Page 16 - July 2020

FROM THE DESK

Happy New Year!

Lorri Andersen, DTM
Club Growth Director

Happy New Year Friends! It’s a brand new officers meeting as soon as possible and t make
Toastmasters year! It seems like the dust is just plans to increase your membership. Can your
settling on the 2019-20 year end frenzy . . . and club add five new, dual, or reinstated members

now it’s time for a well deserved break! But wait, between August 1 and September 30? Make
NO! It’s time to get busy with new year club that goal, and you are well on your way to be
planning! Distinguished by December. You would qualify
I recently heard some sage advice: July is for for the Smedley Membership Award!

planning and August is for doing. There are so The next step for the members of your club
many details sometimes, it can make you feel is to work through a Moments of Truth. Even
a bit dizzy. if you did this last year or your club achieved
What should you do first? Here’s my advice; President’s Distinguished, this is a brand new

get a 12-month calendar, write down all the year, and you have new officers and members.
important Toastmaster dates for which you There are many plans to be made in this new
need to plan, and chart your course towards virtual environment.
Distinguished Status! You may say... I don’t Not sure what a Moments of Truth entails?

want to be just Distinguished, I want our club Check out the Start the Year Strong webinar
to achieve the President’s Distinguished status! that aired July 1st. You can access it here. The
I totally agree with you, each club should set Moments of Truth is a powerful tool to help
their sites on the highest goal possible! But first you and your club. If you would like an outside

before you reach the status of a Distinguished facilitator, ask your Area or Division Director to
club, you need to complete the membership conduct it for you.
goal. This means you need 20 members, or a The first question is . . . what are your guests
net growth of 5,s from where your club started first impressions? In a face to face club, it’s easy

on July 1. Membership numbers often becomes to greet people at the door, invite them to sit by
the challenge for the club. you, help them feel comfortable, and later invite
Here is what I suggest: schedule your next them to sign the guest book. But what are your

16 ONE COMMUNITY