Candidate’s Name:
Pearl Cadogan
Candidate’s Office:
Division H Director
Toastmasters member since:
2018
Education:
Registered General Nurse
Registered Orthopaedic Nurse
Minister of Religion (Diploma in Religious Studies)
Toastmasters offices held and terms of service:
Area Director (2023 to present)
Vice President Education (2022-2023), Sergeant at Arms (2022-2023)
Club President (2021-2022)
Vice President Membership (2020-2021)
Toastmasters honors and recognition:
Founding Member of Liberty Speakers
Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a District leader:
I have 36+ years of experience as a Registered nurse specialising in Orthopaedic Nursing and have expansive experience in Cancer Nursing. Collaboration and Care is the core of Nursing practice which is practiced using the nursing process in various forms, which entails Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning ,Implementation and Evaluation. With the above skills obtained from my nursing career ,I am able to use these to hone in all the skills that I now have from my Toastmasters journey. I will be able to combine the skills of Managing people, using my problem solving ,soft skills of leadership, managing problems and organisation. Serving as an area director in the past 8 months will also be an asset to my role as a District leader. During the last 8 months I have been able with collaboration to organise Club Officer Training and facilitate contests. I have also been able to meet a larger number of people within the Toastmasters Family and provide care, support and encouragement. This will help me in my district role as I will further develop as a person and a leader.
What experience do you have in strategic planning?
As a Minister of Religion, strategic planning plays a pivotal role in helping develop people within the faith based organisation ,who come from different walks of life and bring different experiences to bring out a common goal. In strategic planning I have been able to communicate the Vision to the team, whether its the Sunday school or the pastoral team, develop plans and the key is to keep it simple ,so that it can be implemented .With time management and planning ,then the implemented plan can be reviewed and implemented.
What experience do you have in the area of finance?
I manage my own finances .
I have been involved in setting up budgets as part of the Club Officers team at Toastmasters.
I have also been involved in fund raising efforts for the faith based organisation for our building fund and for various activities within the organisation.
I presently coordinate the payment and collection of funds(in collaboration with the Treasures and Club Officers) for the payment of venues for our contests. I have an Area Budget which will be used in the area for the business of the four clubs.
What experience do you have in developing procedures?
Nursing is a profession with established procedures so I am firm believer in developing processes in whatever one is involved in .During the pandemic ,we had to find a new way of doing Sunday School with the children. During the in person times it was sporadic and very poorly attended. As part of a team I helped spearhead an online Sunday School which meets for a half an hour every Sunday on the zoom platform. This process has doubled and tripled our attendance of this ministry. Also with their performance during pre covid times, it was often unplanned and not a success. Since being on line ,with proper guidelines ,we have 5 presentations per year at different times.
This is just proves that with proper procedures in place ,you can achieve more.
This is true in the toastmasters area ,we already have procedures in place, however within the clubs that I oversee presently, I have set up specific plans for each club for myself as an area director to help in achieving their specific goals.
What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?
it is imperative to lead by example.
Its important to delegate with responsibility as one person cannot do everything.
With delegation comes empowerment to the individuals that have been delegated to and then growth of individuals as an end product.
It is important to realise that I’m part of the team ,and that care of people is paramount and collaboration is the key to getting the tasks at hand done. it is important to serve with Humility.
Why do you want to serve as a District leader?
I have the talent, skills and expertise to help others be their best selves through my service.
I bring all the experience that I have obtained from being an area director and the several roles that Ive served in as a Toastmaster since 2020.At the heart of everything its about my service and care to others that will count. I would love to have a positive impact to my District members that I serve with and to the wider Toastmaster community.
In your opinion, what are the District mission’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?
The district mission is to build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence. To help in the district mission I am already in the position that is committed to fulfilling the district mission as an Area Director. Presently I am in a supportive role in my home club ,as we are down on membership ,in requesting for a coach, who is now in place .This has placed my home club in a winning position already by having the added support.
I’m in conversation with a church member who is keen to start a club at her work place, I wait in anticipation for the fruition of this. I’m also in conversation with the youth leader at our church ,to start a youth leadership program within the faith based organisation. I continue to support the clubs within my area to strive for excellence for the remainder of my post as the Area Director.
in my opinion I am working with the district already to achieve the goals of the district. In my role as a District Leader, I will have a wider sphere of influence to further promote the goals of the District in this role.
Additional information about yourself:
I am firstly a human being who loves others and love working with people. People are my passion, within the church community and within toastmasters, I empower others,t hen I am a mother, a sister, a friend and a wife.
I love to travel and every country I visit I find Toastmasters!
I presently volunteer at a social supermarket called The Pantry and was named the Ambassador of the month in January 2024. and featured in their monthly magazine.
I also serve at the Food Bank at the local church where we serve 35 to 40 people within the community who have no access to food. We also work in collaboration with another charity providing monthly visits to the homeless in Croydon, serving them meals, providing personal essentials, sleeping bags and warm clothes during winter. We also work with the local authority in trying to find accommodation for the homeless.
I serve with my husband at Toastmasters and in all the other activities which makes my journey twice as sweet.
Last Updated on 17th April 2024 by Nikita Parks