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Successful Club Series
The Successful Club Series is a set of 10-15 minute educational speeches focused on improving the quality of club meetings, with tips on attracting and maintaining members. This program is usually presented during a club meeting. Included in the program are a script outlining the workshop and a PowerPoint presentation.
The chart below provides information about each of the Successful Club Series presentations along with a link for members to download the module at no cost. The Successful Club Series is also available individually or as a set in hard copy (shop online).
Note that you will need to login to the Toastmaster site in order to download or purchase hard copies of the series.
Presentation of a Successful Club Series module can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) or Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) award.
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Success Communication Series
The Success Communication Program is comprised of several modules designed to offer a higher, more comprehensive level of training for developing and improving communication skills. In addition to the presentation materials, each program also provides ample opportunity for participants to practice what they have learned.
Each module is conducted as a workshop of one or more sessions with five or more participants from your club, company, or community. Every module includes a script and instructions for presenting the program. Most modules also include PowerPoint presentations and participant notebooks.
As the seminar leader, you will
- Develop strong presentation skills
- Improve your training abilities
- Demonstrate teaching skills in a workshop environment
- Learn the “ins and outs” of meeting planning
- Gain expertise with visual aids
- Provide a much needed educational service to others
Presentation of a Success Communication Program can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) award.
The chart below lists the titles of the Success/ Communication modules. Click on the titles to see a summary of an individual module.
The Art of Effective Evaluation
To many people, evaluations are the most important aspect of the Toastmaster’s program. No matter what your vocation, the ability to effectively evaluate any situation or condition is a necessity. In delivering this program you will teach the finer points of offering constructive criticism.
| Exercises |
• |
Identifying reasons why people need to become more effective speakers |
| |
• |
Recognizing the factors that contribute to the club’s evaluation climate |
| |
• |
Determining overall evaluation strengths and weaknesses |
| |
• |
Building self-esteem through evaluation |
| |
• |
Practicing evaluation skills |
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
| Item: 251 |
Order Online |
Building Your Thinking Power Part I: Mental Flexibility
Mental flexibility can be defined as a way of thinking – an atitude. It’s a way of approaching situations that allows you to adapt your behavior so you can achieve the best outcomes. By increasing your mental flexibility, you become a better listener, a keener observer, a more skilled thinker and a more effective problem solver.
| Exercises |
• |
Developing listening and feedback skills |
| |
• |
Exercising perceptual skills and mental flexibility |
| |
• |
Interpreting information in an open-minded way |
| |
• |
Determining what causes people to react negatively |
| |
• |
Increasing awareness of varying points of view |
| |
• |
Illustrating the importance of suspending value judgments and waiting for more information |
| |
• |
Learning semantic flexibility and its impact on the thinking process |
| |
• |
Thinking strategically |
| Time: |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Item: 253 |
Order Online |
Building Your Thinking Power Part II: The Power of Ideas
People who are skilled at producing new ideas can make a profoundly important contribution to our society. This program will clarify the basic principles of creative thinking and explore specific techniques that can make all of us more effective idea producers.
| Exercises |
• |
Understanding the difference between covergent and divergent thinking |
| |
• |
Enhancing imagination |
| |
• |
Producing fluent ideas |
| |
• |
Exercising the skill of hypnothesing |
| |
• |
Creating ideas through brainstorming |
| Time: |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Item: 254 |
Order Online |
From Speaker to Trainer
Many businesses and organizations have realized the importance of training. Properly trained people increase productivity and make fewer mistakes. But how do you train people? In this program, you’ll teach the five steps involved in preparing and presenting a training program using adult learning principles. You’ll also teach the roles of trainers and the differences between public speaking and training while providing practical experience in facilitating discussion and conducting exercises. You’ll teach how to make the learning experience enjoyable too.
| Exercises |
• |
Conducting warm up exercises |
| |
• |
Determining participant’s expectations |
| |
• |
Conducting a gap analysis |
| |
• |
Writing training objectives |
| |
• |
Identifying the characteristics of an effective trainer |
| |
• |
Conducting an effective role play |
| |
• |
Determining presentation styles |
| |
• |
Preparing a lesson plan |
| |
• |
Handling difficult behavior |
| |
• |
Applying your skills |
| Time: |
4.5 hours |
| Item: 257 |
Order online |
How to Listen Effectively
When other people talk, do you listen to what they mean or do you just hear what they say? Listening is a much more active skill than some may think. Effective listening requires certain techniques for receiving, organizing and interpreting what has been said. In delivering this program you will help others to recognize and develop these skills.
| Exercises |
• |
Developing skills in active listening |
| |
• |
Studying barriers to effective listening |
| |
• |
Identifying situations in which active listening is important |
| |
• |
Creating an awareness of the need for effective listening |
| |
• |
Learning how to avoid distractions |
| |
• |
Promoting listening readiness |
| |
• |
Eliminating hasty judgements when listening |
| |
• |
Practicing listening to understand |
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
| Item: 242 |
Order Online |
Speechcraft
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Success Leadership Series
Success Leadership Series is comprised of several modules designed to offer a higher, more comprehensive level of training for developing strong leadership skills. In addition to the presentation materials, each program also provides ample opportunity for participants to practice what they have learned.
Each module is conducted as a workshop of one or more sessions with five or more participants from your club, company or community. Every module includes a script and instructions for presenting the program. Most modules also include PowerPoint presentations and participant notebooks.
As the seminar leader, you will
-
- Develop strong presentation skills
- Improve your training abilities
- Demonstrate teaching skills in a workshop environment
- Learn the “ins and outs” of meeting planning
- Gain expertise with visual aids
- Provide a much needed educational service to others
Presentation of a Success Leadership Series can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) award.
The chart below lists the Success Leadership Series modules. Click on the titles to see a summary of an individual module.
How to Conduct Productive Meetings
Learn the techniques and dynamics for conducting productive meetings in any group. A group leader working from a coordinator’s guide reviews the techniques and dynamics of small group meetings. Materials for eight people. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Effective purpose statements
- Leading a meeting
|
| Time: |
1 hour |
Improving Your Management Skills
Managers are an integral part of any organization. Our society depends on the goods and services provided by the organizations these individuals manage. Each of us has experience with managers every day, directly and indirectly, as we come into contact with businesses and other organizations. Whether we have positive experiences in these encounters depends greatly on the people who manage them. This program helps participants develop the skills and qualities required to be an effective manager and shows how they can incorporate them into their own work. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Defining management
- Identifying the four major management skills
- Setting goals
- Motivating others
- Coaching for succes
- Solving problems
|
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
Leadership Part I: Characteristics of Effective Leaders
Leaders influence and inspire group members and motivate followers to achieve a mission or goal. They have power. This educational workshop explores the qualities, values and styles effective leaders display and helps participants identify their own leadership style and determine the team’s leadership needs. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Determining your leadership style
- Determining team leadership need
- Discussing leadership gaps and leadership matches
|
| Time: |
90 minutes |
Leadership Part II: Developing Your Leadership Skills
To be an effective leader, you must have the ability to accept and overcome challenges. By being a positive influence, you will help members to function productively and to deliver quality performance. This module teaches the skills and techniques needed to be an effective leader, such as contracting for excellence, team-building, motivation and coaching. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Discussing personal fulfillment
- Discussing contracts
- Discussing motivation
- Coaching team members to improve performance
|
| Time: |
60 to 90 minutes |
Leadership Part III: Working in the Team Environment
This educational program helps participants learn to use their leadership skills as they pertain to working with and leading teams. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Developing team relations
- Encouraging commitment
- Providing structure
- Building trust
- Resolving conflict
|
| Time: |
60 to 90 minutes |
Parliamentary Procedure in Action
Appropriate rules of order are a must in most corporations, assoc
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Club Administration
One of the most important activities for any club is keeping a handle on all of the administrative details required to ensure the smooth operation of your club. Common duties include completing the basic paperwork, tracking deadlines, communicating with other Toastmasters groups, and building club membership. Performing these duties in a timely fashion not only helps the Toastmasters organization support its members, but it also provide a strong sense of accomplishment to those helping fulfill these duties.
