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What is Toastmasters?

Mark your calendar for the Spring Conference

Hosted by Division I, Friday and Saturday, May 30 + 31, 2008 in San Antonio.

Step 2B: Painless PR Ideas from a PR-Pro

Kathy Moore, AC-S, Public Relations Officer

The following Painless PR ideas are thanks to Theodore Lustig, ATM-Gold, VP-Pr, Round Rock Chambermasters, former PRO (2001) and a public relations executive for 40 years.

First, is an email idea you can customize for your own use to send to potential Toastmaster recruits.

Dear (insert name):

I've been a member of the (name of club) Toastmasters club for (insert approximate time as a member). It has been a truly rewarding experience. When I started, I was a reluctant public speaker, but in a very short time, I've found that through TM's structured program, public speaking is a skill that can be learned. In addition to helping me in my career, this low-cost program has done wonders for my self-confidence and self-esteem.

Knowing your schedule and your interests, I thought you might like to know about our club. We meet for an hour at noon on (day of the week, time and place). If being a better public speaker would be of value to you, I'd like to invite you to observe a "no obligation" meeting. It could turn out to be one of the most important and rewarding hours you will ever spend. Please consider it. If you want more information, call me at (telephone number), or send your questions to me via e-mail at (address).

Here are additional ideas to use with labeling Toastmaster magazine. A phrase like "Toastmasters is an international organization that offers effective public speaking and management skills training at low cost" would establish a context. To put the magazine in context as well, say' "Included in membership is a FREE subscription to this monthly magazine." Add a phrase like "In the Greater Austin area, there are more than 40 clubs, most of which whose membership is open to the public." Then add your contact information.

Caution to members using this very simple free publicity idea: Do not drop off these magazines in offices or libraries without first asking for permission to do so. Besides the suggestions already given for placing magazines, you could also place them in the waiting rooms in the human resources offices of large and medium sized companies, in the admissions offices of colleges, and in the reference sections of libraries.

Best bets are businesses with reasonably large employee populations and whose products and/or services require direct communications contact with its customer base. Also good are the journalism, communications, and law departments of colleges and universities. To conserve time and resources, it is best to approach specific target audiences rather than the general public. (Note from Kathy Moore: As the current PRO, I have to say that I disagree with the previous paragraph. I believe getting the magazines out to as many locations as possible is faster and easier. Lustig is assuming we only want to distribute to companies who might consider starting a club. You may just as likely expect employees in small businesses or customers to JOIN an existing club. Anyone who has ever been in sales knows NEVER to assume anything about the potential sale. I recommend you keep an open mind, but include both ideas so you can decide for yourself.)

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