The mere thought of speaking to a large audience or even to one or two people makes some people uncomfortable or, at worst, terrified. They are afraid of embarrassing themselves,boring their audience, or appearing unknowledgeable about the subject matter.

But good speaking skills are important. In business, community, and home lives they canhelp people work together better, effectively develop and present ideas, give better presentations and enhance self-confidence

Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization dedicated to helping people improve their communication and leadership skills. Today there are more than 90 community and corporate clubs around upstate New York so chances are good that there's a club in a town near you.

However, should you decide the time is right to start up a new club, this area will provide:

Step 1: Decide what kind of a club you want to build

Community clubs are formed for the general public. They may meet in public libraries, civic centers, restaurants, and other areas accessible by the public. Some larger communities, like those in urban areas, can support more than one Toastmasters club, so if your community is large and already has one club, do not let it prevent you from forming another one.

Corporate clubs are formed in companies, government agencies, and other organizations that recognize that Toastmasters offers the most effective, cost-efficient form of communication training available.

Step 2: Get help from the District

Once you've decided what type of club you want to form, seek help from the Lt. Governor Marketing (email: LGM@tmdistrict65.org) to help you put together a team of people that will help the club charter and that will work with it for up to a year after it charters.
The team includes:

Club sponsor: Each new club may have up to two sponsors.
Club mentor: Each new club may have up to two mentors who are appointed by the District Governor.

Step 3: Advertise for members

If you are starting a community club:
1. Plan a demonstration meeting to show prospective membershow a club meeting is conducted and what the program can do for them.
2. Publicize the demonstration meeting in the local media.
3. Place posters and other announcements on community bulletin boards.

If you are forming a Corporate Club
1. The key to building a corporate club is to obtain the support of a person who can authorize the formation of the club. Arrange to meet the personnel director, the person in charge of human resources, or even the company president.
2. You must be able to convince that person that Toastmasters training helps employees improve their communication and leadership skills.
3. Once you have obtained the company's philosophical support, finalize its financial commitment and support.
5. Arrange a time and place to conduct a demonstration meeting and invite company officials to attend the demonstration meeting to show prospective members that the organization supports the new club.
6. Publicize the demonstration meeting on company bulletin boards, in newsletters and memos, and via email.

Step 4: New Club Paperwork

The Forms in this manual must be filled out and submitted and money collected and accounted for:

1. Send in an "Application to Organize a Toastmasters club"
2. Send in the "Club officers list" and "club information form" (Part A)
3. Send in the "Charter membership roster and mailing list" (Part B)
4. Fill in and send in the "Constitution and Bylaws" with "certificate of club adoption" (Part C)
5. Send in Remittance form and payment to cover:

• $125.00 Charter Fee (if not previously remitted),
• $27.00 dues for six months in advance commencing with the month in which the application is submitted and the charter is issued,
• $20.00 New Member Fee payable per member. (Part D)

Step 5: New Club Finances

Before the demonstration meeting you should decide how to handle any money collected from the prospective club. You or an elected club officer may begin to collect payment for dues and fees from the club's prospective members during or soon after the club's first meeting. Many clubs choose at this stage to open a checking account.

In many cases it is possible to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) quickly by telephone or fax. If the club prefers, World Headquarters can be designated as the club's proxy and will apply for the number on behalf of the club. Without the EIN the club will not be able to open its own bank account. An EIN is simply a type of tax identification number and does not imply that a club would ever or could ever have employees.

Once you have applied for and received a tax number, send it to Toastmasters International and it will be listed on the “Update Your Club's Meeting Time / Location” page on the Toastmasters International website. All clubs are required by law to have one, so if no number appears on your page, there's a link you can use to obtain one.

Step 6: Plan the Demonstration Meeting

A Demonstration meeting is your opportunity to show prospective members how a Toastmasters club meeting is conducted and what the Toastmasters program can do for them.

• A typical demonstration meeting requires eight or more experienced Toastmasters. Select a demonstration team that will present a good,typical yet abbreviated Toastmasters club meeting.
• Keep the meeting short and within any time limitations.
• Select a relatively inexperienced speaker who is not too polished will be less likely to intimidate the prospective members and will show them that Toastmasters offers something for the unseasoned presenter
• Select experienced Toastmasters to assume various meeting roles and be sure each takes into consideration the audience's perspective.
• Invite representatives of the sponsoring organization.
• Use the meeting outlines on page 19 of this manual to plan your Demonstration meetings.