While tracking these activities may not seem very “rewarding,” learning how to manage administrative tasks is an important part of developing your leadership skills. Please review the brief descriptions below to better understand the administrative tasks involved in running your club.
Club Officers Roles
Each of the officers in a Toastmasters club has certain responsibilities to fulfill in supporting the club and its members. There are several officer positions within each Toastmasters club both to spread the workload fairly and to expand the leadership opportunities for club members.
Club Officer Tasks
As a club officer, you will be asked to complete several forms and reports for your club and Toastmasters International. Keeping track of all of these documents can sometimes seem a daunting task. To help clarify these duties, the district has compiled a basic list outlining the most important administrative tasks required of clubs.
Club Officer Checklist
Details the month-to-month activities and events each club officer should be addressing.
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Club Officer Roles
Each of the officers in a Toastmasters club has certain responsibilities to fulfill in supporting the club and its members. There are several officer positions within each Toastmasters club both to spread the workload fairly and to expand the leadership opportunities for club members.
Filling an officer role does not mean that you are required to do the job alone. Being an officer simply means that you are responsible for ensuring that the job gets done. As an officer, you are allowed – indeed, encouraged – to ask other members of the club to help you fulfill your duties.
Serving as a club officer for at least six months satisfies one of the requirements for Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) recognition.
Some club elect new officers every six months (semiannually) while other clubs hold elections once a year (annually). This usually depends on whether the club meets every week or every two weeks. Semiannual terms are an option available only to clubs that meet weekly.
Preparing to Be a Club Officer
One of the most important things to do in preparing for a club officer position is to attend one of the Club Officer Training sessions sponsored by the district. (In fact, attending these sessions is one of the goals for helping make your club a Distinguished Club.) Please make every effort to attend training so you can receive the support you need to better serve your club.
Transferable Skills
Think that being a club officer is all work and no benefit? Think again! Check out the transferable skills you can develop by being a club officer. It’s a win/win for all! A table showing the transferable skills for each office is available here with those for each office shown below with the office description.
Club Executive Team
Collectively, a club’s officers are referred to as the club’s Executive Team. The club officer positions and their respective responsibilities are listed below:
- President
- Vice President Education
- Vice President Membership
- Vice President Public Relations
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Sergeant at Arms
- Immediate Past President
President
The President is the chief executive officer for the club. The primary responsibilities of this role involve the general supervision and operation of the club.
The President presides at club meetings and directs the club in meeting the members’ needs for educational growth and leadership. In cooperation with the other officers, the President establishes long-term and short-term goals for the club.
In additon to his or her club role, the President is also a member of the Area Council. An Area Council is the management group for the area. The council helps each club in the area provide a positive and supportive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills. Additionally, the Area Council helps keep clubs focused and on track to achieve goals.
Transferable Skills: Team building/Leading, Strategic Planning/Guidance, Conflict Resolution, Negations/Project management, Meeting Facilitation, Time Management, Parliamentary Processes, Consulting, Coaching and Networking
Vice President Education
The Vice President Education (VPE) manages all educational programs within the club. The primary responsibilities of this role involve ensuring that all members continue their progress toward their own individual educational goals.
The VPE plans, organizes, and implements meeting schedules to include speeches, educational modules, and other events sufficient to meet both individual and club objectives. When members complete a speech or other major achievement, the VPE will sign or initial the appropriate documentation and contact Toastmasters International to ensure proper recognition. New members will receive orientation and be assigned a mentor by the VPE.
In addition to his or her club role, the Vice President Education is also a member of the Area Council.
Transferable Skills: Scheduling, Conflict Resolution, Negotiations, Strategic Planning, Time Management, Recognition Incentives, Event/Meeting Planning, Personnel Development, Career Planning, Training and Networking
Vice President Membership
The Vice President Membership (VPM) manages the activities that sustain and increase the number of members in the club. The primary responsibilities of this role involve marketing and some administration.
The VPM plans, organizes, and implements a continuous marketing effort to ensure that club membership remains above club charter strength (20 members). This is accomplished both by retaining current members (working with the VPE) and by gaining new members (working with the VPPR). The VPM is responsible for the semi-annual membership reports to Toastmasters International and for keeping the membership roster and attendance records.
In addition to his or her club role, the Vice President Membership is also a member of the Area Council.
Transferable Skills: Personnel Orientation, Personnel Development, Career Planning, Customer service, Public Relations, Reward/Incentive, Planning, Campaign Development, Marketing and Sales, Consulting, Seminar Development and Networking
Vice President Public Relations
The Vice President Public Relations (VPPR) manages the creation and maintenance of the club’s image. The primary responsibilities of this role involve both internal and external communications.
The VPPR plans, organizes, and implements programs to maintain the positive image of the club and of Toastmasters for an audience consisting of all guests, members and the general public. Common activities in this role include press releases, publicity campaigns, website maintenance, media representation, and club newsletters.
Transferable Skills: Media Relations, Campaign Development, Reward/Incentive, Planning, Consulting, Journalism, Publications, Advertising and Promotion, Photography, Graphic Design, Seminar Development and Networking
Secretary
The Secretary manages all record-keeping and correspondence. The primary responsibilities of this role involve handling administrative details between the club and Toastmasters International and keeping the club’s documents available and up-to-date.
The Secretary maintains the club’s records, including club by-laws and the club constitution. Additionally, the Secretary handles and maintains new member applications, updated membership records, supply orders, officer lists, and past club records. The Secretary also records and reads the minutes for club meetings and for meetings of the Executive Team.
Transferable Skills: Report Writing, Policy Administration, Purchasing, Order Processing, Historian/Librarian, Research, Document Control and Event Coordination
Treasurer
The Treasurer manages the club’s financial health. The primary responsibilities of this role involve handling the club’s finances, including the collection of club dues and the payment of all bills.
The Treasurer receives and disburses funds to further the operation of the club and its officers. All club accounts are managed by this office. Twice annually, the Treasurer must notify members of dues collection and then collect club dues from each member.
Transferable Skills: Budget Preparation, Revenue Tracking, Revenue Forecasting, Revenue Generation, Money Management, Policy Administration, Purchasing and Consulting
Sergeant at Arms
The Sergeant at Arms (SAA) manages the club’s meeting facilities and decorum. The primary responsibilities of this role involve all those tasks expected of the host of the meeting.
The SAA arranges the room and setup for all meetings, sets out and cares for the club’s materials and supplies, and greets members – and especially guests – as they come in the door.
Transferable Skills: Report Writing, Inventory Management, Master of Ceremonies, Interpersonal/Communication Skills, Customer Service, Negotiations, Consulting and Event Planning
Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President guides and supports the Executive Team. The primary responsibilities of this role involve serving as a resource for new officers and ensuring continuity with past terms.
The Immediate Past President chairs the Nominating Committee, assists in preparing the Club Success Plan, and promotes the club’s efforts to be recognized under the Distinguished Club Program.
