role of Sergeant-at-Arms at Cap 1.....

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Jim Chamberlin

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Jun 10, 2011, 3:44:52 PM6/10/11
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Hi, Fellow Officers of Capital Toastmasters 1,

As I finish two years of serving as the Sergeant-at-Arms at Capital Toastmasters 1, here are some notes on the responsibilities of the job, and how I've approached them.  I've prepared this so that you could pass it on to those who might be willing to serve the club in this position.  There's no "right way" to do this stuff, and each SAA will find their own solutions, but I hope this will be helpful background.  A lot of the things I've listed here are common sense.  Rather than overwhelm a prospective SAA, you might initially just summarize the job, and then provide this background after they say YES!

I've broken it down into:
1.  Confirm meeting room
2.  Arrange for the food
3.  Prepare nameplates
4.  Set up and take down the room
5.  Duties at special meetings
6.  Attendance at TLI

Here are the details:

1.  Confirm Meeting Room

Along with the club president, work with Anne Nicholas, at the American Bar Association to make sure that we are scheduled for use of the John Marshall Room for the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Tuesdays of every month.  Anne is currently an inactive member of the club, but hopes to attend meetings as her responsibilities allow.
Her email is   Anne.N...@americanbar.org.   Her telephone numbers are  202-662-8648 (work-direct),  202-662-8670 (work-department), 202-746-0866 (cell).  If there's a cancelled meeting, for whatever reason, be sure to let Anne know, so they are not expecting us to walk through the door.

We are guests at ABA, and are recipients of the organization's hospitality and sponsorship.  If any conflicts come up regarding the use of the room, the ABA is always right and we need to be the one to work around what's available.  Anne has been very conscientious, but some glitches are inevitable.  Please keep your eyes and ears open for additional staff at ABA who might like to join Cap 1, because that would solidify our use of their board room. 

If things are needed during a meeting, it's best if you as SAA make the request yourself rather than asking someone else to "see if you can find some (whatever)".  The ABA likes to deal with just one person, and that way you are sure that we remain courteous at all times.  Remember we were ingloriously thrown out of our last venue, because someone (who knows who!) represented the club and were perceived as rude by the staff they encountered. 

2.  Arrange for the Food

For most of the last two years, I've been using Potbelly.  I've been using two of their franchises:

17th and L Streets (1660 L Street, NW), phone  202-463-8111,  Manager is Frank.
I've been using this one most of the time, because it is between my apartment and the meeting, so I pick up the sandwiches on the way to the club.  Since they are 7 blocks away from the ABA, I don't think they would deliver to our club.

14th and New York Ave, (718 14th Street, NW), phone 202-628-9500,  Assistant Manager is Kristin.
This one is closer to the ABA, but not on my way.  It's two blocks away, and sometimes I've used them when 17th and L couldn't take my order, or if I couldn't personally pick up the order. 

It's best to place your order on Monday, the day before the meeting.  Sometimes if you wait to order until the day of the meeting, they will have taken other orders and will be so busy that they will decline to take your order.  In a pinch, use your head and find another Potbelly that is willing to take your order (and deliver) at www.potbelly.com, or call another restaurant. 

The incoming SAA will probably want to use the 14th & New York Potbelly, and have them deliver the food, for a slight charge.  When you call to place your order, you'll be asked for your name, organization (you can say Toastmasters at American Bar Association), delivery adddress (740 15th Street, NW, 9th floor), delivery time (11:30 AM), credit card, and your cell phone.  The club has a credit card account that you can get from the Treasurer.

Our standard order with Potbelly is the following:
                              
wrecks (combo's)        3  whole wheat          0  white
roast beef                     2  whole wheat          1  white
tuna                               2   whole wheat         1  white
turkey                            2   whole wheat         1  white
ham                               2   whole wheat         1  white
vegetarian                     3  whole wheat          0  white
chicken salad               2   whole wheat         0  white
Total                              16                      plus  4       equals  20 total

I usually get two sleeves of their mini chocolate chip cookies also.

They supply condiments, napkins, and paper plates.

In addition to the food from Potbelly, I bring the following: 
drinks,  usually cans of coke,  diet coke,   sprite,   ginger ale,  
   and individual boxes of fruit juices
potato chips
jelly beans
extra paper plates   and   napkins
I usually get these supplies from CVS, although sometimes I find a sale and stock up for several meetings.
I bring the extra supplies in a box on a handcart, and take them away after each meeting, minimizing our footprint at ABA.

