Winning the Membership Game
Jack M. Kantola, DTM

If you are like most people you joined Toastmasters to improve your ability to communicate.  If you area like me, you later learned about the incredible opportunity participation in the Toastmasters program offers to improve our leadership skills.  Membership in a Toastmasters club offers both these things along with good fun and fellowship.  The Toastmasters Vision also mentions finding the courage to change.
 
Toastmasters Vision

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

Keys to Building a Strong Club…

 Hold meetings people want to attend.
 Make visitors and members welcome.
 Get the word out about your club.

Make Your Club Meetings Exciting…

 Start meetings on time, every meeting.
 Keep meetings on time, end on time.
 Prepare an agenda for the meeting.
 Toastmaster contact people on the schedule.
 Fulfill your assignments or find a replacement.
 Create a professional feel to the meeting.
 Be willing to fill in for missing people.
 Hold special meetings.
 Have a theme for your meetings.
 Include educational training presentations.

Making Visitors Feel Welcome…

 Make every member a greeter.
 Have name tags for members and guests.
 Have a guest register.
 As Toastmaster of the Day call on a person sitting next to the guest introduce them.
 Have a Visitor Packet to give every visitor.
 Follow up with visitors by e-mail or telephone.

Get Out The Word On Your Club…

 Get in the calendar section of your newspaper.
 Have club business cards to hand out.
 Create a club website…and keep it up to date.
 Submit articles to your local newspaper.
 Wear your Toastmaster pin to work.
 Recycle Toastmaster magazines to promote TM.
 Use the speakers bureau to promote Toastmasters membership.
 Join the Chamber of Commerce and promote TM.
 Post a sign showing TM meeting times at your meeting place.
 Get involved in high school speaking clubs.

How Can Individual Toastmasters Make it Happen?

 Set the right example.
 Be on time to the meetings.
 Fulfill your assignments.
 Make sure you are prepared for your assignments.
 Call the Toastmaster to let them know you will be there.
 Become the personal greeter for your club.

Keys to Building a Strong Club…

 Hold meetings people want to attend.
 Make visitors and members welcome.
 Get the word out about your club.

You are the key to your club’s success!  The steps you take, your active involvement in the club, the example you set can make the difference in the success of your club.  If your club holds exciting, educational and on time meetings your need to hold membership campaigns will be minimized.  People will find you club.

Please feel free to contact me at kantolajm@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions or suggestions for me.

Jack Kantola