Transferable Skills: Team Building, Strategic Guidance, Consultation, Training, Coaching, Career Planning, Parliamentary Processes and Policy Administration
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Club Officer Tasks
Listed below is a list of administrative tasks that will help your club operate efficiently and effectively. Some of these tasks are ongoing activities, while others occur on a calendar basis.
Note: A club officer can add and update basic club information such as new members,semi-annual dues, educational awards, club information, etc. online. See the Club Central page for information (only available to club officers; login required).
Calendar Activities
| First Half of Toastmasters Year |
| July-August |
Attend Club Officer Training |
| July-August |
Invite your Area Director for a visit |
| August |
Hold internal Club Evaluation and Humorous Speech contest
Notify your Area Director of the winner(s) |
| September 1 |
Start collecting dues from club members |
| September |
Attend Area Evaluation and Humorous Speech contest |
| October 1 |
Send Semi-Annual Membership Report and member dues to Toastmasters International before October 1 |
| October |
Attend Division Evaluation and Humorous Speech contest |
| November |
Hold club officer elections
(if your club elects officers in six-month terms) |
| November |
Attend Fall District Conference
• District Council Business Meeting
• District Evaluation and Humorous Speech contest |
| December |
Attend Club Officer Training |
| December 31 |
Submit Club Officer Information to Toastmasters International before December 31 |
| Second Half of Toastmasters Year |
| January-February |
Attend Club Officer Training |
| January-February |
Invite your Area Director for a visit |
| February |
Hold internal Club Table Topics and International Speech contest
Notify your Area Director of the winners |
| February 1 |
Start collecting dues from club members |
| March |
Attend Area Table Topics and International Speech contest |
| April 1 |
Send Semi-Annual Membership Report and member dues to Toastmasters International before April 1 |
| April |
Attend Division Table Topics and International Speech contest |
| April |
Send entry for Golden Quill and Platinum Page award awards to District Public Relations Officer. |
| May |
Hold club officer elections (all clubs) |
| May |
Attend Spring District Conference
• District Council Business Meeting
• District officer elections
• District Table Topics and International Speech contest |
| June |
Attend Club Officer Training |
| June |
Submit club proxy for Annual Business Meeting held at the August International Convention |
| June 30 |
Submit Club Officer Information to Toastmasters International before June 30 |
Ongoing Activities
| Event |
Required Task |
| New member joins club |
Send Membership Application form and member dues to Toastmasters International |
| Member completes CC requirements |
Submit Competent Communicator Award Application to Toastmasters International |
| Member completes AC requirements |
Submit Advanced Communicator Award Application to Toastmasters International |
| Member completes CL, AL or DTM requirements |
Submit Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards Application to Toastmasters International |
| Club changes meeting location and/or time |
Submit club Change information to Toastmasters International |
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Club Officer Checklist
The following calendar/checklist shows by month the activities and events club officers should be addressing. Officers should refer to the checklist in the Appendix of their When You Are the… manual for a more detailed listing.
Officers may also want to use the Club Officer Calendar handout from the prior TLI. It is a single page grid showing important events and deadlines for the Toastmaster year.
| July Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training if you did not attend in June. (Training Schedule)
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review last year’s Distinguished Club Program (DCP) results for your club.
- Review the Product Guide and order educational materials.
- Establish the club’s goals for the current year’s Distinguished Club Program.
- Read your When You Are the… manual.
|
| President |
- If not done by predecessor, designate club’s proxy-holder for Annual Business Meeting conducted during International Convention. (Proxy FAQ)
|
| VP Education |
- Meet with each member to discuss his or her educational goals and determine which award(s) he/she will achieve in the coming year.
- Plan and schedule club’s Evaluation and Humorous Speech contests for August meeting.
|
| VP Membership |
- Report on the results of Beat the Clock! and annual membership programs at the club meeting and in club newsletter/website. (Results available on Membership Building Contests page.)
- Promote TI’s membership programs, including the Smedley Award (Aug 1 – Sept 30), during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| VP Public Relations |
- Review and refresh any existing publicity kit for the media. If none exists, consider creating one.
- Begin to form a regular presence on at least one social networking site.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| August Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training if you did not attend in June or July. (Training Schedule)
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| VP Education |
- Conduct club’s Evaluation and Humorous Speech contests.
- Send club contest winners names to Area Director as contestants in September area contest.
|
| VP Membership |
- Promote the Smedley Award membership campaign (Aug 1 – Sept 30) during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| VP Public Relations |
Ensure that the club’s meeting location and time are listed correctly with World Headquarters. |
| Treasurer |
- Begin collecting member dues to meet October 1 deadline for submission.
|
| President or VP Education |
- Cast club’s votes at Annual Business Meeting conducted during International Convention or if not done yet, designate proxy-holder. (Proxy FAQ)
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| September Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Promote Area Evaluation and Humorous Speech Contest (contest schedule) and encourage all members to attend in support of club’s contestants.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| President |
|
| VP Membership |
- Continue promoting the Smedley Award membership campaign (ends Sept 30) during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| Treasurer |
- Complete collecting member dues and submit membership list with payment to Toastmasters International before October 1 deadline.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| October Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Promote Division Evaluation and Humorous Speech Contest (contest schedule) and encourage all members to attend in support of area’s contestants.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| President |
- Ensure your club’s dues renewal (membership list with payment) is at World Headquarters by October 1.
|
| VP Membership |
- Report on the results of the Smedley Award membership campaign during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| VP Public Relations |
- Submit newsletter entry for Golden Quill to District Public Relations Officer (pro@d4tm.org) before October 31 deadline.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| November Checklist |
| All Officers |
- If your club elects semiannually, conduct club officer elections.
- Promote District Fall Conference.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| Secretary |
- If your club elects semiannually, submit new club officer list through the Club Business section of the Toastmasters International website before December 31 deadline (login required).
|
| President and VP Education |
- Attend District Council Meeting at Fall Conference. If unable to attend, assign vote to another club member using Proxy.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| December Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training. (Training Schedule) Note that officers annually and semiannually must attend for DCP credit.
- If your club elects semiannually, current officers meet with incoming officers to help prepare them for their roles.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| Secretary |
- If your club elects semiannually, submit new club officer list through the Club Business section of the Toastmasters International website before December 31 deadline (login required).
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| January Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training if you did not attend in December. (Training Schedule)
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review current year’s Distinguished Club Program (DCP) results for your club.
- Review the Product Guide and order educational materials.
- (New officers) Read your When You Are the… manual.
|
| VP Education |
- Meet with each member to discuss his or her educational goals and determine which award(s) he/she will achieve in the next six months.
- Plan and schedule club’s Table Topics and International Speech contests for February meeting.
|
| VP Membership |
- Promote TI’s membership programs, including Talk Up Toastmasters! (Feb 1 – Mar 31), during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
VP Public Relations
(newly elected) |
- Review and refresh any existing publicity kit for the media. If none exists, consider creating one.
- Begin to form a regular presence on at least one social networking site.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| February Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training if you did not attend in December or January (Training Schedule). Note that training ends in February.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| VP Education |
- Conduct club’s Table Topics and International Speech contests.
