New initiatives brewing!

Traditionally, the summer is a down time for Hungarians – but not so for the newly elected executive committee of Budapest Toastmasters!

A common desire to take the bull by the horns and get on with things seems to have overtaken these members and new initiatives are brewing.  Here we take the opportunity to review what has already been achieved in the short space of time, and what is on the horizon.

David Saddington – website engine of change!

David Saddington was elected to the newly created position of VP Information Technology.  David had already been working in advance of the election on a redesign of the Club website as his project for the Leadership Track.  His work has already come to rapid fruition, and this very website is designed by David Saddington! 

“David’s work on the new website is a classic example of synergy in action,” says VP Leadership Track, Peter Fekete.  “His work not only makes a huge contribution to the functionality of the Club, but also makes a crucial contribution to the progress of the Leadership training programme within the Club.”  David’s work began by identifying the strengths of the existing website and where there was need for change.  The excellent features of the existing website, and  particularly its ability to facilitate these very news broadcasts was retained, while new functionality, as a vehicle for communicating the benefits of the website to potential new members was enhanced.  “David worked in a particularly sensitive way to identify the needs of his clients and deliver a product that catered for all needs.”  We are very grateful to David for his work.

President, Andras Barath sets challenging targets

The Executive committee has already met twice since the election.  The second of these meetings was combined with an extensive officer training under the guidance of Area Governor, Klaus Hammer.  Klaus is not only Area Governor but newly elected President of the ever-expanding and dynamic Bratislava Club.  “If there is one Club to rival in the European region, then that is the Bratislava Club”, says Andras Barath.  The Bratislava Club narrowly beat our own Club in terms of new members over the past year by 58 to 53; however, they outperform us on gaining awards – competent communicators, Bronze, Silver, communication and leadership track! 

The friendly rivalry is a stimulus to both parties.  Andras, at the officer training set challenging targets for the coming six-month period.

VP Education, Anna Laszlo, has plenty to say about evaluation

There was a call from the very efficient and all-present VP Education, Anna Laszlo, for even higher standards with regard to the quality of evaluations.  She aims to form a sub-committee to look into ways to improving the standard to the evaluations.  The aim is to increase the loyalty and participation of more experienced members.  Joining with her is VP Mentoring, Bea Bince, who also seeks to improve the quality of the mentoring programme offered by the Club.

VP Membership, Balazs Kuzsel, undertakes a heroic task!

An impressive outcome of the meetings was Balazs Kuzsel’s decision to develop a spreadsheet database of the progress of all members within the Club.  This is a real case of leading from the front, for such work is not to be lightly undertaken, for it involves a good deal of routine administration, data input and motivating people to come up with information that has been lost. 

Balazs is also the Club’s representative at ExxonMobil, where he and his wife, Barbara Metz, have taken on a leadership role in introducing Toastmasters to fellow ExxonMobil employees.  They have already prepared a new and exciting video for the internal promotion of the Club, and together with ExxonMobil senior manager, Rana Razzaque, have vowed to promote the training programme of the Club to employees.  As an active first step a lunch time event is being planned.

Party! Party! Party!

The humorous and table topics contest in September looms.  Atis Szabó and Peter Fekete are teaming up to bring to you a bonanza event of great comedy and active participation.  “We hope to announce the details of the event shortly,” says VP Hospitality, Atis Szabó, "but we are expecting it to be a big one, with opportunities for partying and clubbing as well.  We hope to promote this event as a cultural one to the widest possible audience here in Budapest.”  Watch these reports for further developments!