Monday, July 23, 2018

Interview with Jenny Zappone

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jenny Zappone who just finished her term as District 23 Director. Believe me, this was no easy feat! Jenny is still actively involved in the District and supports Division D as often as she can.

Jenny Zappone
2017-18 District 23 Director
Do you have one takeaway from your service in the trio?
Gosh, I have so many it is hard to single out just one. It is like trying to ask me to pick my favorite Johnny Cash song. My top three takeaways are 1) When you have a cohesive team that is bought into your mission, life is fantastic. 2) It is only hard work if you make it so 3)  I had a blast however I did not accomplish near what I wanted to.

Why do you think that you didn’t accomplish as much?
Because there is always something left on the plate. Toastmasters is wonderful at providing opportunities for leadership however one year does not seem near enough. Neither does three. However, focusing on just one goal, just one thing helps with feeling that I made a difference.

I heard you have a mantra – How did that come to be?
“We are a 5-star district and we exemplify a culture of excellence”! This evolved from a session at the Amarillo Conference with Donny Crandall. He was promoting a 5-star club. We all want to be part of something great. The culture of excellence originated with Natalie Waters: she was the one who created the culture of excellence in our district. I believe it is a motivating feeling to be part of something special. Everyone that I have come across in Toastmasters has been motivated by self-growth. That is why the excellence rings through. We don’t settle for mediocrity.

What growth did you experience during your time in office?
I get that question more often than I thought I would. I think it is people asking why would you want to do this? Being a leader of a non-profit organization has its challenges and rewards. I grew in how I communicated. We launched Pathways during my term. Promoting Pathways and providing a positive view of the new education program was very important to me. No matter what glitches we come across, focusing on the great parts of the new system makes for a smoother transition. My other area of growth was delegation. This is not always easy as everyone has different ways of accomplishing tasks. However, it is very important in saving your sanity.

Would you do it again?
In a heartbeat. Gaining this perspective has made me realize how important the member is. Toastmasters is my passion. I am more committed than ever. 

District 23 is home to 1400 Toastmasters and 101 clubs, all of whom are served by 40 district officers. More information about the District and Toastmasters is available at www.District23.org.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization's membership exceeds 352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org.

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