- Send club contest winners names to Area Director as contestants in March area contest.
|
| VP Membership |
- Promote the Talk Up Toastmasters membership campaign (Feb 1 – Mar 31) during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| VP Public Relations |
Ensure that the club’s meeting location and time are listed correctly with World Headquarters. |
| Treasurer |
- Begin collecting member dues to meet April 1 deadline for submission.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| March Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Promote Area Table Topics and International Speech Contest (contest schedule) and encourage all members to attend in support of club’s contestants.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| President |
|
| VP Membership |
- Continue promoting the Talk Up Toastmasters! membership campaign (ends March 31) during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| Treasurer |
- Complete collecting member dues and submit membership list with payment to Toastmasters International before April 1 deadline.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| April Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Promote Division Table Topics and International Speech Contest (contest schedule) and encourage all members to attend in support of area’s contestants.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP).
|
| President |
- Ensure your club’s dues renewal (membership list with payment) is at World Headquarters by April 1.
|
| VP Education |
- Review members’ progress and ensure that all have received credit for completed educationals. Encourage those who are close to completion to set a June 30 goal.
|
| VP Membership |
- Report on the results of the Talk Up Toastmasters! membership campaign during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
- Begin promoting Beat the Clock membership campaign which runs from May 1st through June 30th.
|
| VP Public Relations |
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| May Checklist |
| All Officers |
|
| VP Education |
- Review members’ progress and ensure that all have received credit for completed educationals. Encourage those who are one or two speeches from completion to speak at a May or June meeting.
|
| VP Membership |
- Promote the Beat the Clock membership campaign (May 1 – Jun 30) during meetings and in club newsletter/website.
|
| Secretary |
- Submit new club officer list through the Club Business section of the Toastmasters International website before June 30 deadline (login required).
|
| President and VP Education |
- Attend District Council Meeting at Spring Conference. If unable to attend, assign vote to another club member using Proxy.
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through local division on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
| June Checklist |
| All Officers |
- Attend district-sponsored club officer training. (Training Schedule)
- Current officers meet with incoming officers to help prepare them for their roles.
- Conduct executive committee meeting with each officer reporting on activities/accomplishments/plans.
- Review the club’s goals for the current year Distinguished Club Program (DCP). Ensure that all educationals completions and new member applications have been credited with Toastmasters International.
|
| President |
- Invite Area Director to install newly elected officers.
|
| Secretary |
- Submit new club officer list through the Club Business section of the Toastmasters International website before June 30 deadline (login required).
|
| President, VP Education and VP Membership |
- Attend and vote at the area council meeting. (Area Director contact information available through the list on Areas and Divisions page.)
|
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CLUB PROMOTION
Publicity
Publicizing and promoting your club is much like public speaking, in that good public relations skills are not taught but rather are developed through regular practice. Good public relations can be defined as anything that produces a positive response and stimulates the reader or listener to do something, such as visit a club meeting or a club web site to learn more about Toastmasters.
Your Target Audience
In the broadest sense, everyone can benefit from joining Toastmasters, so everyone should theoretically be a target for your club’s publicity. However, a good publicity campaign is much more likely to succeed if your audience is well defined. Identifying your club’s target audience is critical to developing the message you want to convey, as the message will depend very much on the needs of your audience. Having a well-defined target audience will also make it easier to determine the medium with which you will deliver that message.
Types of Activities
There are several basic activities that your club can conduct to publicize itself. Some of these basic activities include posting flyers in a public location (such as a library or company cafeteria), distributing hand-outs or brochures at an event, and arranging public service announcements in newspapers and on the radio. All of these activities are fairly simple to accomplish.
Other forms of publicity can take a little more effort to accomplish but generally yield much greater results. One such activity is to pitch a story to a local newspaper (which may include writing a press release). The most important step here is to get the name of a contact person in the news organization that you are targeting. Because of the nature of Toastmasters, publications such as newspapers can sometimes be persuaded to carry a “good will” story about your club. On occasion, local radio or television stations may even want to arrange an interview.
Framed in the proper light, almost any club event can become newsworthy. Many are relatively routine and may receive only a brief mention. Others have greater news value and may strike a cord within a particular organization, possibly giving your club more extensive media coverage. Listed here are a few suggestions for events that may be potential news stories:
- Regular meetings/calendar
- Election of officers
- Important visitors or guests
- Club anniversary
- Toastmasters International anniversary month (October)
- Joint meeting with other club(s)
- Demonstration meetings
- Speech contests
- Special programs open to the public
(Speechcraft, Youth Leadership, etc.)
For additional ideas about promoting your club, refer to the “Let the World Know” handbook from Toastmasters International. This publicity and promotion handbook is listed in the Toastmasters International Supply Catalog, which is also available online. (The catalog number for the Club Success Plan is 220.)
Special Events
Through special awards, the Toastmasters program allows your club to recognize non-Toastmasters for their achievements. Not only does this benefit the community at large by drawing attention to outstanding individuals in the community, but the presentation of these awards offers a terrific opportunity for your club to generate positive publicity.
Communication and Leadership Award
This award represents an opportunity for the club to recognize someone outside the club for his/her contributions to communication excellence. Recipients may include such figures as public officials, company executives, or local news broadcasters. A complete package describing this award and including a plaque and a sample press release is listed in the Toastmasters International Supply Catalog (catalog number 1972).
Honorary Club Membership
Once a year, your club may award an honorary membership to a non-Toastmaster for outstanding contributions to the community or to the club. The presentation of an honorary membership certificate (Supply Catalog number 508-A) can generate goodwill and publicity for your club.
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Publicity
Publicizing and promoting your club is much like public speaking, in that good public relations skills are not taught but rather are developed through regular practice. Good public relations can be defined as anything that produces a positive response and stimulates the reader or listener to do something, such as visit a club meeting or a club web site to learn more about Toastmasters.
Your Target Audience
In the broadest sense, everyone can benefit from joining Toastmasters, so everyone should theoretically be a target for your club’s publicity. However, a good publicity campaign is much more likely to succeed if your audience is well defined. Identifying your club’s target audience is critical to developing the message you want to convey, as the message will depend very much on the needs of your audience. Having a well-defined target audience will also make it easier to determine the medium with which you will deliver that message.
Types of Activities
There are several basic activities that your club can conduct to publicize itself. Some of these basic activities include posting flyers in a public location (such as a library or company cafeteria), distributing hand-outs or brochures at an event, and arranging public service announcements in newspapers and on the radio. All of these activities are fairly simple to accomplish.
Other forms of publicity can take a little more effort to accomplish but generally yield much greater results. One such activity is to pitch a story to a local newspaper (which may include writing a press release). The most important step here is to get the name of a contact person in the news organization that you are targeting. Because of the nature of Toastmasters, publications such as newspapers can sometimes be persuaded to carry a “good will” story about your club. On occasion, local radio or television stations may even want to arrange an interview.
Framed in the proper light, almost any club event can become newsworthy. Many are relatively routine and may receive only a brief mention. Others have greater news value and may strike a cord within a particular organization, possibly giving your club more extensive media coverage. Listed here are a few suggestions for events that may be potential news stories:
- Regular meetings/calendar
- Election of officers
- Important visitors or guests
- Club anniversary
- Toastmasters International anniversary month (October)
- Joint meeting with other club(s)
- Demonstration meetings
- Speech contests
- Special programs open to the public
(Speechcraft, Youth Leadership, etc.)
For additional ideas about promoting your club, refer to the “Let the World Know” handbook from Toastmasters International. This publicity and promotion handbook is listed in the Toastmasters International Supply Catalog, which is also available online. (The catalog number for the Club Success Plan is 220.)
Special Events
Through special awards, the Toastmasters program allows your club to recognize non-Toastmasters for their achievements. Not only does this benefit the community at large by drawing attention to outstanding individuals in the community, but the presentation of these awards offers a terrific opportunity for your club to generate positive publicity.
Communication and Leadership Award
This award represents an opportunity for the club to recognize someone outside the club for his/her contributions to communication excellence. Recipients may include such figures as public officials, company executives, or local news broadcasters. A complete package describing this award and including a plaque and a sample press release is listed in the Toastmasters International Supply Catalog (catalog number 1972).
