The BEST is Yet to Come!

A New Year is marked by a time of reflecting upon where we have been and what lies ahead. 

As we look back on this past year, each of us experienced challenges on multiple different levels personally, professionally, and in Toastmasters. While the impacts varied from person to person, none of us were left untouched. All of us experienced things that required us to change and adapt to a new way of doing things. We quickly realized that relationships and ways of navigating through life that were so easy for us to take for granted could no longer be treated with that level of luxury. Fortunately, we found new ways of connecting and cherishing the times we had with those we cared for. In Toastmasters, many of us took the learning journey of Zoom and other online platforms which enabled us to communicate with one another and continue our development journey in spite of the challenges that were going on around us. The skills we have developed have served us well in many arenas of our lives, and they will continue to do so.

Now, with the dawning of a New Toastmasters’ Year, things are progressively opening up and people are more comfortable meeting in person. There is a renewed excitement and HOPE for what this new year will bring. There is an opportunity to bounce back stronger than ever before as we are on the brink of one of the greatest membership building and rebuilding times in Toastmasters History, and yet, we will need to be very intentional in our efforts. If we are, all of us will reap the benefits of Toastmasters at a level we could not even begin to imagine.

What are those efforts?

1. We Need to Understand what Our Club’s Unique DNA is. 

What are those things that make our club our club? The more we understand those unique qualities, we can be more effective in our market efforts to individuals who resonate with our club’s DNA. Then, when an individual becomes a member, it is a win for the individual and a win for the club.  New members will become part of a community that he or she can learn and grow in while building meaningful relationships with other members of the club which will promote sustainability and organic growth.

2. We Need to Up Level the Member Experience.

What are some things we can do to renew people’s excitement for Toastmasters? If it is in our power to do it, let’s do it! Why? If you are excited about something, your world knows about it, and that excitement is contagious. As members are excited about their Toastmaster’s Journey, organic growth will happen and engagement levels will increase. It will be a win-win for everyone!

3. We Need to Actively Engage in Meaningful Relationship Building. 

People come to Toastmasters for many different reasons, and yet, the number one reason that they stay is because of the relationships that they build. Do meaningful relationships happen overnight? No, and yet, if we are intentional about creating opportunities for them to form and grow, we will be amazed at the difference they will make in our Toastmaster’s Journey! 

4. Where Possible, We Need to Restore Lost Clubs.

This past year, we lost 17 clubs. While the reasons for those losses were understandable considering the challenges we were facing, the opportunities to see them restored is just as real. We need to partner together to see as many of those clubs come back to life as we can. 

5. We Need to Build New Clubs.

We need to look at the map of District 6, identify where there are opportunities to build Community Clubs, and build those clubs. At the District Level, we need to identify companies that resonate with Toastmasters’ Mission and partner with them in their employee development efforts and build clubs that are a win for the Toastmaster and a win for the company in which it is a part. 

I truly believe the Greatest Days of District 6 are Yet Ahead!  

We have untapped potential that is beckoning us to step into all that we are meant to be!

I invite you on this journey with me. If you are interested in helping District 6 be the BEST that it can be, I encourage you to check out the Current Openings page on the d6tm.org website for details. 

Together, the BEST is Yet Ahead!