Page 10 - 2015-08.pub

From the Desk

Awareness, engagement and participation will drive club growth

By Erik Bergman, DTM, Club Growth Director

I’m writing this at my first Toastmasters International director’s
training, a two-day marathon of presentations, workshops and
networking. Three hundred District Directors have gathered
in Las Vegas, and I’m in awe of their energy, knowledge and
commitment. Looking around the room, I see fellow Directors
from Finland, Zimbabwe, France, China, India. . .and our sheer
diversity is remarkable.

We’re here to train in our particular Director duties. We also want
to see the big picture of our global educational organization and
to better grasp our role in making Toastmasters the best it can be.
Outgoing International President Mohammed Murad told us that
Toastmasters International (TI) strategic plan will address three
key areas:
1. Club excellence
2. Member achievement
3. Awareness, engagement and participation

It’s up to us to make the strategic plan happen locally. Each of these items is something each one of
us can and must help advance. Clubs that help members achieve goals are most likely to be excellent.
And what we accomplish as members—education awards achieved or officer roles filled—makes
for an excellent club. Excellence depends on all members supporting and encouraging each other
and making the club a fun, safe place to grow.

Item No. 3 is what I’m personally focused on as Club Growth Director. Let’s look at its separate parts.
Awareness. Before they can become members, people need to hear about us. They must be aware
that we exist. Raising awareness is an ongoing process, a journey not a destination. We’ll be actively
promoting the Toastmasters program to new communities, new audiences and new venues to
spread the word. Outreach projects this month include a parade and a labor union picnic. These are
member-driven opportunities at which Toastmasters show up and talk about our program.

Engagement. We’re engaging with companies, groups and individuals who express interest in
starting a new club. Some requests come through TI, while others come from members like you
who alert us to an opportunity for club-building. We’re engaging with all the leads you send in, so
keep them coming. Our goal is to bring the benefits of our program to as many people as possible.

Participation. Toastmasters works when every member is engaged. That means taking on meeting
roles and giving speeches, of course. Some of you want more so you can grow faster. If you want
to reach higher, consider helping at the Area, Division and District level. We have marketing and
promotion roles for you that can be a High Performance Leadership Project: club coach coordinator,
kickoff meeting team member, club coach and club mentor, to name a few.

If you know of a community event where Toastmasters can play a role, or an idea for a new club,
please send your suggestion to cgd@d7toastmasters.org.

10 Volume 2 Issue 2 - AUG 2015