Growing in Toastmasters
I know it’s snowy outside, but I can’t help but look forward to spring. I love to experience the transition from winter to spring as everything blooms and grows. It got me thinking about how Toastmasters helps us to do the same – to bloom and grow. With that in mind, I thought I would offer some resources on ways that we can grow as members and experience growth in our clubs, areas, divisions, and at the district level.
I have listed resources below centered around the theme of growing in Toastmasters. Enjoy!
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH & RETENTION:
Membership Building and Retention Seminar
Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI)
February 6, 2021
District 6 has a GREAT line up of training opportunities at the upcoming TLI. This is an event for ALL Toastmasters, not just officers, and is a meaningful way for you to grow personally and bring back ideas to help your clubs. Click TLI for full details and to register. I thought I would take a moment to personally invite you to join me at my session at the TLI on Membership Building and Retention. I’ll share tips and ideas on these two topics that you can implement in your clubs. There will be plenty of time for attendees to share their successes and tips too!
Guest Night/Open House
Toastmasters International has created a fantastic slide deck that you may wish to use at your upcoming virtual open houses. Check it out here.
Guest Packet
Do you need a virtual guest packet? Please peruse our guest page on the District 6 website, which is FULL of great information including the Toastmasters Why and a sample downloadable guest packet. You can even share the guest page link with your guests via email.
Club Growth Openings and how to request a Club Coach for your club.
We are always looking for members who want to grow in their leadership skills by serving on the Club Growth team. Click here to learn more about serving as a new club sponsor, a new club mentor, or a current club coach. You may also request a club coach for your club here by completing the Club Seeking Club Coach form.
Please help me thank the following members who have served on the Club Growth Team this year:
Club Coach Chair: Starlett Drader
Club Extension Chair: Ken Walerius
New Club Research Team Lead: Lucas Ovans
Club Sponsors: Eric Laufmann, Brian Hinton, Rich Andresen, Cathi Droz.
Club Mentors: Carolyn Caba, Ernest Stone, Colleen Marie Kelly, Michelle Seidling, Deb Luu.
Club Coaches: Abirami Balaji, Cathi Droz, Daniel Lacine, Deborah Luu, Elsa Esquivel-Soto, Jamie Ogborn Richter, Keith Hardy, Ken Walerius, Laura Bathke, Linda Brown, Mike Dupris, Nicole Ann-Nitti Galloway, Nikki Bentley, Paul Lubinski, Raymond Norton, Sarah Michelle Carsello, Susan Long, Tara Bolanda, Terri Lynn Gens, Zewetir Mekuria Ashenafi, Jolanta Young, Vinita Maadh.
District 6 Virtual Open House volunteers: Susan Rajbhandari, Deb Luu, Chuck Brunnette, Jamie Ogborn Richter, Colleen Marie Kelly, Paul Lubinski, Richelle Schmitz, Ravi Rai, Goutham Putta, Ansley Lovgren, Kari Barlas, Troy Dukart, Zee Ashenafi, Starlett Drader, Mike Dupris, Tara Bolanda.
NEW CLUBS
The Club Growth Team is working with some great new clubs as they work toward chartering. Do you have ideas for new clubs in District 6? If so, please contact me at linda.dorn@d6tm.org. And, great news! Clubs that charter between now and June 30, 2021 will have the $125 charter fee and new member fees of $20 per charter member WAIVED. See our announcements page for more details.
FREE PATH
Our Toastmasters International President, Richard E. Peck, announced the following message. “As a token of our appreciation during this difficult time, any Toastmaster who renews their membership for the October renewal period by December 31 will automatically receive a free Pathways path! Please visit your Toastmasters profile, click the “Choose A Path” button, and follow the normal path selection process to redeem your free path before March 31, 2021.” How wonderful. Please share this with all of your members!
ADVANCED CLUB CHARTERING
Presiding Excellence Club (formerly known as the President’s Club)
Rich Andresen, DTM, is chartering another new club in District 6 focused on Leadership called the Presiding Excellence Club. Please see our website for more details. Fill out this form to receive updates on upcoming meetings and to join this great advanced club, which focuses on leading an organization. We see the future of this club to be a hybrid and world-wide club. How exciting! You can be a newer Toastmaster or a more seasoned Toastmaster, a club officer, or a Toastmaster considering leadership roles. If you have any questions, please feel free to direct them to Rich Andresen at pres6.toastmasters@gmail.com or 763-232-3777. You’re invited to our upcoming meetings (all at 7:00 PM) on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Our next meeting is on February 4 at 7:00 PM. The Zoom link will be sent to you after completing the Google form.
About the Author:
Linda Dorn, DTM is the District 6 Club Growth Director for the Toastmasters Program year 2020 – 2021.