TLI Winter 2012 Membership Building
This morning at Toastmasters Leadership Institute we brainstormed ideas for increasing club members. Led by Eric Winger, everyone jumped in with their suggestions. Here’s what we came up with:
- “Poker Card Contest” Every time a member brought a guest they got a card. If the guest joined, they received three cards. At the end of the contest whoever had the best poker hand won a prize.
- Practical meetings. Special meetings focused on practical and topical information.
- Job interviews
- Conquering Fear
- Reaching out to community college speech classes
- Once a month, hold a social open house, end the meeting 15 minutes early to allow socialization. Guests felt more comfortable coming to a social meeting
- Focusing on guests personal and work goals and training needs.
- Be a community resource. Reach out to the business development community in your area and let them know about your activities and what you can offer their members
- Power of networking: Take the message out in public places. EG at Green Drinks open mike night.
- Call in to radio shows and announce meetings and events
- Make sure the information listed at Toastmasters International is accurate. Verify in the find a club link
- Promote as career development, work with Human Resources departments at local employers. Way to improve English skills
- Ensure that you are Friendly, Fun, and Helpful to visitors
- Host a BBQ for members to feel more connected with each other.
- Invite guests based on a theme of the week. Someone from your church, someone from your social group, someone from your office, etc
- Generate interest by having youth clubs. Parents will want to learn more.
Please use the comments sections to add your ideas about great ways to bring in guests and increase memberships for your club.
- Take the new “Where Leaders are Made” to the public.
- Visit career fairs. Collect business cards at the events and invite to speech craft events.