Top 10 Ideas & Tips For Building Toastmasters Club Membership

1. Make sure club members know and understand the DCP.
* Involve club members in the development of the club's DCP plan.
* Encourage club members to help club achieve DCP goals.
* Present a DCP status report to club members at least once a month.

2. Make sure every club officer is trained and understands their responsibilities.

3. Make membership building EVERY member's responsibility.

4. Conduct a quality meeting whether you have 2 people or 20+ people in attendance.
* Begin and end meetings ON TIME.
* Have a meeting agenda. The agenda should indicate what time each section of the meeting will take place. This will help the meeting progress within the specified timeframe.
* Assign meeting roles at least one week prior to allow time for preparation.
* Each meeting role should be explained at the beginning of the meeting to help guests understand and to serve as a reminder to members.
* Make it a habit to not apologize for being small, inexperienced, or doing things incorrectly.
* Every speech given should be a manual speech. The manual provides objectives for the speaker and guidelines for what the evaluator should look for during the presentation.
* The General Evaluator should give an honest evaluation of the meeting.
* Use name tags or name tents to help members and guests remember names. It creates a positive and warm atmosphere.
* Set a good example for others to follow.

5. Treat guests like royalty.
* Offer them a guest packet (including a membership application).
* Sergeant-At-Arms (or other club member) should greet the guest when they arrive.
* Invite the guest to sign the club guest book (include name, phone number, address).
* Club members should introduce themselves to the guest.
* Introduce them to the group at the beginning of the meeting.
* Seat the guest next to an experienced Toastmaster who can answer questions during the meeting.
* Do not call on them for Table Topics unless you have asked permission before meeting began.
* At the conclusion of the meeting: Ask them to share their comments. Invite them to join.
* Make sure every officer understands how to correctly complete a membership application form.
* If a guest wants to join, help them complete a membership application form and take their payment.
* Process all new member applications promptly.
* After the meeting, send a thank-you note to the guest and invite them to return.

6. Take new members under the club's wing.
* Assign a mentor to each new member.
* Encourage the new member to sign-up for the "easy" meeting roles first (I.E. Timer, Ah Counter).
* Invite the new member to schedule their Ice Breaker soon after they join.
* Help the new member learn how to perform each meeting role.

7. Conduct the Moments of Truth module each Toastmaster year (July 1 - June 30) with the purpose of evaluating how well the club is meeting the needs of its members.

8. Make sure guests can find your club meeting.
* Meeting day, time, and location should be consistent to help bring people to your meeting.
* Notify all club members when a schedule or location change is necessary.
* Send a note to a recent guest to inform them of change in venue or meeting day/time.

9. Get everyone involved in the meeting. Make sure that everyone has a chance to speak.

10. Have FUN!!