Club Building & Club Building & Membership BuildingMembership Building

District 78 District 78 Toastmasters Leadership InstituteToastmasters Leadership Institute

Monique Levesque-Pharoah. Region 4 Monique Levesque-Pharoah. Region 4 AdvisorAdvisor

Just as new members are vital to a club, new clubs are vital to Districts

Qualify to be a President’s Distinguished Area

Theory of Abundance

Why build Toastmasters clubs?Why build Toastmasters clubs?

Many Toastmasters join new clubs because this particular opportunity meets their needs:

•Perfect location/date/time•Their Toastmasters journey includes colleagues and friends learning at the same time• They would not have sought out Toastmasters otherwise

Why build Toastmasters clubs?Why build Toastmasters clubs?

Some unexpected benefitsSome unexpected benefits

Gain exposure of other industries

Chance to see an organization you might want to work for one day….

This might land you your next perfect career

Who do you Approach?Who do you Approach?

Your own company

Your community club

Your favorite charity

Your church

Companies/Associations/Chambers

Who Can We Approach?Who Can We Approach?

Time to Brainstorm!

Please circulate handout for this session

Syd McMurray chartered club in 1959

Thriving club with 20-30 members for many years

In the late 90’s things changed and in December 1999, we lost our charter member, Syd McMurray

Vital Words – A brief historyVital Words – A brief history

Do you have an Ugly Duckling Incident?

The Ugly Duckling IncidentThe Ugly Duckling Incident

Find out who’s on board and at what level Then.... meet the needs of your core

After the Ugly Ducking Incident...After the Ugly Ducking Incident...

Address burnout issues by: Spreading out the responsibilities

Developing an attendance plan

Hosting joint meetings

Truncating meetings, but never cancel a

meeting

Meeting the needs of your coreMeeting the needs of your core

What areas do your core members want to focus on?

Job Interview Skills Chairing a board meeting Giving feedback

Meeting the needs of your coreMeeting the needs of your core

Membership Building Membership Building Contests Club Coach Program Area Governor support Toastmaster magazine The Basics of Membership Retention Marketing Resources Speechcraft

Seek Advice, Direction and SupportSeek Advice, Direction and Support

Moments of Truth Finding New Members for your Club Evaluate to Motivate Closing the Sale Creating the Best Club Climate How to be a Distinguished Club Meeting Roles and Responsibilities Mentoring

Successful Club SeriesSuccessful Club Series

Moments of Truth is a great tool in assessing your club’s health.

What have you learned from the Moments of Truth?

What changes needed to happen?

Moments of TruthMoments of Truth

Why did your Toastmasters leave? Much like an exit interview in professional

organizations, ask them for their valuable input. Ask them to share with you the strengths of the

club so you know what to continue Ask them to also share their least favourite item

about the club or if they could have changed 1 thing, what would it be?

The Exit InterviewThe Exit Interview

Then incorporate their suggestions for growth and invite them back to evaluate your progress

Some examples include: Stronger evaluations needed – Evaluate to Motivate

Would have liked a mentor – Start a mentorship program

Meeting started too late or lasted too long – Start on time

Invite feedback from past membersInvite feedback from past members

24 Hour Presidential Challenge Backwards Meeting Academy Awards Night Halloween The Great Debate Other themed meetings Keeping members engaged Step up to the DEC

Vital Words Variety - The SuccessesVital Words Variety - The Successes

A few weeks prior to the event, Toastmasters let the President know which manual they are working from and sign up for the challenge knowing that they will only have 24 hours to prepare their speech

President determines a subject matter that best suits the Toastmaster & their manual

24 Hours before the event, he/she emails topics to each speaker

How to Run the 24 Hour Presidential Challenge How to Run the 24 Hour Presidential Challenge

It’s a great challenge for both experienced and new Toastmasters

If members don’ t know what to talk about, this is a great opportunity

It allows for emulation of potential real life events such as being asked to fill in for a work presentation a day before

Fosters an environment of trust and respect

24 Hour Presidential Challenge – The Benefits24 Hour Presidential Challenge – The Benefits

Do you want more creative themes? Simply go to www.brownielocks.com

Build your meetings around creative calendar observances such as: National Tooth Fairy Day, International Flirting Week, Extraterrestrial Visitor Day, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Texas Cowboy Poetry Week, Celebrate Your Name Week, Sherlock Holmes Weekend, True Confessions Day, April Fool`s Day, World Give Day etc.

Themed MeetingsThemed Meetings

Do a full meeting where every Toastmaster speaks in the third person Ken Boardrow, Division B Governor, District 19

Bring out the Improv, District 19 District Governor Mark Latta

Meetings Ideas from District 19Meetings Ideas from District 19

Keeping members engagedKeeping members engaged

Properly Induct them – Limerick, welcome card signed by members, Cake, pictures etc.

Share club history Introduction questionnaire Set them up with a Mentor

Keeping members engagedKeeping members engaged

Celebrate educational achievements/AnniversariesDTM Roast

Nominate your club members for District Awards

Invite them to go beyond the club

• Inform guests what Toastmasters is all about by providing a full overview once a month – Billie Sutherland

• Have a Table Topics and Potluck Meeting – Everything is a surprise – Mihri Mendis

• Don’t forget about Community Access programming – IPDG, Rochelle Williams

Ideas from District 78 Ideas from District 78

• Alternate between daytime/evening meetings to capture more members – Kim Smith

• Facebook advertising really worked for our club – Dan Chihos

• Take all meeting roles and pick them from a hat before the meeting – Larry Jacobson

Ideas from District 78Ideas from District 78

Are you a Toastmasters club that meets in

the mornings? What about advertising in local gyms and fitness facilities. Target the approach – You work out your body, what about working out your mind once a week with Toastmasters?

Get the Word Out in Unique WaysGet the Word Out in Unique Ways

Put bookmarks in the books that address the fear of public speaking in the bookstores and libraries near your club

Advertise the expertise of your members to draw a different audience

Get the Word Out in Unique WaysGet the Word Out in Unique Ways

“The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps — we must step up the stairs.”

— Vance Havner American Author & Spiritual Leader

What is your plan for success?What is your plan for success?