I've usually been paying cash and then getting reimbursed by the club Treasurer.  I  expect that the incoming SAA will want to pay Potbelly with the club credit card and only be reimbursed for food and other supplies that are carried in.  If you order and have it delivered, make sure you are there to sign for it, or that you've notified the receptionist that food will be delivered into the Board Room.

3.  Prepare Nameplates

The VP-Membership has been serving as the gatekeeper for guests who want to visit Cap 1.  Usually every Friday before the meeting she has been alerting the other officers regarding who is expected.  She also includes Anne Nicholas, who gives a master list of who is expected to the guard downstairs.

With that information, I prepare nameplates for all guests, as well as all members. 

I keep this as a Word document and add too it for every meeting, printing out the new names needed and taping them to both front and back of tent signs (regular file folders, cut 4 inches by 8 inches, with the fold intact).  I bring the new nameplates to each meeting.  I'll be happy to turn over the document to the new SAA when he/she takes over.

(An aside on nameplates.  These are a big hit with visitors.  They are amazed that the club is organized to the point of anticipating their visit and having personalized nameplates ready for them.  It helps them to see themselves as a member.  The nameplates are helpful to members and guests alike to navigate that awkward moment when you want to call on someone but don't know or remember their name.)

4.  Setting Up and Taking Down the Room

Usually, I arrive at ABA at 11:30.  Be friendly and upbeat with the security officer at the front door, and to the receptionist just off the elevator.  They are the first people that our members encounter and they have been welcoming and directing arrivals for us for a year and a half. 

Arriving early gives plenty of time to prepare for the meeting.  The first thing is to make sure the tables are set out correctly, and that there are at least two tables at the back of the room for the food.

The arrangement that has evolved to be the most efficient is 3 tables at the head and foot of the room and 4 tables along each side.  I tuck the 2 side flanks inside the head and foot by about 18 inches, to allow extra space for folks to walk up to the lectern and back.  I remove the 2 chairs from the table where the lectern rests, so the speaker can get close to the lectern.  I also remove the chair from the table closest to the door, so that folks have ready access to the nameplates as they enter.
I put my own tent card next to the name for strategic purposes.

Anne Nicholas is seldom there herself, but she leaves the lectern, our box of supplies, and the accordion file for the nameplates.  I set up the lectern and put the gavel, stop watch and time signals next to it, put the accordion file on the table closest to the door (and put in the new ones just made), and put the box on the rear shelf that's on the rear side wall. 

The food needs to be unpacked and set out on the table in the rear.  Plates are closest to the door, then sandwiches (still in the box, but with lids lifted because the lid contains information about what sandwiches are in the box), condiments (with their lids removed and knives/forks inserted), potato chips, drinks, cups, ice, and desserts (cookies and jelly beans). 

Often times members are available and willing to help you set up the food, or pass out the evaluation forms.  C.J. LaClair, Cara Jablon, and others have been very helpful to me, but don't hesitate to ask anyone for help in setting up.  Sometimes either the food will be late, or the room itself is not available until the last minute, and you will need to activate several helpers to set up the room as quickly as possible.

For the ice, sometimes Anne brings it in.  But be prepared to get it yourself.  You can usually get a container from the cupboard in the kitchen area right outside the meeting room.  To get to the ice machine, walk down the hall to the right as you leave the meeting room, then turn left and continue down the hall to the far corner, where there is a door to a snack area.  There is an ice machine, and sometimes their is additional ice in the freezer section of the refrigerator.

Evaluation forms are usually in the box.  Put them out at every place at the table, with one for each of the prepared speakers.  Make sure that you always have enough, and figure that you go through 80 per meeting.  When the TMOD arrives, you can help by distributing the agenda for the meeting to all places.

As members and guests arrive, it is part of your role to welcome them, and make sure they have their nameplates.  Have some blank tent signs and a black marker to make nameplates for unexpected guests, and for members who may have taken their nameplates home with them after the last meeting.  Direct them to the food, and tell them they can sit anywhere.  Since you're usually still busy setting up, introduce visitors to members, preferably to an officer or to someone giving a prepared speech today, so that they can get a feel for the club and ask any questions.  

Lately I've had a supply of factsheets with Frequently Asked Questions about our club, and also had a supply of Toastmaster Magazines to give to guests.  Carol Wayman has prepared a binder with the evaluation forms for each of the ten speeches in the Competent Communicator binder.  That's also in the box that stays at ABA. 

