Getting FIT with Toastmasters (and Club Membership)

Ralph Wallace

International Director

The Goals of the Toastmasters Club

• Distinguished Club or Better

• Charter Strength

• Dynamic Meetings

• Members Reaching Educational Goals

Why Do Toastmasters Leave

• 1% Die• 3% Move Away• 9% Move on to other product because of

someone’s recommendation• 9% Find a cheaper product elsewhere• 10% Are chronically dissatisfied• 68% Move on because the people they

deal with are indifferent to their needs

The Cycle of Toastmasters

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Key # 1

Great Club Meetings

Great Club Meetings

• Agenda• Room set before meeting• Assignments are ahead of time• Prepared Manual Speeches• Encouraging evaluations• Strong member turnout• Guests are warmly greeted• Great member energy• Everyone Speaks

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Use Successful Club Series

• Moments of Truth

• Finding New Members for your Club

• Evaluate to Motivate

• Closing the Sale

• Creating the Best Club Climate

• Meeting Roles and Responsibilities

• Mentoring

• Keeping the Commitment

• Going Beyond Our Club

• How to be a Distinguished Club

• The Toastmasters Education Program

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

To Improve Club Meetings

• Club Coach

• Commit members to turn club around

• Utilize members from other clubsGreat ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Many Members Enjoy SEX

• Speaker-Evaluation Exchange

• Members Hear New Speakers, New Ideas

• Different Evaluators give different perspectives

• Will bring additional people to your meeting

Commit to the Disney Effect

• Put together great schedules

• Induct new members with class

• Assign mentors

• Pin your new members

• Use name tags

• Consider member notebook

• Award Education Achievements

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

The Magic is

in the details!!

Key # 2

Members Bring Guests

The Cycle of Toastmasters

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Get members to bring guests

• President and VP Membership remind the membership to bring guests

• Remember the energizing meetings

• Club Membership campaign– Prizes

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Toastmasters Membership Building Contests

• Individual Recognition

• Distinguished Club Program

• Smedley Award (Aug/Sept)

• Talk Up Toastmasters (Feb/Mar)

• Beat the Clock (May/June)Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Market to Companies

• Identify nearby offices of companies and organizations

• Develop a marketing package

• Speak to CEO or other executives

• Sell Toastmasters as an avenue to improve their company

Key #3

The Guest Becomes a Member

The Cycle of Toastmasters

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

After They Come to Your Club

• Everybody greets the visitor• Give them “Stuff”• Visitor Book or Card• Tell them they will they give their thoughts

after the meeting• Ask them to join!!!!!!!!• Follow up

– Phone/Letter/Email

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

When they decide to join

• Complete the application and mail today

• Arrange conversation with VP Education

• Assign mentor

• Induct the new member

• Give them a manual immediately

• Follow up with telephone call

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Use Toastmasters Materials

• Brochures

• Visitor Cards/Application

• New Member Kit

• New Member Pins

• Ribbons

• Show Catalog

• Be Professional

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Your New Members Are Your New Leaders

• Sgt. At Arms

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• VP Membership

• VP Public Relations

• VP Education

• President

Energy

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Avoid the Downward SpiralPoor

Meetings

MembershipTired

LimitedNumber of

Guests

Guests AreUnimpressed

Low Energy/OfficersRepeat

Guests Don'tReturn

Move Toward the Upward Spiral

Great ClubMeetings

EnergizedMembership

MembershipBringsGuests

Guests AreImpressed

New EnergyNew Leaders

Guests Join

Getting FIT with Toastmasters (and Club Membership)

Ralph Wallace

International Director