Take on Rewarding New Challenges by Starting and Helping Other Clubs

A top-notch D25 demonstration team!

Do you like challenges? Do you ever wonder how other clubs conduct their meetings and perform their roles? What do you use as a benchmark to determine your skill level?

By participating in demonstration meetings and/or assisting in developing a club, you will get answers to the above questions.

In addition, this Toastmasters activity outside of your club environment is very rewarding and develops an understanding of marketing that occurs within District 25.

Demonstration Meetings
The demonstration meeting is conducted once a prospective club has approximately 20 individuals ready to become members and charter a Toastmasters club. At the demonstration meeting, prospective club members will deliver an Ice Breaker and perform a couple of helper roles such as the timer and ah-counter. It is an abbreviated meeting to allow a question-and-answer period. The demonstration team consists of experienced Toastmasters who fill the other roles and “demonstrate” how to conduct a Toastmasters meeting. The main portions of the meetings are explained (as they are in our meetings).

There was a full house at the Stryker demo meeting last spring.

I participated in demonstration meetings and found the effort rewarding. It was a wonderful feeling to be involved in getting a group of inexperienced, yet eager, individuals on their road to improved leadership and communication skills. I also gained confidence and improved my appreciation of the Toastmasters program as I performed Toastmaster roles with members whom I had not worked with before.

Helping a new club is a rewarding experience.

Other Marketing Opportunities
Other roles that a member can fill related to marketing include being a club sponsor, mentor, club coach, or participant in “Helping Hands.” The club sponsor is credited with identifying and assisting with the prospective club until it charters. The club mentor is usually an experienced Toastmaster familiar with all aspects of club meetings, administration and leadership. In this role, you can make a real difference in the development and health of a new club. The club coach is an experienced Toastmaster who agrees to nurture a club back to Distinguished status and charter strength. You can be a club coach for up to 2 years to receive credit. All three roles can result in credit towards the Advanced Leader Silver award as well as be a rewarding experience.

I have participated in the new Helping Hands program for low-membership clubs that do not fit the above programs. Three or four experienced Toastmasters attend a minimum of 3-4 consecutive meetings to strengthen the club environment. Numerous clubs in District 25 require assistance – if your schedule allows it, please consider lending a Helping Hand. This is a rewarding short term commitment.   

I encourage each of you to step outside your club into other roles, and experience the additional learning opportunities that are available in District 25. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Lt. Governor Marketing Marylee Mims.

Greg Pick
Division C Governor