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From the Desk of the Club Growth Director. . .

The Year Ahead: Let’s Shine the
Spotlight on Toastmasters

By Erik Bergman, DTM—Club Growth Director

One experienced Toastmaster recently remarked to me,
“Toastmasters is an invisible organization.” That statement has
stuck with me as I plan my year ahead as your Club Growth Director. How can a global
organization with 313,000-plus members be invisible? But it’s true: In large part we
remain a hidden gem.

This month I’m thinking about how to fulfill my new role, which is to start new clubs
and help those facing challenges. It comes down to making Toastmasters more visible
to potential members. I want more people to see what we do, what we offer and how
we can help them grow. In short, it’s time for us to seize the spotlight.

Successful marketing projects begun by outgoing Lt. Governor of Marketing Leanna
Lindquist will continue, such as transit ads in major cities. These ads have put us in the
public eye and are one way to reach those who haven’t yet heard of us.

We’ll introduce new events so Toastmasters and friends can gather outside their home
clubs. Think “Star Wars” speech night or a meet-up at a microbrewery for “Beer Talk.”
We’ll march in local parades, like the one celebrating Multnomah Days on August 15.
We’ll staff information booths, as we did at the annual Portland Pride event. We will be
where people can see us.

It’s crucial that we reach out to the millennials who will soon make up a majority of
America’s workforce. Boosting our social media outreach is a key here. If you have an
idea for how to bring Toastmasters and friends together in new ways and news places,
tell it to me. Better yet, tell me you will make it happen!

We’ll offer fun incentives — books, DVDs, Toastmasters branded items — to encourage
you and your club members to get involved in all aspects of what we do, especially
membership campaigns. My growth as a Toastmaster soared back in 2009 when I first
ventured beyond my home club (as much as I enjoyed it) and attended Toastmasters
Leadership Institute. I didn’t yet grasp the full scope of the Toastmasters universe, but I
began to get an idea. Of the 200 officers trained there that day, I knew just two. Now I’m
glad to know so many of you and work closely with you on projects that matter to
members.

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