On January 21, 2006, three Past District 11 Governors participated in a panel discussion at the Leadership Outreach Toastmasters Club #9049. Below you will find the questions posed by members of the club and quests attending the meeting.

Get Meeting information on Leadership Outreach Toastmasters Club #9049. For more information about the club, please contact, Club President Pat Moore DTM, PDG.

Click HERE to Get the Flyer of these Questions and Answers

Problem Clubs
Q: What do you suggest in turning a “social” club back into a productive Toastmasters club so it can grow and service its members as it should?

• Remind the club officers and members why they are here – why they get together. They need to think about how others perceive them. You are representing what Toastmasters is all about; therefore, you should model what Toastmasters is all about.
• Sometimes the soft approach doesn’t work. Bring a copy of the bylaws and remind them that they have to operate according to the bylaws. Sometimes you have to force the issue.

Q: How and when does a club deal with an officer who wants to do things their own way, disregarding all offers and suggestions for help?

• Often it is a President or VP of Education leading the club in one direction or another. The Area Governor can have a one-on-one with the particular officer. Often they don’t realize how they are affecting the club; they are too close to the problem.
• If possible, let the club deal with it. They can do this at an Executive Council meeting. If nothing changes, the District can step in.

Going Beyond the Club
Q: What suggestions or ideas do you have that will actually get members to venture out of their club environment and experience events happening in the district? They need to understand that their club is not the whole world of Toastmasters.

• Start with something close to home; a speech contest is a good beginning. Urge club members to attend the Area Speech Contest and support their fellow club member. Club loyalty often can bring fellow members to that event. After they experience a contest, hopefully they will see what else is available and branch out from there.
• There are many excellent Toastmasters you’ll never meet unless you visit clubs. Area Council meetings are one means of bringing Toastmasters together from a number of clubs. More Area Governors need to try this approach.
• You have to put out a good quality event. Make each District event something that makes you want to come back for more.
• Many times a speech to the club doesn’t work. You need to take the one-on-one approach and individually ask one or another member to come to an event.

Recruiting
Q: How can we get all club members to “buy into” recruiting new members?
Q: How can we reach the people who need Toastmasters?

• The VP of membership needs to keep one thing in mind. Toastmasters is all about “what can we do for you?” They need to remind club members that this is important in recruiting new members and giving guests a reason to join.
• The VP of membership is really the leader of a group trying to get new members. The entire club is their “committee”. They must take advantage of the skills of others in the club to help recruit members.

Duties of Officers
Q: Life happens. Our VP of Ed had a lot come up after taking office. She is having a lot of trouble getting the schedule together and keeping it all going. What can she do?

• The VP of Education should never think they have to do all of their duties alone. Other members can help. That person needs to delegate. She can take advantage of the skills of other members – computer skills for automating the scheduling of duties; email for getting notices out, etc.
• The club President needs to regularly ask if any of the officers need help, especially if the President sees that someone is struggling. He needs to be in tune with this.

Mentoring
Q: Our club has a mentor program where the mentor invites the mentee for breakfast. That seems like a great way to kick it off – with a personal, one-on-one meeting. What other suggestions do you have on mentoring?

• Another great way is to have a Mentor Chair. That person pairs the mentors with new members. When the Mentor Chair sees a mentee on the schedule, he calls the appropriate mentor and reminds them they should call their mentee to talk about their meeting role and offer help or guidance.
• There is a module on Mentoring in the Better Club Series. This is a good start.

Non-manual speeches
Q: I know of one club whose members regularly give non-manual speeches. What suggestions do you have to stop this?

• Every member learns something for a manual speech. They are each geared to one or another skill. These members need to be reminded of that fact.
• It’s in the bylaws. They need to be reminded of that fact.
• Set an example. Make it a habit - if they don’t have a manual with them, mention it in the evaluation.