Honorary Club Membership
Once a year, your club may award an honorary membership to a non-Toastmaster for outstanding contributions to the community or to the club. The presentation of an honorary membership certificate (Supply Catalog number 508-A) can generate goodwill and publicity for your club.
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Club Web Site
Building and maintaining a club web site is a vital communications tool.
Having a well-designed web site not only improves communication with your club’s members, it also can serve as an extremely effective way to promote your club. In designing your club’s web site, it’s a good idea to construct your home page with non-Toastmaster visitors in mind. There should be ample information to provide a visitor with a strong indication of what Toastmasters is about, an introduction to your club and mention of your club’s meeting time and location. In providing this information, the site should also invite guests to come and learn what Toastmasters has to offer.
Building Your Club Web Site
Just as there are nearly as many newsletter designs as newsletters, the number of ways in which you can design your club’s web site are almost limitless. One of the best site design tools available to Toastmasters clubs is Toastmasters International’s official club Web page hosting service, FreeToastHost 2.0.
Over half the clubs in the world make use of FreeToastHost 2.0. In addition to club web site hosting, this no-cost service also provides valuable tools such as as a duty roster, member directory, e-mail lists, discussion boards, and club calendars.
For clubs who do not use FreeToastHost 2.0, Toastmasters International offers official WordPress and Google templates on the Brand Portal. Be sure to follow the Brand Manual when designing your website and incorporate the logo, stock photography, graphic elements, color palette and typography.
Internet Guidelines
As your club designs and builds its own web site, please review the Websites secton of Protocol 4.0 Intellectional Properties of the Toastmasters International Policies and Protocal Governing Document available here from the Toastmasters International web site.
Promoting Your Site
After you club’s web site is up and running, the site won’t help you promote your club if you don’t promote the site as well. As such, your club should strive to use all of the publicity tools at its disposal to mention the web address of your club’s site. For example, be sure to list the web address on your club newsletter and in any newspaper announcements you have.
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Speechcraft
Speechcraft is an extended workshop on communication and leadership where the participants learn about various aspects of communication and leadership and are supported by a team of presenters and mentors and guided by a coordinator. The Speechcraft program allows experienced Toastmasters to present the fundamentals of public speaking to non-members in an atmosphere of a Toastmasters club meeting. It’s a great way to promote membership in your community or company club, as Speechcraft brings prospective new members to a meeting to see, first-hand, what Toastmasters is all about.
Speechcraft is also the quickest means by which people can jump right into the process of improving their speaking skills. Designed for non-Toastmasters, this series of educational sessions covers a number of topics that play a part in good public speaking, including the following:
- Take the Terror Out of a Talk
- Speech Organization
- Construct a Speech
- How to Relate to Your Audience
- Gestures
- Vocal Variety
- Using Visual Aids
- Effective Speech Evaluation
Speechcraft normally takes six to ten hours over the course of three to ten meetings, depending upon the pace and schedule set by the hosting team of presenters. Over the course of these sessions, participants learn about good public speaking and have the opportunity to practice within the Speechcraft group, mentored by experienced Toastmasters. Friendships and careers can and do blossom from the Speechcraft experience.
There usually is a nominal fee, which covers the cost of materials for the workshop, as well as an initial membership in Toastmasters. This new membership will help you solidify and continue the learning that you have begun in the Speechcraft program. The fee should cover program expenses (materials, refreshments, room rental). Any remaining money must be placed in the club’s treasury. No individuals, educational institutions or other organizations may derive financial gain either directly or indirectly from the presentation of these programs.
A Speechcraft workshop is the most cost-effective and time-effective way to acquire the skills of speaking, listening, thinking, and evaluating – skills vital to almost any profession in today’s world.
Why Should a Club Hold a Speechcraft?
Clubs find many benefits in hosting a Speechcraft session:
- Build club membership
- Give new members a helping hand with the different meeting roles
- Reach out to the community
- Give experienced members an opportunity to grow
- Share the Toastmasters experience with others
Also, individual Toastmasters can build their leadership skills and fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Toastmaster Gold recognition by coordinating a Speechcraft session.
How Does a Club Host a Speechcraft?
The club hosting the Speechcraft session should order a Speechcraft Starter Kit from Toastmasters International. This package contains a Coordinator’s Guide, Participant Handbooks and other supporting materials.
Turning Participants into New Members
Usually, Speechcraft participants are prospective new members for your club. They will join your club if they are impressed by the activities and members and can see the benefits they will gain from their experience. Impress participants and help them benefit by conducting the best program possible. Make them feel welcome. Finally, before the last session, ask participants to join the club. You may be able to combine Speechcraft graduation with a new-member induction ceremony!
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INCREASING CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Open House Meetings
One of the easiest ways to build membership is by Hosting an Open House. The person who chairs the event can even receive Chairperson Competent Leadership (CL) manual credit for either Organizing and & Delegating for organizing a special event or Motivation for running a membership campaign!
Here is the simple Open House how-to list:
-
- Select an Open House Committee.
- Choose a specific date at least a month in advance.
- Use the Open House Checklist to plan the event.
- Create a flyer similar to the one found here or use some of the promotional materials on the Increasing Club Membership page.
- Post the event on the District Meetup.
- Invite past members, current members and potential members to attend.
- Contact your club’s Area Governor (via email) to coordinate special guests from District and surrounding clubs to support the event.
- Use an abbreviated agenda similar to the one found here to have a one hour meeting.
- Provide your guests with information about Toastmasters and your club by using the Guest Guide Example or other promotional materials found at Toastmasters International (see Membership Building Resources found at the lower-right of this page).
- Celebrate your Open House and have fun!
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Adopt a Club – COACH, MENTOR or CHARTER
Take the next step in earning your Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) education award.
Your Task:
- Demonstrate your leadership skills by helping a qualifying club become Distinguished or higher.
Requirements:
- The club has 12 or fewer members
- The prospective coach must not be a member of the club at the time of official appointment
While one always hopes a club becomes distinguished in the same year as appointment, it is understood that under certain circumstances it can take longer. If a club does not become distinguished the same year as appointment, it will be extended an additional year automatically. An additional year may be granted upon request.
Please see the profiles below for clubs seeking immediate assistance
Club Goals
Club officers are asked to work together as a team, and perhaps one of the most important activities of a club’s executive team is to set goals for the club. From defining vision, mission and value statements to creating a Club Success Plan, there are several activities involved in making your club successful.
Educational Activities
The main reason that most members decide to join a club is to improve their speaking, listening and leadership skills. This is the main reason for the existence of the Toastmasters program. As such, there are a number of special activities that a club can conduct to help its members improve their communication and leadership skillls.
Club Administration
Like any organization, managing a club involves several administrative duties to keep things running smoothly. The basic administration of your club will involve a number of tasks — from completing membership forms, collecting dues, and meeting deadlines to building your club’s membership and communciating with Toastmasters International.
Club Officer Roles
The key to any successful club is the leadership of the club, and a large part of the Toastmasters program is building leadership skills. Being an officer in a club is one of the most effective — and rewarding — ways both to build your leadership skills and to help your club reach its goals.
Club Promotion
The overall health of a club depends very much on the number of active members in that club. Having a larger number of members in your club generally translates into more energetic and interesting meetings, which in turns leads to a higher level of satisfaction among your club’s members. Gaining new members, therefore, is a critical aspect of managing your club, and promoting your club is probably the best way to attract new members.
