Rebuilding Toastmaster Clubs Club Coaching Workshop Jim Heeren, DTM Region Advisor dgov45@aol.com 703-220-0420 (m) 703-791-3547 (h) January 28, 2011

Mission of the Club The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

Vision Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.

A Toastmaster’s Promise As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise . . . To attend club meetings regularly; To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication manual, Advanced Communication manuals or Competent Leadership manual; To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments; To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations; To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow; To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so; To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy; To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers; To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs; To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities. Being a Toastmaster means more than simply making a commitment to self-development. Everyone who joins a Toastmasters club is making a commitment to the club, to its members, and to the organization as a whole.

Request a Club Coach from the District A member that is appointed by the District Governor or Lt Governor Marketing Knowledge of Toastmaster programs Provides guidance to club Term of office

What skills, abilities and qualities should you bring? Enthusiasm Knowledge of Toastmasters Keen interest in helping other Toastmasters Leadership Your testimonial speech A plan to get the club back on track?

Attend meetings and club executive meetings. Listen Learn Observe Demonstrate Persuade Get Commitment! Motivate Team Build

Introducing the Coach to the Club Club welcomes the support Explain the role of the coach to the club and set expectations District leadership can make the introduction as well as the coach The Testimonial Speech

Developing a 3 Month Plan for Club Success Club Assessment Improve the Club Meetings Marketing Holding an Open House Finding and Establishing Partnerships Provide a Service to capture new members

Characteristics of Successful Clubs

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training Members and officers are committed

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training Members and officers are committed Club executive meets monthly

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training Members and officers are committed Club executive meets monthly Guests are welcomed and recognized

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training Members and officers are committed Club executive meets monthly Guests are welcomed and recognized Agenda

Characteristics of Successful Clubs Distinguished every year Officers attend training Members and officers are committed Club executive meets monthly Guests are welcomed and recognized Agenda Friendly, Fun and ……

Characteristics of Struggling Clubs Low membership Low attendance at TLI Incomplete agenda Members do not fulfill commitments Few educational completions

Month 1 – Club Assessment Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the club Answer the questions in Moments of Truth and determine the clubs weaknesses. Ask the question, “Why should we save the club?” What are the strengths? Who does the club appeal to, who would be attracted to joining the club? What is this club’s market? (Profile demographic, ages, occupations, geographic)

Club Troubleshooting Guide and Moments of Truth

Month 1 – Improve Club Meetings Improve Club Meetings so much that people will be compelled to join the club. Using the Club Assessment from work immediately to improve the club meetings. Focus on meeting planning and meeting execution. A well planned, well run meeting is the club’s best marketing tool.

Create Interest – Special Theme Meetings Invite a guest speaker Study the Art of Debate Borrow the District copy of the World Championship of Public Speaking Invite Corporate Executives/Military Officers Display the World Champions Entertain and continued organization support

How Can I Attract Guests to our Club Meetings?

Month 2 – The a-b-c’s of Tapping into your Market Business Cards provided to friends, acquaintances and coworkers. Inexpensive Advertising – Flyers posted in the right places. Creating a club identity on a website. Public Service Announcements placed in newspapers, newsletters, radio, and local cable.

Promoting Your Club

Promote Toastmasters in the Community Newspapers Broadcast Media Social Media and Blogs Local Government Chamber of commerce Libraries Company Publications and Websites Employee Orientations Community Packets 10. Universities and Community Colleges 11. High Schools 12. Community Events 13. Billboards 14. Websites and Newsletters Offer Speechcraft and Youth Leadership 16. Create Club Business Cards 17. Display Toastmaster Products 18. Wear Your Toastmasters Pin

Websites FreeToastHost 2.0 Google WordPress

Guerrilla Marketing Tactics Members throw a flash mob skit promoting the club, dressed as pirates on Talk Like a Pirate day. Door hangers (like do not disturb at hotels) that you hang on door knobs to promote your club. Pay it Forward – Buy movie tickets for the person behind you in line. Ask ticket agent to pass them your club business card. Doctors Office Magazines – Drop off your old Toastmaster magazines with contact and meeting information on them. Find more of these ideas at www.bootstrappingblog.com

Resources

Holding an Open House Promote to fill seats Provide guest package Refreshments Demo meeting Toastmaster themes Question and Answer Socialize after meeting

Turning Your Guests into Members Welcome your guests and have sign guest book Introduce guests at the start of the meeting and promise that Toastmasters is Fun, Friendly and the best place to develop communication and leadership skills Before close of meeting ask guests if the meeting was Fun, Friendly, and a great learning environment

Relationship Visits Planned meeting between a Toastmaster representative (experienced district leader, RA, ID) and high-ranking official of a corporation or organization that sponsors a Toastmaster group

Purpose Reinforce the relationship between Toastmasters and the sponsor Enhance understanding of how membership in Toastmasters contributes to their organizational success Enhance understanding of the communication and leadership skills individuals gain Reaffirm the organization’s high level support for Toastmasters

Month 3 – Finding and Establishing Partnerships What organization(s) in the proximity have members that need what they have? Create a Community Contact Team Plan and hold demonstration meetings.

Month 3 --- Provide a Service to capture new members. Promote and schedule educational sessions that people in the market attend. Success/Leadership modules and Speechcraft serve this function. Provide the course for the cost of becoming a member of the club.

Show Your Leadership! What types of things can you do? Lead and facilitate, “Moments of Truth” Present an improving club meetings educational session. Presenting “From Guest to Member,” educational session. Coaching the club to create marketing materials and a Club Community Contact team. Recruit a Toastmaster (working on AC Gold) to present Speechcraft or other Success/Leadership module.

ARE YOU READY? What additional training do you need? Find a club rescue buddy or mentor. Execute your rescue with a High Performance Plan and recruit a guidance committee that has master-minded guidance

District Support Mentor Coordinator Coach Coordinator