|
|
To Contact Geoff: pastgovernor@toastmasters.org.nz
|
Thought for the week: |
"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."
— Frank Lloyd Wright (1869 – 1959) US architect and writer.
|
|
Click to.... |
How to get New Members Retention, Recruit & Register. |
|
|
Moa Time
 My father is an archaeologist and when we visited him this afternoon he showed us his latest project of classifying a bunch of bones that he has been given to identify. He was very excited to show us these as they were Moa bones and although they are yet to be dated he believes that they are probably over 2000 years old. One of the remarkable things about these bones is that they are in very good condition which, of course, helps him to identify them. It was amazing to me to think that I was holding something that was walking around New Zealand before Christianity was established. Something from so long ago was being recognised and remembered by people so far into the future that it would have been unimaginable to anyone at the time, let alone the Moa!
Now I do not think that many our Toastmasters careers today will be remembered in the year 4008, but I do believe that the things we learn in Toastmasters today will shape our more immediate futures. Toastmasters’ is one of the organisations that have a real impact on practically every one of our members both in their communication and leadership growth. We learn real-life skills that we can take into the real world. Some people same that Toastmasters is the best kept secret – but really it should be known to everyone we know. I never miss the opportunity to tell people about Toastmasters. And when we tell people we can also invite them along to our club so they can see for themselves all that Toastmasters can offer.
Why not think one person you can invite to Toastmasters before the end of this Toastmasters year (30 June 2008) – it might be unimaginable now but if you do this I am sure that that person will think back to you inviting them to join their club and thank you for helping to shape their future.
Really Good Friday
 On Good Friday Dianna and I went to the Super 14 rugby game between the Crusaders and the Waratahs at Lancaster Park here in Christchurch. Always looking forward to a Crusaders game we go dressed in our Red and Black colours and are all voiced up and ready to shout with the roar of the crowd our encouragement to the “boys” on the field. Well, much to our disappointment, and that of the rest of the crowd, the first half of the game was so boring and slow that we almost got up and left. It was a game of two halves – literally! I do not know what went on in the changing rooms at half time but both teams came out and played a completely different game in the second half. I would like to think that the Crusaders were just sizing up the opposition in the first half and then in the second, they just gave it to them with an outstanding win against them.
We are now well into the second half of the Toastmasters year – which ends on 30th June 2008. At the beginning of the year all our clubs in New Zealand had goals they wanted to achieve before this date so that they could be a Distinguished Club – great for advertising. At the District level we also have had goals we want to achieve to be a Distinguished District. But most importantly our members have their goals that they want to achieve. The other evening I was invited to the Civic Toastmasters club to see Bryce finish his Competent Communicator award after joining Toastmasters last year in a Speechcraft course I helped to run.
Like the Crusaders, we all need to look at where we are going if we want to achieve our goals before the full time whistle blows. I encourage you all too actively work towards achieving those goals you or your clubs set 9 months ago. And remember to register each of your achievements and new members immediately and do not leave it until the last minute of the “game” because, like the Waratahs found out on Good Friday, it was not so good for them to leave their run so late.
Retention, Recruit and Register.
Retention of current membership
Recruit new members through advertising and making every meeting the very best meeting – ask visitors to join!
Register new members and awards immediately.
Watch this space!
All in the name of Toastmasters, I had a photo shoot last week for some advertising material that we are trying out in Division G, Christchurch. Now all I knew was that they wanted a male and a female member of Toastmasters to be photographed for the “poster” – did I mention that they had to be very good-looking – I guess I only got the job because everyone else was busy on the day (smiles)! However, in preparation I was not sure if they wanted me to model as a businessman – with collar and tie in a suit – or in more casual attire. So being the good Toastmaster that I am I took enough clothing to cover both eventualities. Always be prepared for change, always be of service.
Well, they took the photos both with a professional look and a more casual look – it was not nearly as glamorous as the photo shoot’s look on TV – and we let the photos decide which of my outfits looked better as we manipulated the layout of the “poster”. It was simply a case of “trail and error” or, to be more accurate, give it a go and see how it feels.
All of Toastmasters is like this – experiment and learn; trial and train. The environment of a Toastmasters Club for learning and experimentation is a delightful setting for us all to feel comfortable in, to try out different things and to discover what feels right for us personally. And in discovering these things we grow more confident in ourselves and what we can achieve. Every time we do something in a Toastmasters meeting, whether it is for the first time or the tenth time, we learn from it and growth with it. Every Step Counts towards us maturing as a person, a communicator and as a leader. After the photo-shoot we knew exactly which photo was going to work on this particular occasion – now all we have to do is see how the advertising works – watch this space!
Toastmasters – Cheap as Chips
 This afternoon we went to the annual “Cheap as Chips” concert at Canterbury University. I have gone to this event most years recently and it is a real showcase of some of the most popular New Zealand bands and just a real fun day out. It is called Cheap as Chips because it is a cheap family event that even university students can afford! It is real value for money as it starts at midday and goes on into the early evening. This year there are seven bands including The Black Seeds, Solaa and The Checks – 7 bands for $23.00 – great value.
Toastmasters is also cheap as chips. When you think of all that you can gain from Toastmasters for a really small price it is truly amazing value for money. You can often pay thousands of dollars for a one weekend seminar on public speaking – which I am sure is good but I think Toastmasters has more to offer. And I know from experience that you can spend hundreds of dollars on a day course on leadership – in Toastmasters you can get years of leadership training for the same price. Most club’s memberships fees are less than $4.00 per week – that’s just a couple scoops of chips or a cup of coffee.
The Cheap as Chips concert was of a high standard, with quality acts and we all had a great time with lots of fun all for a very good price. Just because it is cheap it does not mean that you are not getting value – today’s concert was worth every cent. I believe that Toastmasters too, is worth every cent for each year a member continues in Toastmaster they can grow exponentially for a price that is literally cheap as chips.
Toastmasters helps us to:
- Listen Effectively
- Think on your Feet
- Speak Confidently and Clearly
- Learn Valuable Leadership Skills
You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back.
Clement Stone
The Mission of a Toastmasters Club
To provide a mutually supportive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.
|
|
MEMBERSHIP FORMULA |
Simple formula to attract new members
1. Invite Guests
2. Make each meeting the very best meeting
3. And – most importantly – ask your guests to join |
|
|
|
|
Success is a journey, not a destination
|
Benefits of Toastmasters | Join Toastmasters | About Us | Policies | News | Events | Contests | Speaking Resources
Programmes | Leadership | District Supplies Catalogue | Clubs | Club Celebrations | Promotions | Ask a Toastmaster | Club Finder
Contact Us | Enquiry | Mailing Lists | Online Forms | Crumbs | Talk It Up | The Target | Photo Gallery
Search Site
|
|
 |