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Better Speaker Series
The Better Speaker Series is a set of educational speeches on speaking-related topics. Each module provides practical tips that can be of benefit to all members. Included in the program are a script outlining the module and a PowerPoint presentation. Each module is designed to be presented as a 10 – 15 minute speech.
The chart below provides information about each of the Better Speaker Series presentations along with a link for members to download the module at no cost. The Better Speaker Series is also available individually or as a set in hard copy (shop online). Note that you will need to login to the Toastmaster site in order to download or purchase hard copies of the series.
Presentation of a Better Speaker Series module can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) award.
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Success Communication Series
The Success Communication Program is comprised of several modules designed to offer a higher, more comprehensive level of training for developing and improving communication skills. In addition to the presentation materials, each program also provides ample opportunity for participants to practice what they have learned.
Each module is conducted as a workshop of one or more sessions with five or more participants from your club, company, or community. Every module includes a script and instructions for presenting the program. Most modules also include PowerPoint presentations and participant notebooks.
As the seminar leader, you will
- Develop strong presentation skills
- Improve your training abilities
- Demonstrate teaching skills in a workshop environment
- Learn the “ins and outs” of meeting planning
- Gain expertise with visual aids
- Provide a much needed educational service to others
Presentation of a Success Communication Program can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) award.
The chart below lists the titles of the Success/ Communication modules. Click on the titles to see a summary of an individual module.
The Art of Effective Evaluation
To many people, evaluations are the most important aspect of the Toastmaster’s program. No matter what your vocation, the ability to effectively evaluate any situation or condition is a necessity. In delivering this program you will teach the finer points of offering constructive criticism.
| Exercises |
• |
Identifying reasons why people need to become more effective speakers |
| |
• |
Recognizing the factors that contribute to the club’s evaluation climate |
| |
• |
Determining overall evaluation strengths and weaknesses |
| |
• |
Building self-esteem through evaluation |
| |
• |
Practicing evaluation skills |
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
| Item: 251 |
Order Online |
Building Your Thinking Power Part I: Mental Flexibility
Mental flexibility can be defined as a way of thinking – an atitude. It’s a way of approaching situations that allows you to adapt your behavior so you can achieve the best outcomes. By increasing your mental flexibility, you become a better listener, a keener observer, a more skilled thinker and a more effective problem solver.
| Exercises |
• |
Developing listening and feedback skills |
| |
• |
Exercising perceptual skills and mental flexibility |
| |
• |
Interpreting information in an open-minded way |
| |
• |
Determining what causes people to react negatively |
| |
• |
Increasing awareness of varying points of view |
| |
• |
Illustrating the importance of suspending value judgments and waiting for more information |
| |
• |
Learning semantic flexibility and its impact on the thinking process |
| |
• |
Thinking strategically |
| Time: |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Item: 253 |
Order Online |
Building Your Thinking Power Part II: The Power of Ideas
People who are skilled at producing new ideas can make a profoundly important contribution to our society. This program will clarify the basic principles of creative thinking and explore specific techniques that can make all of us more effective idea producers.
| Exercises |
• |
Understanding the difference between covergent and divergent thinking |
| |
• |
Enhancing imagination |
| |
• |
Producing fluent ideas |
| |
• |
Exercising the skill of hypnothesing |
| |
• |
Creating ideas through brainstorming |
| Time: |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Item: 254 |
Order Online |
From Speaker to Trainer
Many businesses and organizations have realized the importance of training. Properly trained people increase productivity and make fewer mistakes. But how do you train people? In this program, you’ll teach the five steps involved in preparing and presenting a training program using adult learning principles. You’ll also teach the roles of trainers and the differences between public speaking and training while providing practical experience in facilitating discussion and conducting exercises. You’ll teach how to make the learning experience enjoyable too.
| Exercises |
• |
Conducting warm up exercises |
| |
• |
Determining participant’s expectations |
| |
• |
Conducting a gap analysis |
| |
• |
Writing training objectives |
| |
• |
Identifying the characteristics of an effective trainer |
| |
• |
Conducting an effective role play |
| |
• |
Determining presentation styles |
| |
• |
Preparing a lesson plan |
| |
• |
Handling difficult behavior |
| |
• |
Applying your skills |
| Time: |
4.5 hours |
| Item: 257 |
Order online |
How to Listen Effectively
When other people talk, do you listen to what they mean or do you just hear what they say? Listening is a much more active skill than some may think. Effective listening requires certain techniques for receiving, organizing and interpreting what has been said. In delivering this program you will help others to recognize and develop these skills.
| Exercises |
• |
Developing skills in active listening |
| |
• |
Studying barriers to effective listening |
| |
• |
Identifying situations in which active listening is important |
| |
• |
Creating an awareness of the need for effective listening |
| |
• |
Learning how to avoid distractions |
| |
• |
Promoting listeneing readiness |
| |
• |
Eliminating hasty judgements when listening |
| |
• |
Practicing listening to understand |
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
| Item: 242 |
Order Online |
Speechcraft
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Successful Club Series
The Successful Club Series is a set of 10-15 minute educational speeches focused on improving the quality of club meetings, with tips on attracting and maintaining members. This program is usually presented during a club meeting. Included in the program are a script outlining the workshop and a PowerPoint presentation.
The chart below provides information about each of the Successful Club Series presentations along with a link for members to download the module at no cost. The Successful Club Series is also available individually or as a set in hard copy (shop online).
Note that you will need to login to the Toastmaster site in order to download or purchase hard copies of the series.
Presentation of a Successful Club Series module can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) or Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) award.
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Competent Leadership Manual
Each of the ten projects in the Competent Leadership (CL) manual focuses on a different leadership skill, providing you background information and an assignment that requires your serving in one or more specified meeting or club roles in which you can practice aspects of that skill. Roles can include Evaluator, Timer, Toastmaster, Ah-Counter and General Evaluator. In most projects you can choose which roles to serve in.
You can complete the manual at your own own pace and work on it at the same time as working on the Competent Communication or Advanced Communication manuals.
As an essential part of the Toastmasters program, another Toastmaster will provide you written and/or verbal feedback on each leadership project completed. The evaluator provides a personal opinion of your leadership role, pointing out strengths and offering suggestions for improvement. Each club should to how to handle CL manual evaluations.
Possible options are to
-
- Provide verbal evaluations for leadership projects during meetings
- Provide verbal evaluations privately outside of the club meeting
- Provide only written evaluations for leadership projects
- Provide verbal evaluations during meetings for both speech and leadership projects, but allow less time for each evaluation.
The chart below provides information about the projects in the Competent Leadership manual.
