Visitor's Month - Membership Contest

Our goal is to encourage all clubs in our district to make a special effort to welcome guests to their club meetings during a week of their choosing in March 2008. This does not require a huge amount of planning and can pay huge recruitment dividends for all of our clubs in the District.

Please share the information with your club members so they can start promoting Visitors Week within their own clubs.

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.

Pat Hannan

District 24 Public Relations Officer

Facts About Visitors Month

When and what is Visitors Month?

March 2008! We are asking members and clubs to really “roll out the red carpet” during March. We know that clubs meet at on various dates and times and we are encouraging each club to select a meeting during the month of March that fits their club's schedule. Each club is asked to promote your special meeting to your friends, coworkers and anyone else that you think 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. Maybe offer 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. 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 Week?

Your meeting during Visitors Week should be a regular club meeting. Involve your guests as appropriate and remember to ask them if they have any questions before you close your meeting. 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 during Visitor’s Week.

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 along with their home address, phone number, and email address. All visitors should be invited back and offer a membership application if they are ready to join.

After your meeting, follow up with each of your visitors to thank them for coming and invite them to next week’s meeting.

Follow up!

For every club that conducts a special visitor's meeting during March, you’ll be eligible for prize. Make sure that you send an e-mail to pro@district24toastmsters.com. Each of those clubs will have their name thrown into a hat and one club will be drawn for the winning prize at the spring district conference in Beatrice. Also, the club that reports the most guests during that special meeting will also win a prize.

How do you turn in your list of visitors?

Send your visitor’s list to pro@district24toastmasters.com. Remember to include the name of your club with your list. We will not share anyone’s personal information. The name and addresses will only be used to send out thank you notes and to get your club’s name thrown into the hat.

If you have questions?

Call Pat at 402-443-6775 or by e-mail pro@district24toastmasters.com.

The names "Toastmasters International," "Toastmasters," and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States, Canada, and other countries where Toastmasters Clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.