For A Public Meeting - Smart or Casual?

I usually dress up for speakers' meetings. We often take photos of ourselves or others. Even if not on the programme, you are in the audience in a group photo. You win a table topic. The group wants a group photo. A photo of somebody else, such as a VIP being photographed by a newspaper photographer, shows you in the background.

You might not even notice yourself being photographed. At a meeting somebody might take a selfie of themselves alone or with their family and friends and accidentally catch you on the edge of the picture.

Whenever I forget or decide I'm too busy, or I'll change later in the day, it is a mistake. I end up missing an opportunity to show myself at my best and reflect well on the club.

 I was sitting at home not very smartly dressed at breakfast, nobody to see me I thought, when a member of the family decided to try out the focus on their camera and took some pictures of me. If I'd been wearing a new outfit I could have asked them to keep the photo. I risk them forgetting to delete the photo.

So my new year's resolution, dress every day/meeting right from the moment you get up as if your photo will appear in a national newspaper and online worldwide. Even when you are alone, you could be photographed. Some people tape over the camera on their laptop because hackers can log in remotely and take photos of you - as you scowl at mistakes, yawn, or sit in your dressing gown.

Make sure if you were photographed now, you would show your clothes, posture and smile to reflect well on yourself, those with you, and every organisation with which you are connected.