1. Listening
| Listening is an important leadership skill. Good listening helps you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative. Listening skills also play a major role in team-building. You can learn to be a leader by following a few simple suggestions. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to listen
• Identify and apply effective listening skills |
| Requirement |
Apply in any 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting)
• Speech Evaluator
• Table Topic Speaker
• Ah-Counter
• Grammarian |
2. Critical Thinking
| A leader gathers information, then analyzes, interprets and understands it before acting. Critical thinkers question what they read and hear, then determine the quality of a piece of information and use logical reasoning to reach conclusions. Critical thinkers make better decisions. You can learn to think more critically by following a few suggestions. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to think critically
• Identify and apply successful critical thinking practices |
| Requirement |
Apply in any 2 of the following roles (each at a different meeting)
• Speech Evaluator
• Grammarian
• General Evaluator |
3. Giving Feedback
| Team members need to know that they are doing well, what they are not doing well and how they can improve. Giving performance feedback is a necessary leadership function. When done properly, feedback can relieve stress, improve interpersonal relationships and promote trust and respect for leaders and team members. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to give feedback
• Identify and apply successful practices for giving feedback |
| Requirement |
Apply in all 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting)
• Speech Evaluator
• Grammarian
• General Evaluator |
4. Time Management
| Time management helps leaders make the most of the time available to them. You can budget your time and accomplish projects and tasks efficiently by identifying long-term and short-term goals, make a daily to-do list, prioritize the list, make a schedule, delegate when possible, leave time for unexpected tasks, and manage interruptions. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to manage time
• Identify and apply successful time management practices |
| Requirement |
Timer AND any 1 of the following roles (each at a different meeting)
• Toastmaster
• Speaker
• Grammarian
• Table Topics Master |
5. Planning and Implementation
| A plan provides direction for the leader and the team. The planning process involves setting goals and objectives and preparing plans and schedules to accomplish them. The process forces leaders to look beyond their everyday activities and think about what they want to happen in the future. Involving team members in the process will encourage their commitment. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to plan and implement
• Identify and apply successful planning and implementation practices |
| Requirement |
Apply in any 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting)
• Speaker
• General Evaluator
• Toastmaster
• Table Topics Master |
6. Organizing and Delegating
| Leaders must ensure the team is organized and capable of accomplishing goals and objectives, and they must provide the structure in which the team will operate. Delegation also plays a major role. A leaders should accomplish functions that only he or she has the knowledge and authority to do and delegate all other tasks to team members. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to organize and plan
• Identify the steps in the organizing and delegating process
• Identify and apply successful organization and delegation practices |
| Requirement |
Perform any 1 of the following tasks
• Help Organize Speech Contest
• Help Organize Club Special Event
• Help Club Membership Campaign or Contest
• Help Organize Club Public Relations Campaign
• Help with Club Newsletter
• Assist Club Webmaster |
7. Facilitation
| A facilitator establishes the structure of the team needs to function effectively, ensures the structure is working and removes obstacles that may be impeding progress. A facilitator also resolves conflicts which are inevitable any time two or more people are required to work together. Good facilitation skills can help the group reach a resolution. |
| Objectives |
• Determine your current facilitation abilities
• Identify your ability to facilite
• Identify and apply facilitation skills |
| Requirement |
Apply in any 2 of the following roles or tasks (each at a different meeting)
• Toastmaster
• General Evaluator
• Table Topics Master
• Befriend Guest |
8. Motivation
| A motivated team can overcome obstacles of all types to achieve its goals. A leader creates and maintains an environment where team members are likely to become motivated. Leaders find out what motivates team members, then develops reward systems that match what team members value. They also look for ways to reward team members for doing the right things. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to motivate
• Identify and apply leadership practices that effectively motivate people |
| Requirement |
Roles:
• Toastmaster
• Evaluator
• General Evaluator
• Chair of Membership Campaign
• Chair of Public Relations Campaign |
9. Mentoring
| A mentor recognizes an individual who has less experience and cultivates that person’s potential and talents and helps him or her succeed. Leaders are also mentors. You can be a mentor by offering someone opportunities for skill development, helping the person recognize areas needing work, providing helpful advice, being a role model, and encouraging the person to think for himself or herself. |
| Objectives |
• Evaluate your ability to mentor
• Identify and apply effective mentoring skills |
| Requirement |
Apply in 1 of the following tasks
• Mentor a New Member with the First Three Projects in the CC Manual
• Mentor an Existing Member with Their Next THree Speaking and/or Leadership Pojects
• Serve on the Guidance Committee of a High Performance Leadership Project |
10. Team Building
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Leadership Excellence Series
Leadership Excellence Series is a set of modules that teach members the skills they will need to be successful leaders inside and outside of Toastmasters. Each module takes about 10 minutes to present and includes a PowerPoint presentation and a script that can be personalized.
The chart below provides information about each of the Leadership Excellence Series presentations along with a link for members to download the module at no cost. The Leadership Excellence Series is also available individually or as a set in hard copy (shop online). Note that you will need to login to the Toastmaster site in order to download or purchase hard copies of the series.
Presentation of a Leadership Excellence Series module can help fulfill one of the requirements for the Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) award.
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Success Leadership Series
Success Leadership Series is comprised of several modules designed to offer a higher, more comprehensive level of training for developing strong leadership skills. In addition to the presentation materials, each program also provides ample opportunity for participants to practice what they have learned.
Each module is conducted as a workshop of one or more sessions with five or more participants from your club, company or community. Every module includes a script and instructions for presenting the program. Most modules also include PowerPoint presentations and participant notebooks.
As the seminar leader, you will
-
- Develop strong presentation skills
- Improve your training abilities
- Demonstrate teaching skills in a workshop environment
- Learn the “ins and outs” of meeting planning
- Gain expertise with visual aids
- Provide a much needed educational service to others
Presentation of a Success Leadership Series can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) award.
The chart below lists the Success Leadership Series modules. Click on the titles to see a summary of an individual module.
How to Conduct Productive Meetings
Learn the techniques and dynamics for conducting productive meetings in any group. A group leader working from a coordinator’s guide reviews the techniques and dynamics of small group meetings. Materials for eight people. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Effective purpose statements
- Leading a meeting
|
| Time: |
1 hour |
Improving Your Management Skills
Managers are an integral part of any organization. Our society depends on the goods and services provided by the organizations these individuals manage. Each of us has experience with managers every day, directly and indirectly, as we come into contact with businesses and other organizations. Whether we have positive experiences in these encounters depends greatly on the people who manage them. This program helps participants develop the skills and qualities required to be an effective manager and shows how they can incorporate them into their own work. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
|
Exercises: |
- Defining management
- Identifying the four major management skills
- Setting goals
- Motivating others
- Coaching for succes
- Solving problems
|
| Time: |
2.5 – 3 hours |
Leadership Part I: Characteristics of Effective Leaders
Leaders influence and inspire group members and motivate followers to achieve a mission or goal. They have power. This educational workshop explores the qualities, values and styles effective leaders display and helps participants identify their own leadership style and determine the team’s leadership needs. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
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Exercises: |
- Determining your leadership style
- Determining team leadership need
- Discussing leadership gaps and leadership matches
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| Time: |
90 minutes |
Leadership Part II: Developing Your Leadership Skills
To be an effective leader, you must have the ability to accept and overcome challenges. By being a positive influence, you will help members to function productively and to deliver quality performance. This module teaches the skills and techniques needed to be an effective leader, such as contracting for excellence, team-building, motivation and coaching. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
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Exercises: |
- Discussing personal fulfillment
- Discussing contracts
- Discussing motivation
- Coaching team members to improve performance
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| Time: |
60 to 90 minutes |
Leadership Part III: Working in the Team Environment
This educational program helps participants learn to use their leadership skills as they pertain to working with and leading teams. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
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Exercises: |
- Developing team relations
- Encouraging commitment
- Providing structure
- Building trust
- Resolving conflict
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| Time: |
60 to 90 minutes |
Parliamentary Procedure in Action
Appropriate rules of order are a must in most corporations, associations or organizations. The ability to understand and apply parliamentary skills is a much sought after quality among managers and leaders. This series of modules is designed to provide Toastmasters with the basic skills to effectively lead and participate in parliamentary discussion. The materials include a script to teach parliamentary procedure in five 15-minute sessions to any number of people. Materials for 10 participants. (order materials)
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Exercises: |
- Learning subsidiary motions
- Handling privileged motions
- Identifying incidental motions
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| Time: |
5 sessions, 15 minutes each |
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High Performance Leadership
The High Performance Leadership project helps you develop your leadership skills on a project of your choosing. The program consists of five parts offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas as:
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- Developing a mission and vision
- Goal-setting and planning
- Identifying values
- Building a team
As you work with a guidance committee on your project, you receive feedback on your leadership skills at each of the following steps:
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- Learning About Leadership
- Choosing Your Objective
- Winning Commitment to Your Objective
- Working the Plan
- Analyzing and Presenting Results
The project may be completed within your Toastmaster club, area or district or even within your company or community.
