Page 33 - 2018 August Voices
P. 33

My Love Affair with




              Online Attendance





              Michelle Alba Lim, DTM






    FROM THE FIELD




      I chanced upon a Facebook post about a  (combining brick-and-mortar and click-on clubs).
      prospective online club. Out of curiosity, I  Toastmasters International uses “clubs that allow

      attended. I heard about another prospective club,  online attendance.” Whatever the name, these
      Witty Storytellers Online. It was “love at first  clubs are worth exploring, experiencing, and
      sight.” As the club’s ne3wly-appointed VPPR, I  expanding.
      put together a campaign to help reach charter              I’m currently with three blended clubs.

      strength. Cards distributed at the Toastmasters  Transtoasters (D7), Royal Roads Toastmasters
      International Convention in Washington DC  (D21), and Butter N Toast (D75). I’ve been remotely
      brought in several new members. We chartered  coaching Feather Tongues. I’ve also helped clubs
      September 2016 and have been President’s  to harness the power of online attendance. One

      Distinguished these past two years.                    example is Westside Toastmasters in Florida.
          I enjoyed online meetings so much that in  Upon Mike Woodall’s request, I zoomed in
      June 2017 I became a charter member of another  from Manila and presented an overview about
      online club, Competitive Communicators. The  online attendance. The club voted to add online

      following month, I started an advanced online  attendance that meeting! Another is a club in
      club, focused on helping to bring out the best  Alaska, mentored by Linus Romey. A third is
      in trainers worldwide. Global Trainers Online  UECP Toastmasters, in Manila. The list goes on
      chartered within seven weeks from our first  and on. I love it!

      meeting.                                                   For districted clubs, online attendance is a
          Two months ago, I joined Ablaze Advanced  win-win-win. Win for districts, win for clubs,
      Online Toastmasters as a charter member. We  win for members.
      set a record by achieving Select Distinguished             Retention - Members who move away can

      barely two weeks from chartering!                      continue to attend. Example is Transtoasters,
          Much as I enjoy online clubs, blended  which I had joined in Salem. When I moved
      clubs fascinate me more. Some refer to these  back to Sutherlin, we used a single device (laptop,
      clubs as “hybrid.” Others use “brick-n-click”  tablet or smartphone) and my Zoom Pro account.




       34     ONE COMMUNITY
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