HOME
Calendar
Conference
Contests
Clubs/Divisions
Find a Club
Flash Newsletter
Links
Marketing
Officers & Staff
District Governor
Lt. Gov. Ed/Trng.
Lt. Gov. Marketing
Officer Resources
Public Relations
Search
Speakers Bureau
Toastmasters Int'l
Training
What is Toastmasters?
Mark your calendar for the Spring Conference
Hosted by Division I, Friday and Saturday, May 30 + 31, 2008 in San Antonio.
| Join Our Mailing List |
District 55 Marketing
Why does South Central Texas need more Toastmasters?
Toastmasters has helped thousands of people achieve more in all aspects of their lives. Using the speaking and leadership skills developed in Toastmasters, people have become more active in business, churches, and service and charity organizations.
Toastmasters members are able to organize activities, conduct meetings, and speak in public as their organization's representative. Some even become active in local, state, or national government.
What's in it for me as a Toastmaster?
- Leadership & growth opportunities
- Mentoring opportunities
- Speaking opportunities
- Achievement of Advanced Leader (AL) goals
- Sharing, teaching, giving opportunities
- Networking opportunities
How can I help?
- Find and foster business or local community interest in Toastmasters — generate ideas for new club leads
- Meet with new club representatives to explain the benefits of Toastmasters for a business or a community
- Mentor or sponsor a new club, or serve as a club coach for weaker clubs in trouble
- Work with club mentors and sponsors to set up and conduct demo meetings for new clubs
- Speak or fill other roles at demonstration meetings
- Mentor the mentors and sponsors and share the lessons you've learned in building clubs
- Serve in other roles for the Marketing Committee
Where do new Toastmasters clubs come from?
Many clubs are organized for the members of a particular company or organization. Others are open to the public. Do you know of a group of people who would benefit from a new Toastmasters club in their area? Representatives of Toastmasters District 55 would be glad to visit your corporation, association, town or neighborhood to discuss opportunities.
The Demonstration Meeting
Show interested people how Toastmasters works. This special abbreviated program shows prospective members or company sponsors how a club meeting is conducted and what the Toastmasters program can do for them.
You don't need to be an expert speaker to help run a demonstration meeting. You could always volunteer to be the timer! Actually, less-experienced Toastmasters make good speakers for demonstration meetings because they show you can benefit from Toastmasters even if you're not a polished orator.
After a short demonstration of the meeting roles, the sponsor explains what a new club needs to do to be chartered.
The Sponsor
The sponsor is responsible for the actual organization of the new club, including selling the new club idea to prospective members, assisting in the establishment of regular meetings, handling the paperwork and helping to plan the charter presentation.
After that point, the sponsor's responsibilities end and the mentor takes over. Each new club may have up to two sponsors. Sponsors receive a certificate when the club gets its charter and can receive credit toward the Advanced Leader Bronze (AL-B) award. The Club Extension award program gives special recognition to individuals continually active in club sponsorship.
NOTE: Sponsors must apply for credit no later than 90 days afterthe club’s official charter date. Any changes or additions to the sponsor assignments must be made no later than 60 days after the club’s official charter date.
The Mentor
Mentors are experienced Toastmasters who provide guidance during its first 6-12 months. Working side by side with the new Toastmasters, the mentor shows them how to fulfill meeting roles and helps new officers perform their duties. The District Governor appoints one or two mentors for the new club. Like the sponsor, the mentor also receives a certificate when the club receives its charter. Mentors also receive Advanced Leader (AL) credit for fulfilling their roles satisfactorily.
NOTE: Mentors may apply for credit no sooner than six months after the club’s official charter date. Any changes or additions to the mentor assignments must be made no later than 60 days after the club’s official charter date. A mentor is an experienced Toastmaster who joins a new club for at least the first six months.
The Sponsoring Club
Your club can sponsor a new club! Sometimes the sponsoring club actually presents the demonstration meeting. It offers the new club encouragement and advice, and its members attend the new club’s charter presentation. Sponsoring clubs earn the “Founder’s Award” club banner ribbon. Working with the mentor, the sponsoring club can help a great deal in assisting the new club after it is chartered.
The sponsoring club supports the new club by holding meetings together, by exchanging speakers and evaluators or by inviting new club members to special events. They can invite new club officers to attend meetings of their executive committee and encouraging them to participate in area and district events. They can also help the new club in presenting speech contests, Speechcraft, Success/Leadership and Youth Leadership Programs.
The Club Coach
A Club Coach is an experienced Toastmaster who is asked to help a struggling club — one that reported twelve or fewer members to Toastmasters International on its most recent semiannual dues report. The Club Coach comes from the outside with new viewpoints, perspectives, and experience. He or she may not be a member of the club prior to assignment, but may join after being assigned. Assignments are made only by District Governors.
Of course, a club needs to want a club coach before one can be assigned. If your club is interested in receiving help from a Club Coach, or if you want to serve as a Club Coach, feel free to contact our District Governor to determine if you are eligible.
I want to help!
Contact the Lieutenant Governor Marketing for more information.