President's Tip of the Week

Club Standards - Your Opportunity for Leadership
(4/15/08)

Toastmasters International (TI) has researched the ingredients that make the difference between a good club and a great club, and they have identified 10 key factors. I am going to share these with you in a series of Tips of the Week, with a particular focus on how every member contributes to Gilbert Toastmasters success.

Standard 3: Membership recruitment is ongoing.

Turnover is a natural phenomenon in any organization, and Toastmasters is no exception to the rule. In order for Gilbert Toastmasters to continue as a dynamic, vibrant club, we need new members. New members bring fresh ideas and expertise to the club. In addition, they provide a stronger leadership base.

Although our club has a Vice President of Membership and a Membership Committee, they can't do it all. Your help is critical. Here's what you can do:

•  Invite guests to the meetings. Tell your friends about how Toastmasters has helped you in the same way you would recommend a favorite restaurant or movie. Assure them that they won't be required to talk at the meeting. Take them out for coffee after the meeting to answer their questions, but don't pressure them about joining. Just invite them to come back again. Our club will sell itself if they come to several meetings.
• Sit with a guest at a meeting. Many guests find us through the Internet or a newspaper ad, so they arrive at the meeting alone. The VPM and her committee will greet them, provide them with a packet, and then try to find an established member to sit with the guest. If you agree to provide this assistance, all you need to do is chat with the person, help them feel welcome, introduce them to other members, and answer any questions they may have during the meeting. You can receive credit towards project 6 in your CL manual by agreeing to accept this opportunity.
• Serve on the Membership Committee. The primary responsibility of this committee is to be at meetings to greet guests, answer their questions, and help them fill out the application if they should decide to join the club. If you would be willing to serve on this committee, please contact Tracy Powell at tpowell@precisionbi.com. If you serve on the Membership Committee during one of the membership drives, you can earn credit toward project 5 in your CL manual.