Patricia O’Reilly, DTM

Member Since: 2002
Home Region: 10
Home District: 71
Supporting Districts: 31, 45, 46, 53, 61, 65, 83, 119

Toastmasters offices held and terms of service (international, region and District level):

• 2021-2022 Region 9 Advisor
• 2019-2020 Immediate Past District Director
• 2018-2019 District Director
• 2017-2018 Program Quality Director
• 2016-2017 Club Growth Director

Toastmasters honors and recognition:

• 2017-2018 Excellence in Program Quality Award

What key factors are most important as a Region Advisor to help the District achieve success:

Building trusting relationships with the District leaders. Actively listening and asking relevant and searching follow-up questions. Always being up to date with changes in Policy and Protocol. Knowing all the resources available to District leaders that will help their Districts achieve success. For example, sending the District Directors a link to the District Strategies Guide which is a useful resource when completing the District Success Plan. Being mindful of the Club Growth Directors as they are mostly new to District leadership and need mentoring from the outset.

What key strengths do you bring to the District leaders?

My strengths would be good communications skills, effective listening skills, good facilitating skills when holding Region Advisor peer calls so that every member is encouraged to contribute to the call. I have good analytical skills and I can look back at a District's achievements and see the weaker areas where maybe that District could focus more attention and support. That could mean advising a District to focus on Pathways in terms of onboarding new members or up-skilling existing members or devising a strategy to get corporate clubs to attend club officer training or suggesting sessions on quality clubs at club officer training to help with member retention. My experience as a Club Growth Director means that I can advise on how to follow up on new club leads. I have very good knowledge in Pathways and still do a lot of educational sessions on Pathways in my home District. I have strong organizational skills and I remain calm under pressure, and I would argue that these are important strengths for a Region Advisor to have.

Why are you interested in serving as Region Advisor?

Serving as a Region Advisor has enhanced my leadership growth both inside Toastmasters and outside the organization. Supporting District leaders in their endeavors to achieve District goals has been both a learning experience and a growth experience for me. To be given the opportunity to serve again as a Region Advisor would be beneficial to any Districts that I would support as I would bring with me a full year's experience in the role. I love working with the District leaders in Region 9. This role is rewarding, re-energizing, and renewing and I would love to be given the opportunity to serve Toastmasters International, District leaders, and Districts for a second year as a Region Advisor.