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Quality Clubs Keep members

by Robyn Murphy, DTM, Past District 72 Governor

Experienced members have drive, dedication and experience - all attributes that are needed to maintain strong, healthy, vibrant and growing Clubs. When we have quality meetings that provide what our members want, we have a far better chance to keep our treasured members with us.

• Make EVERY meeting a showcase
• Be professional, yet encourage enthusiastic, fun and friendly meetings
• Plan and publish 6-8 week schedules
• Use Toastmasters resources (e.g. Patterns in Programming, Master your Meetings etc)
• Provide effective Club management and visionary leadership
• Ensure experienced members and Club officers are visible in Club operations
• Always strive to improve your Club’s atmosphere (run The Moments of Truth regularly)
• Consider weekly meetings or run special meetings to provide more opportunities for assignments
• Run meaningful and fun theme meetings
• Have well-rounded meetings
• Present useful and well-presented educationals

• Help members set long term goals (use the Personal Plan for Success outlined in the September 1999 District 72 Newsline)
• Get members to complete a member survey - and USE the info from it!
• Use experienced members as positive and involved mentors, and not just to help with speeches (remember new members need help with all areas, particularly evaluations and as Toastmaster for the first time)
• Recognise members for their achievements and involvement
• Make follow-up calls to absent members
• Send thank you notes to show your appreciation
• Use a noticeboard at each meeting
• Print a Club newsletter and mail to absent members
• Invite absent (and past) members to special events
• If a member leaves before completing their CTM - ASK WHY!
• Encourage members to take up leadership roles within the Club and the District

• Visit other Clubs and run inter-club activities
• Promote attendance at Area, Division and District events
• Promote Club events in the local papers, including photos as well as giving public recognition for members’ achievements and involvement
• Participate in community events - provide a speaker or judge
• Run Speechcraft, Youth Leadership or Success Leadership modules
• Complete the High Performance Leadership module

"Our focus must always be on supporting the Club in its mission to deliver the Toastmasters product of education and empowerment to the individual Toastmaster. If we truly live quality, we will live it at the Club level" - Tim Keck DTM, International President

Past District 72 Governor