Toastmaster Officer Duties
- Toastmaster officers hold a number of responsibilities.business presentation #7 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
Individual chapters of Toastmasters International have their own officer structure, and individual duties vary. Despite these variances, chapter officers have some responsibilities that remain the same across the entire organization. From representing the chapter at conferences to recruiting new members and maintaining the budget, some positions place considerable demands on the individuals who fill them. - The president of a Toastmasters International chapter wields some power and carries considerable responsibility at meetings and within the larger organization. According to a description of the position posted by District 25 Toastmasters of Texas, a chapter president presides at meetings and guides the overall function and growth of the chapter. The president works with the executive committee and represents the chapter to the area council.
- Assisting the president's objective of growing the chapter, the vice president of membership recruits new members and ensures existing members remain satisfied. The vice president serves as chair of the chapter membership committee, and the officer may vote at area council meetings.
- One of the most critical positions in a Toastmasters chapter, the vice president of education plans club meetings. This officer encourages member participation and helps develop member skills. The vice president serves as chair of the education committee and typically organizes other committees. The vice president of education carries a vote at area and district council meetings, and the officer also assumes the role of president in the president's absence.
- The vice president of public relations represents the Toastmasters chapter to the community and interfaces with the media when needed. This officer writes articles for Toastmasters publications and maintains the chapter newsletter.
- The secretary for a Toastmasters chapter performs a number of clerical duties. The secretary takes and reads minutes at meetings, and must maintain a current membership roster at all times. The secretary holds the chapter's bylaws and governing documents, and the officer assists the president in reporting officer changes to the area council.
- The treasurer manages the organization's financial functions. In addition to setting and enforcing financial policies, the treasurer receives and processes payments from members. The treasurer must also pay the chapter's bills and report its financial status to the executive committee.
- Working in conjunction with the vice president, the sergeant at arms greets members at each function. The officer must make physical arrangements for chapter functions and, when necessary, prepare physical facilities for upcoming events. Between meetings, the sergeant at arms maintains security for the chapter's equipment.
