Visitor's Month - Membership Contest

March 1, 2009

The month of April 2009 has been designated “Visitors Month” in District 24. We want to get the word out and encourage clubs to welcome visitors during March. At the district level, we are working to get out press releases and media coverage.

Our goal is to encourage all clubs in our district to make a special effort to welcome guests to their club meetings during a meeting of their choosing in April. This does not require a huge amount of planning and can pay huge dividends for your club.

Please share the information with your club members so they can start promoting Visitors Month within your club.

When the light shines on one of us, it shines on all of us. We know that Toastmasters is a great organization, let’s share that information.

George Volz District 24 LGM

Facts About Visitors Month

April 2009! We are asking clubs to really “roll out the red carpet” during April. We know that clubs meet at on various dates and times and we are encouraging each club to select a time during the month of April for a special meeting. Each club member is asked to promote the special meeting to friends, coworkers and anyone else that would benefit from Toastmasters.

How will people find out about these special visitor meetings?

Members are the very best messengers to insure a full meeting. Perhaps a club contest to see who brings the most guests. Develop a flyer to promote your club about visitor’s week and post it on bulletin boards. Submit the date to local community calendars and online calendars. Submit it to the District 24 calendar!!  Be creative!

At the District, we are have developed a public relations campaign and hope to get some media coverage. Also, we have a “Find a Club” link on the website http://www.district24toastmasters.com that lists the clubs in District 24. Visit the link and make sure that your club information is up to date. If you find it needs to be updated, a club officer can log into the Toastmasters International website http://www.toastmasters.org and update their meeting information.

What does our club need to do during Visitors Month?

During Visitors Month you should conduct a regular club meeting with a special emphasis on guests. Involve your guests as appropriate and remember to ask them if they have any questions before you close your meeting. Don’t forget to ask them if they want to join!!  A mix of new and experienced speakers can also add that variety to the meeting that is so very valuable. By presenting manual speeches is a great way to show future members that they can pick their own topics and style.

You may want to arrange for light refreshments for the Visitors Meeting.

How should we encourage visitors to become members of Toastmasters?

First, it is important to make your guests feel welcome at your meeting. Make sure that all guests are greeted and introduced to other members. Have your visitors sign in giving their home address, phone number, and email address. All visitors should be invited back.  Offer a membership application (fill out all of your club information first) to all who come, if they are ready to join they will complete it.

After your meeting, follow up with each of your visitors.   Thank them for coming and invite them to the next meeting.

Follow up!

Simple Rules for the contest.

• Make sure the club meeting is on the district calendar.  Contact any of the Trio to get it on the calendar.
• Send an email to lgm@district24toastmsters.com after the meeting with the number of visitors attending.
• Send an email to lgm@district24toastmsters.com before May 3, 2009 if any of the visitors join.

A drawing will be held on May 9, 2009 at the Spring Conference.  A chance will be entered for each club that posts a meeting, for each visitor that attends the visitor meeting and each visitor that joins.

Two clubs will be selected.

Prizes will be training materials to help the club help it’s members to grow.

If you have questions?

Call George at (402) 306-4595 or by e-mail lgm@district24toastmasters.com.

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