After the meeting starts, be prepared to welcome latecomers, but quietly.  Don't be hesitant to walk around to make sure everyone has their nameplates, even if you have to go over and whisper to get their names.  It's a slight interruption, but for a good cause.

At the end of the meeting, you can point guests to other officers who can answer their questions about joining.  I suggest that you try to enlist the help of others as you take down the room.  The tables need to be not just cleared but spotless.  Again, remember that we are guests, and these tables are constantly used for meetings.  Plates and napkins are put in the garbage.  Cans are put in the recycle boxes.  I make sure the floor is spotless as well.  If any of the speakers have used the blackboard, be sure to erase it.

If there are any sandwiches left over, I usually take them home, along with the residual potato chips, drinks, and cookies.  The potato chips and drinks will live for another day.  Usually the leftover sandwich and cookies don't see another sunrise.

I put all the nameplates away in the file in front of their letter of their last name.  But then I go through the entire accordion file.  I do this because invariably I find nameplates that have been misfiled by the person who just returned them to the file, or nameplates that have been stained by mustard.  If I've had to make a nameplate for a guest with the marker, I'll pull those and make a new one for them before the next meeting.

I leave the lectern, the accordion file, and the supply box on a table next to the door, so that Anne Nicholas can easily pick them up later in the afternoon.  I turn the lights out and close the door.  I'm usually there for 30 minutes after the meeting

As far as feedback from the members and guests, very seldom have I gotten any formal feedback.  The feedback that we are doing a great job is the fact that many visitors are so impressed they join immediately, and the club is thriving with over 40 members currently listed on the T.I. website.  Twice I heard from members who wanted more vegetarian sandwiches, and so I upped that type of sandwich to 3.  Sometimes members want to take food with them at the end.  I say sure, unless it's something like soda that I'd otherwise bring back for a future meeting.

5.  Duties at Special Meetings

Twice a year the club holds special meetings for the club contests.  In the Spring there is the International Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest.  In the Fall there is the Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest.   The Sergeant-at-Arms has a specific role at each of these contests.  For the Evaluation Contest the SAA takes all contestants out of the room after the sample speech, and then brings each contestant back into the room when it is their turn.  Same for the Table Topics Contest.   If the regular SAA can't be there for these contest meetings, someone else can easily be recruited for those purposes.

The room we use has good technical capabilities.  Wide screen TV, projector, etc.  To date we haven't used any of these potential speech aids.  If anyone wants to use these in their speech, I suggest referring the request to either the VP-Education or President to make arrangements with ABA folks and set it up.  You'll have your hands full with the basics of the room set up, food, nameplates, etc.

If you as the Cap 1 SAA are involved in the Area 32 Contests, they've been held at Carol Wayman's office at 1200 G Street.  The Potbelly I've used for that contest is at the corner of 11th and F Streets, NW, and the phone is 202-347-7100.

6.  Attendance at Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI)

As a club officer, the SAA is obliged to attend both the summer and winter TLI's.  This is an opportunity to gain more insight into the responsibilities of your office, have any questions answered, and network with colleagues who share your responsibilities at other clubs.  The training for SAA is a 2-hour class, and there are usually at least 5 TLI's to choose from at each season.  Usually in addition to the officer classes, there are several electives to choose from of a more general interest as you become a better public speaker.  For more information look for the dates of upcoming TLI's on the District 36 website (www.district36.org).   You can also attend the TLI's in other jurisdictions (such as Northern Virginia or Baltimore).  There are links on the District 36 website.

Oh, Yeah!  And it helps a lot if you........

BE A CHEERFUL AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER!

This is true for all officer positions, but as SAA, you're often the first person that folks meet when they come through the door.  I always tell people that this is their lucky day, because they've just walked in on the best Toastmasters Club in DC!

If you have questions, my email is chamberl...@yahoo.com, and my cell is 202-375-4204.

Jim Chamberlin

Elisabeth Frost

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Jun 14, 2011, 2:48:36 PM6/14/11
to officers-cap...@googlegroups.com
Hi, Jim,

Thanks for providing this information. I've passed it on to Sunita. I cautioned her not to be overwhelmed and told her we're here to help answer any questions and to provide support.

Elisabeth

Jim Chamberlin

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Jun 14, 2011, 2:53:33 PM6/14/11
to officers-cap...@googlegroups.com
Hi, Elisabeth,

Thanks.

Jim


From: Elisabeth Frost <elisabe...@gmail.com>
To: officers-cap...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 2:48:36 PM
Subject: Re: role of Sergeant-at-Arms at Cap 1.....
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