Married to Toastmasters: LGET

"Whenever I put on my LGET hat, I know that what I’m planning and what I’m hoping to do will shape our district and the experience that our members get."

Toastmaster elections are coming up, and it made me wonder what being LGET is like.  Fortunately for me, my very first Toastmasters mentor was Jenilee Taylor, who happens to be District 10's Lt. Governor Education and Training. She was kind enough to take some time to talk with me on the table.

Kim Krajci: We’re talking to Jenilee Grabenhorst Taylor, the LGET of District 10. Hi, Jenilee.  It’s good to talk to you again.

Jenilee Taylor:  Hi, Kim.  It’s been a while.

KK:  I know.  Hey, you’re Lt. Governor of Education and Training. How’s that feel?

JT: Goodness, how does it feel?  That’s a really good question. I take my position as Lt. Governor of Education and Training the same way I look at my fulltime job. When I walk into the door of my hotel, I know that I have the livelihood of 50 of my employees in my hand.  What I do on a day to day basis affects them directly.  I feel the same way about our district.  Whenever I put on my LGET hat, I know that what I’m planning and what I’m hoping to do will shape our district and the experience that our members get.

KK:  You were nominated from the floor.  Do you think that was different kind of feeling than when you’ve gone through the nominating process?

JT:  It is.  The fact that someone who is there feels that you’ll do a good job and they’re willing to say that in front of the large room of voting members, takes on a bit of different feeling.  I looked at the people at my table when I was nominated and the faces smiling back at me kind of gave me the courage to accept the nomination.  Longtime member Frank Hirt, he looked at me and just smiled and said, “We need you.” And how can you say “no” to Frank Hirt?

KK:  I don’t know, I’ve never had to say “no” to Frank.

JT:  I don’t think anyone has.

KK: You’ve been through your first six months.  You’ve had your first conference.  You’ve done TLI.  What was the biggest challenge so far?

JT: Knowing that not everyone is going to be happy one hundred percent of the time with you.

KK:  NO!

JT:  I know, it’s shocking!  I’m not used to that!  There will always be something, even if it’s yourself, that you know could have done differently, or you could have done better. And being in a position that you are helping to lead a district of about 100 clubs, there will be some other individuals that will feel the same, that you could have done differently or you could have done a little bit better.  So coming to that realization has probably been the most difficult.

KK: You’re on the down stretch. We’re doing nominations now.  I’m on the nominating committee.  Does it make you think you’ve got a lot to do before you’re done?

JT:  Absolutely.

KK:  Do you have goals you haven’t reached yet?

JT: There are so many things you want to do in the short time you have a position.  That’s why, when my home club suggested we go to six month terms for club officers, I panicked.  It takes me the first six months to really get into the groove of something, and by that point, you’d be done.  So with a full year, you get into your stride and you really work on achieving those goals.   I think our main goal for the rest of the year is just helping to make District 10 be Distinguished.

KK:  What’s the hardest part of your job?

JT:  Not taking myself too seriously.  Knowing that it is a growing process and knowing everyone is growing and learning in what they’re doing everyday, and knowing that I am not perfect, is really the most difficult.

KK: What’s the best part of the job?