Page 30 - Voicesapril2015.pub
P. 30
e Your First Impressions Count
Erik Bergman, DTM—Club Growth Director-Elect
You can turn visitors into members with a meeting space that’s inviting
and easy to find.
With just weeks to go in this Toastmasters year, now is the time to reach
your membership goals for the Distinguished Club Program. Job 1 is to spruce up how
you present your club meeting space to the world. First impressions matter, so make a
positive statement to your guests. It takes everyone, not just the club officers mentioned
below, to show a welcoming face to your potential next member.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign—If
guests can’t find you, they can’t join you.
Signs with the latest Toastmasters logo
make it easy for a newcomer to locate
your meeting space. Open clubs that
want the public to drop in especially
need well-displayed signage. This might
mean talking with the landlord or
whoever manages your meeting space
about what signs you can post and
when. Toastmasters International sells a
$20 customizable sign for use by the front door, on the sidewalk or on the street corner.
Inside the building, use arrow signs (easy to design and print from PowerPoint, using
logos from the TI website) to guide guests. Has your VP of PR made signs a priority?
What a Set-Up—When guests enter your room, they should marvel at
how organized the space and the club materials are. First stop: the guest
book! Every guest should be asked to sign in when greeted by a club
officer. It’s up to the Sergeant at Arms to make the space look inviting
and have all the needed supplies ready for use. Tip: Printing a photo of
how you want the room and supplies laid out can help other members
when they must fill in when the SAA is not available.
Offer Handouts—Never let a guest leave empty-handed! At
minimum give each one a membership packet with a current
application form, a recent copy of Toastmaster magazine
(Continued on page #)
30
Erik Bergman, DTM—Club Growth Director-Elect
You can turn visitors into members with a meeting space that’s inviting
and easy to find.
With just weeks to go in this Toastmasters year, now is the time to reach
your membership goals for the Distinguished Club Program. Job 1 is to spruce up how
you present your club meeting space to the world. First impressions matter, so make a
positive statement to your guests. It takes everyone, not just the club officers mentioned
below, to show a welcoming face to your potential next member.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign—If
guests can’t find you, they can’t join you.
Signs with the latest Toastmasters logo
make it easy for a newcomer to locate
your meeting space. Open clubs that
want the public to drop in especially
need well-displayed signage. This might
mean talking with the landlord or
whoever manages your meeting space
about what signs you can post and
when. Toastmasters International sells a
$20 customizable sign for use by the front door, on the sidewalk or on the street corner.
Inside the building, use arrow signs (easy to design and print from PowerPoint, using
logos from the TI website) to guide guests. Has your VP of PR made signs a priority?
What a Set-Up—When guests enter your room, they should marvel at
how organized the space and the club materials are. First stop: the guest
book! Every guest should be asked to sign in when greeted by a club
officer. It’s up to the Sergeant at Arms to make the space look inviting
and have all the needed supplies ready for use. Tip: Printing a photo of
how you want the room and supplies laid out can help other members
when they must fill in when the SAA is not available.
Offer Handouts—Never let a guest leave empty-handed! At
minimum give each one a membership packet with a current
application form, a recent copy of Toastmaster magazine
(Continued on page #)
30
