How do you do "Club Growth?"

By Hollis Cash, ACB
Area 62 Director, 2016-2017

How do we grow our club? 

It is a question that many clubs ask themselves over and over, right?  Well, while it seems like an easy answer, it is really not. What it the best way then to represent the answer? A set of building blocks. First, the answer to the question is really “Get new members…” Sure, easy, right? This is where the building blocks have to be used. So let’s open the bucket and see what these blocks are…

The first block is “Excitement.”  Let me ask you this... do you want to attend a meeting where everyone is falling asleep or looks like they just ate spoiled fish? Or would you rather attend a meeting where everyone’s attention is on the speaker, where there are smiles and greetings by everyone, where it feel like there is focused electricity in the air? I choose the latter. Ok, so how do you generate excitement? This leads to another building block.  

The second block you have to use is “Involvement.” What does that mean? Be involved in your club. Get others involved in your club. Serve your club as an officer. Serve your club by holding roles. Serve your club by holding each other accountable…LOVINGLY… just like our evaluators. I believe involvement must start with the officers. You should have a good mix of “Old Hats” and new toastmasters serving as officers. The experienced toastmasters should hold the senior roles so that the new officers can learn and take over next year! That is “Officer Involvement” at its best. Next, start filling your roles well in advance of the meeting. Start an excel spreadsheet and circulate it 4 to 6 weeks out with all the roles. Give a speech on involvement and then get sign-ups going! Now that this is starting to look like something, what next?

The third block is “Hosting.” What in the world is hosting? Host an event! Once you have “Excitement” and “Involvement,” you need to host an event. What event? Two specific ones come to mind: one for building membership and the other for building comradery with other toastmasters. First, of course, is to have an Open House! If you have the first two blocks laid out, then you are ready to host. You need a massive public relations blast, a meal, and perhaps an exciting keynote guest speaker. An Open house done right will build membership! The second event is to have a Banner Raid. Get five of your members together to visit another club during their meeting. This allows you to “Take Their Toastmasters Banner.” How do they get it back? By bringing five of their members to your meeting! But beware, if they bring ten, not only do they get their banner back, but they get to take yours! This builds excitement and requires involvement!

Now, you have the blocks, so you need to start building! Get the excitement going in any way you can, training, rewarding, encouraging, doing something new! Once you have the excitement, get everyone involved! Get those officers going, train the new ones! Fill roles in advance! Finally, hold a banner raid and promote an open house! Put those blocks to use, and you will grow!

Welcome to our Open House!

Welcome to our House…that is our Open House!  We are lingering on the edge of festival season when the summer gives way to crisp, cool air.  Why not celebrate the changing seasons with a party?   Everyone loves a gathering with lively conversation.   This is where Toastmasters are at their best.  Toss in a table of tasty treats and you have the makings of a Toastmasters event to remember.   A plethora of themes are available this time of year with everything from Football to Carnivals to Pumpkin everything.

  

An Open House is more than a tool to attract new members.  It is a gala for your fellow club members to spotlight skills they have attained during regular meetings.   Invite your friends to see what Toastmasters is and demonstrate how our organization can open new doors for them.  The club can also celebrate educational awards members have completed.   Recognition for those goals is much sweeter when they are shared with friends and family. 

Toastmasters are creative.  We wouldn’t be surprised if you are already thinking of ideas to use at your club’s event.  Once a theme is chosen you might be wondering, “Where do we start?”  Don’t worry, there is a guide you can use for hosting a successful event and includes checklists to make it easy.   You come up with the  party and we will help you plan it!  If you would like a copy of the package, email me at openhouse@d50toastmasters.org.

If you are still not sure about hosting an Open House event, let me add some more amazing incentives.  Every club who hosts an event is eligible to WIN a gift card!   Qualifying for our MONTHLY drawing is simple:  send me or Manhal Shukayr pictures of your Open House event, a copy of the event agenda, and you are in!  We will draw from the qualified entries on the 10th of each month & announce our BIG WINNER on District 50’s Facebook page.   If you have had your eye on one of our nifty D50 lapel pins, this is one event to get you closer to wearing one of your own!  Most of all, your Club Growth team is committed to your club having a memorable year filled with fun!   We look forward to celebrating your club’s success!

 With warmest wishes,

Rena Tackett

Open House Chair

District 50 Toastmasters

Open House Plan begins with the Open House Team

by P. Tran, DTM

An Open House Plan begins with the assembly of an OH! (Open House!) Team. Club officers mentor and encourage fellow club members to take on organizer and support roles. The OH! Team Chair, who leads the planning for the monthly open house events, can turn this leadership opportunity into a High Performance Leadership (HPL) project, which is one of the requirements for the Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) award. Members of the OH! Team earn Competent Leader (CL) credits for helping and organizing the monthly open house events. Having every club member participate in the monthly open house preparations fosters club camaraderie and pride. As you develop your Club Success Plan for this term, motivate your members to be a part of the OH! Team.

Your Area and Division Directors can provide information and additional support. Contact them to inaugurate your OH! Team today!

Check back for more OH! Team ideas.