Carpooling is smart when people are going to the same place at the same time from the same location, or in some cases coming from different locations. For attending Toastmasters activities, carpooling is not only convenient, but it can also be fun, economical and lead to great ideas.
Years ago, a few of my club members and I decided to attend Club Officer Training together. We live near the southern end of District 83. I volunteered to drive since one member didn’t like to drive at night and another did not like to drive to unfamiliar locations alone. She said, “It is all the way up in Old Bridge.” Personally, I thought that was a bit funny since I do not think of Old Bridge as a distant location from my house, but we carpooled and used the time to brainstorm ideas for our club and enjoyed the time together.
A few years ago, a fellow club member who lives in District 38, down in Ocean County, wanted to audition as a workshop presenter. Since the auditions were taking place in Rahway, we decided to carpool. I met her at the Park and Ride by Exit 109 on the Parkway. I expected to drive and chat a bit. I didn’t expect that we would have a good time, talking about the audition process and about our club.
The Cheesequake Rest Area is a popular spot for our carpool adventures. It was a great location for morning coffee and restrooms on our way to Rockaway to attend the Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI). One of our members lives in Ocean County, so he had to wake up at 4 am and drove/rode 100 miles each way to go to TLI. THAT is dedication. We generated many good ideas to bring back to the club and share with our home clubs.
Another time, four District officers in our club planned to attend the DEC (District Executive Committee) meeting in Denville. One person was preparing for an upcoming speech, so we listened to her ideas and provided feedback. Her speech was a success!
The three Area Directors were running for District Director positions, so we discussed elections and other people who were seeking to become Area Directors and how we could help them. This year (2017-2018) our club, Talk of Monmouth, has a strong contingent of District leaders including the Public Relations Manager, three Division Directors, two Area Directors, two past District Governors as well as several other past District officers.
When you plan to carpool, offer to chip in for gas or tolls if you are a passenger. If the driver says, “No, thank you,” you can always follow up with a thank you note and a small token of your appreciation, such as a gift card.
If practical, carpool to training, contests, the Hail and Farewell event, the DEC meetings, one-day conferences, and to visit other clubs, you may find you generate great ideas, help a fellow club member with a speech idea, and enhance your friendship with your carpool buddies.