Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey, DTM, AS, PRA

It started with a question from our Toastmasters CEO Dan Rex, “Bob, have you ever considered becoming a Region Advisor?” My response, “No, what is it?”

So began my research into a role that would stretch me by allowing me to work with some of the most amazing leaders across Region 4 including District 64. I checked into it and the primary role of the Region Advisor is to train, coach, and nudge. “I could do that!”, I thought. The process started with a long detailed self-assessment and application followed by several interviews by TI staff and past Region Advisors before a phone call from incoming President, Lark Doley. The board had just voted to confirm her appointment of me as your 2018-2019 Region 4 Advisor.

Lots of training from TI staff, webinars by current and past Region Advisors and shadowing the current RA brought me to July 1 st . I was on my own without a net. Then the fun began. Prepping for two months to deliver training to our 2018-2019 District Leaders in Chicago, learning my role and occasionally stubbing my toe along the way. And the fun part of playing
catch and confirm with our District Leaders to set up and plan my District visits for the fall. They are extremely detailed and need to be pre-approved by TI staff as well as the International President. Whew!

Our time in Chicago started with a full day of rehearsals with fellow RAs, followed by two extremely full days of training and interaction with our new teams. And, of course enjoying the convention following our training sessions. Again, Whew!

The best part of my journey was working with my teams across the Region. Coaching, being a shoulder to cry on, an advisor, trainer and sometimes a nudge as we moved forward into our year together. Prepping for my District visits took on a life of its own as I prepared a series of presentations, training sessions, and getting ready for prospective club visits. Each of my visits was 4 to 5 days. I haven’t put this much into my homework since college… perhaps even less there… but it was worth it.

We even did promotional videos to stir up some interest in my forthcoming visit. One entailed me hitch hiking on a busy highway outside of Regina; another with me in Thecla’s bathroom with a back up team. Here is the one Lloyd and I co-created for my visit to D64 (https://youtu.be/UFCtvCK3DOE) . This generated quite a few laughs and some discussion and based on the comments during my visit some real interest in attending some of the events where I was speaking. Thanks Lloyd [Gwilliam]. WE did that for some of my other District visits with similar results.

Our international President, Lark Doley attended one of my zoom calls with my Region 4 leaders and got them to promise to work me hard when I came to their districts. And, they did! I was kept busy visiting struggling clubs, doing prospective club visits, corporate visits, speaking with District Executive Council members, Division gatherings, TLI’s and even a social outing or two. Along the way we saw some real interest in Toastmasters clubs being formed (followed by action and actual formation later) some of our struggling clubs get a shot of enthusiasm and move back into active status. Amazing!

I made some amazing friends along the way. We learned together. I shared my ideas with diverse groups across Canada and the USA. Mostly, I got to know our leaders and better understood how I could assist them as we worked through our challenges together.

I hosted monthly zoom calls with various leaders. Some as individual groups, (e.g. CGD, PQD, DD) some with all our Region leaders. I sat in on DEC calls, monthly District Leadership calls and meetings to learn, observe and answer questions along the way. Loved being able to see each person and to encourage them to cross pollinate ideas, share challenges and suggestions to overcome them, and in some cases just vent in a safe environment. I was pleased to facilitate that process as I believe, “All of us are smarter than one of us!”

Each month, at 7am MST on the 1 st Monday, all 19 Region Advisors gathered for a call to arms, to discuss challenges, changes, ideas from TI staff and International President, Lark Doley. This kept us focused and energized as we moved into each month. Lark was an amazing leader and
would find a way to share ideas and observations to inspire us each month.

Region 4 met along with our Region 1 leaders in Seattle, mid-January where your Region Advisors conducted more training, coaching and individual meetings with our respective teams. Again, your Region Advisors prepped for a couple of months to conduct the training. Whew!

Starting in April this year we began helping train our successors by doing webinars on various aspects of our roles, allowing them to sit in on our monthly calls and lots of emails and calls to discuss parts of the role, we were finally learning… just in time to pass it off to your new Advisors.

And, then July 1st we were retired…. Tired but for the most part fulfilled in dealing with the challenges, growth along the way and with some amazing stories and experiences with our new friends and fellow leaders.

Yes, being a Region Advisor took a lot of work, much more than I had originally expected and allocated for time. However, I grew along side my District Leaders and cherish the memories, the laughs, the shared tears and the challenges overcome.

In Denver, along with my fellow Region Advisors I was inducted into the Toastmasters Hall of Fame, at the 88th Toastmasters Convention, for my work with you. It was great to see so many of my teams there. I share that honour with you as you were the reason for that journey.

Please keep in touch and share your continued success and growth with me.

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Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey, AS, PRA is a 28-year veteran Toastmaster who lives in Egremont, AB and travels the world sharing his ideas.
Website: www.ideaman.net | Email: bhooey@mcsnet.ca