Completion of a High Performance Leadership project fulfills one of the requirements for Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) award.
The chart below lists the parts of the High Performance Leadership project. Click on the titles to see the steps involved in an individual part.
Learning About Leadership
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- Assess your knowledge of leadership
- Assess your leadership skills
- Develop list of leadership projects to be discussed with guidance committee
- Recruit a guidance committee
- Meet with guidance committee and select project
Choosing Your Objectives
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- Describe your vision
- Write your mission statement
- Define you core values
- Plan speech about vision for presentation to your club
- Review your plan and speech with your guidance committee
- Present speech to the club
Winning Commitment
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- Recruit your action team
- Reach agreement on vision, mission and core values
- Create an action strategy
- Identify key result areas
- Set goals and deadlines for each and assign responsibilit
- Create Action Plan
- Meet with your guidance committee
Working the Plan
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- Review progress against action plan
- Identify and overcome any problems
- Handle interpersonal conflicts
- Re-evaluate overall plan
- Get feedback from team about your leadership
- Reassess leadership skill
- Meet with your guidance committee
Analyzing and Presenting Your Results
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Successful Club Series
The Successful Club Series is a set of 10-15 minute educational speeches focused on improving the quality of club meetings, with tips on attracting and maintaining members. This program is usually presented during a club meeting. Included in the program are a script outlining the workshop and a PowerPoint presentation.
The chart below provides information about each of the Successful Club Series presentations along with a link for members to download the module at no cost. The Successful Club Series is also available individually or as a set in hard copy (shop online).
Note that you will need to login to the Toastmaster site in order to download or purchase hard copies of the series.
Presentation of a Successful Club Series module can help fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) or Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) award.
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Leadership Opportunities
Toastmasters members may take advantage of many opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills. Many members take on leadership roles within the organization, and others prefer to conduct specialized workshops to help their fellow members or their community. Some of the more common activities are listed here:
Members are encouraged to participate in these leadership programs. As with most activities in the Toastmasters program, members are recognized for their efforts after completing of one of these activities. In particular, many of the activities listed above help satisfy one of the requirements for the leadership track of the individual’s educational program.
Club Officer Positions
Serving as a club officer gives you the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills while also helping your fellow Toastmasters. To help you prepare for the role, the district sponsors a number of Club Officer Training sessions to discuss your duties as an officer. Also, serving as a club officer for at least six months satisfies one of the requirements for Competent Leader (CL) award. (Some club elect new officers every six months, while other clubs hold elections once a year. This usually depends on whether the club meets every week or every two weeks.)
Listed below are the officer positions in each Toastmasters club.
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- President
- Vice President Education
- Vice President Membership
- Vice President Public Relations
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Sergeant at Arms
District Officer Positions
After serving as a club officer, you may want to further enhance your leadership capabilities. Becoming a district officer is a terrific way to continue growing as a leader. Also, serving as a district officer for one full term satisfies one of the requirements for Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) recognition. (All district officers serve a twelve-month term, from July 1 to June 30.)
Listed below are the officer positions at the district level.
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- District Governor (elected)
- Lt. Governor Education and Training (elected)
- Lt. Governor Marketing (elected)
- Public Relations Officer (elected or appointed)
- District Secretary (appointed)
- District Treasurer (appointed)
- Division Governor (elected)
- Area Governor (appointed)
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Youth Leadership Program
Over the course of these sessions, participants learn about effective public speaking, have the opportunity to practice speaking themselves, and can be mentored by experienced Toastmasters if they desire. Friendships can and do blossom from the Youth Leadership experience.
This is a very effective way for a teenager to acquire the skills of speaking, listening, thinking, and evaluating — all skills that are extremely important in today’s world.
The sessions of the Youth Leadership Program covers a variety of topics which play a part in good public speaking. Participants learn to:
- Overcome nervousness when speaking before an audience.
- Organize and present ideas logically and convincingly.
- Listen carefully to others’ ideas.
- Offer advice to help others improve their speaking and leadership skills.
- Participate in – and even lead – group discussion or meetings.
For more information refer to the Toastmaster International Youth Programs page.
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Speechcraft
Speechcraft is an extended workshop on communication and leadership where the participants learn about various aspects of communication and leadership and are supported by a team of presenters and mentors and guided by a coordinator. The Speechcraft program allows experienced Toastmasters to present the fundamentals of public speaking to non-members in an atmosphere of a Toastmasters club meeting. It’s a great way to promote membership in your community or company club, as Speechcraft brings prospective new members to a meeting to see, first-hand, what Toastmasters is all about.
Speechcraft is also the quickest means by which people can jump right into the process of improving their speaking skills. Designed for non-Toastmasters, this series of educational sessions covers a number of topics that play a part in good public speaking, including the following:
- Take the Terror Out of a Talk
- Speech Organization
- Construct a Speech
- How to Relate to Your Audience
- Gestures
- Vocal Variety
- Using Visual Aids
- Effective Speech Evaluation
Speechcraft normally takes six to ten hours over the course of three to ten meetings, depending upon the pace and schedule set by the hosting team of presenters. Over the course of these sessions, participants learn about good public speaking and have the opportunity to practice within the Speechcraft group, mentored by experienced Toastmasters. Friendships and careers can and do blossom from the Speechcraft experience.
There usually is a nominal fee, which covers the cost of materials for the workshop, as well as an initial membership in Toastmasters. This new membership will help you solidify and continue the learning that you have begun in the Speechcraft program. The fee should cover program expenses (materials, refreshments, room rental). Any remaining money must be placed in the club’s treasury. No individuals, educational institutions or other organizations may derive financial gain either directly or indirectly from the presentation of these programs.
A Speechcraft workshop is the most cost-effective and time-effective way to acquire the skills of speaking, listening, thinking, and evaluating – skills vital to almost any profession in today’s world.
Why Should a Club Hold a Speechcraft?
Clubs find many benefits in hosting a Speechcraft session:
- Build club membership
- Give new members a helping hand with the different meeting roles
- Reach out to the community
- Give experienced members an opportunity to grow
- Share the Toastmasters experience with others
Also, individual Toastmasters can build their leadership skills and fulfill one of the requirements for Advanced Toastmaster Gold recognition by coordinating a Speechcraft session.
How Does a Club Host a Speechcraft?
The club hosting the Speechcraft session should order a Speechcraft Starter Kit from Toastmasters International. This package contains a Coordinator’s Guide, Participant Handbooks and other supporting materials.
Turning Participants into New Members
Usually, Speechcraft participants are prospective new members for your club. They will join your club if they are impressed by the activities and members and can see the benefits they will gain from their experience. Impress participants and help them benefit by conducting the best program possible. Make them feel welcome. Finally, before the last session, ask participants to join the club. You may be able to combine Speechcraft graduation with a new-member induction ceremony!
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CLUB NUMBER 918991 . AREA 13 . DISTRICT 27 . REGION 7 <span style="color: #0000ff;" *** PRESIDENT’s DISTINGUISHED ***
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BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON TOASTMASTERS POTOMAC CLUB 