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Starting a New Club
Toastmasters Clubs are formed every day in a variety of settings. Clubs meet onsite at corporations, churches, community centers, and restaurants. Community clubs are called "open" and are generally open to anyone. Company clubs are usually limited to employees of that company and are called "closed."
The process to form a Toastmasters group is straightforward and all of the materials are provided for you! You can start a Toastmasters Club onsite at your corporation, other organization, or in your community. Representatives of District 55 Toastmasters will be glad to visit you and/or your group to discuss opportunities. Contact Bill Greenham, District Lieutenant Governor Marketing to start this process. You can also review some of the Links to Resources on the Toastmasters International website below as a first step to start a group of people on the journey to improving speaking and leadership skills!
For experienced Toastmasters, chartering a new club is one of the more satisfying projects that one can complete. It offers opportunities in Leadership, Mentoring, Speaking, Teaching, Giving, and Networking. One of the requirements for achieving Advanced Leader Silver can be satisfied by a member either sponoring or mentoring a new club. Again, contact Bill Greenham, District Lieutenant Governor Marketing if you are interested in being a sponsor and/or a mentor.
Links to Resources
Getting Started
- Starting a New Club - Overview. Includes starting steps, initial costs, and links
- Considerations for Starting a New Club - Short list of questions that need to be answered. For example. how long will your meeting be?
- Steps for Starting a Corporate Club - A one-sheet guide
- Start-A-Club Form - This on-line form is used to submit a request for someone at Toastmasters International to contact you about starting a club. Alternatively you can contact District Lieutenant Governor Marketing Bill Greenham
Guides and Forms
- How to Build a Toastmasters Club - A step-by-step instruction manual. Included in the New Club Information Kit.
- New Club Information Kit - A free (you do pay shipping), orderable kit containing information to build new clubs including a "How To Build a Toastmasters Club" and promotional brochures to use in recruiting members.
- New Club Forms - All the forms you need to fill out and submit to start a Toastmasters club
- Application to Organize - Application to organize and charter a new club.
- Application to Organize (on-line) - Same form as above, but you can fill-in this application form on-line then print it out.
- Charter Club Officer Information - All new clubs need club officers. Provide the names of your officers using this form and submit it with the charter application.
- Toastmasters Club Constitution & Bylaws - Standard documents governing operations of Toastmasters clubs, with information on membership, dues, elections, etc. The completed Certificate of Club Adoption, Bylaws, and Certificate of Secretary are required for chartering a new club.
Attracting Prospective Members
- Marketing Resources - Items and tools to help you promote your club. Preview and print and/or order brochures, fliers, posters, signs, and other materials
- Testimonial videos that you can point prospective members to, or better still, view with them
- On-line 15-minute Story
- Testimonials Page - with links to a series of testimonial videos, each one minute or less
- Orderable DVD with all the videos in English as well as seven non-English languages (subtitles) including Spanish
First Club Meetings
- New Club Meeting Outlines - Meeting agendas for the first eight meetings, including the demonstration meeting.
- Getting Started - Best practice suggestions for how to plan and conduct successful club meetings.
More information on starting Corporate Clubs
- Chartering the Corporate Club: a Survey - Testimonials/success stories from Toastmasters who helped charter new Corporate clubs.
- Building New Corporate Clubs - Overview of the process of finding a group/prospects and starting Corporate clubs.
Training Materials for Sponsors, Mentors, and District Officers
- Training Materials - Training programs for orienting new club sponsors and mentors (and club coaches).
- New Club Mentor Kit - An article and downloadable PDF documents will help you fulfill your duties as a new club mentor.
- Build New Clubs - Training Module targeted to District Officers on Building New Clubs.
Posted 8/2/2011