Rebuilding Toastmaster ClubsClub Coaching Workshop

Jim Heeren, DTMRegion Advisor

January 28, 2011

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dgov45@aol.com703-220-0420 (m)703-791-3547 (h)

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 PromiseAs 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.

Request a Club Coach from the District

A member that is appointed by the District Governor or Lt Governor Marketing

Knowledge of Toastmaster programsProvides guidance to clubTerm 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?

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Attend meetings and club executive meetings.

Listen Learn Observe Demonstrate Persuade Get Commitment! Motivate Team Build

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Introducing the Coach to the Club

Club welcomes the supportExplain the role of the coach to the club

and set expectationsDistrict leadership can make the

introduction as well as the coachThe Testimonial Speech

Developing a 3 Month Plan for Club Success

Club Assessment Improve the Club Meetings MarketingHolding an Open HouseFinding and Establishing Partnerships Provide a Service to capture new

members

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Characteristics of Successful Clubs

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every year

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend training

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend trainingMembers and officers are committed

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend trainingMembers and officers are committedClub executive meets monthly

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend trainingMembers and officers are committedClub executive meets monthlyGuests are welcomed and recognized

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend trainingMembers and officers are committedClub executive meets monthlyGuests are welcomed and recognizedAgenda

Characteristics of Successful ClubsDistinguished every yearOfficers attend trainingMembers and officers are committedClub executive meets monthlyGuests are welcomed and recognizedAgendaFriendly, Fun and ……

Characteristics of Struggling Clubs

Low membershipLow attendance at TLIIncomplete agendaMembers do not fulfill commitmentsFew 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)

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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.

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Create Interest – Special Theme Meetings

Invite a guest speakerStudy the Art of DebateBorrow the District copy of the World

Championship of Public Speaking Invite Corporate Executives/Military Officers Display the World Champions Entertain and continued organization support

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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.

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Promoting Your Club

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Promote Toastmasters in the Community

1. Newspapers2. Broadcast Media3. Social Media and Blogs4. Local Government5. Chamber of commerce6. Libraries7. Company Publications

and Websites8. Employee Orientations9. Community Packets

10. Universities and Community Colleges11. High Schools12. Community Events13. Billboards14. Websites and Newsletters15. Offer Speechcraft and Youth Leadership16. Create Club Business Cards17. Display Toastmaster Products18. Wear Your Toastmasters Pin

Websites

• FreeToastHost 2.0• Google• WordPress

Guerrilla Marketing Tactics

1. Members throw a flash mob skit promoting the club, dressed as pirates on Talk Like a Pirate day.

2. Door hangers (like do not disturb at hotels) that you hang on door knobs to promote your club.

3. Pay it Forward – Buy movie tickets for the person behind you in line. Ask ticket agent to pass them your club business card.

4. 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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District Support

Mentor CoordinatorCoach Coordinator