Toastmasters – A Look At What Is Happening In Our Organization

1. Toastmasters – A Look At What Is Happening In Our Organization Richard E. Peck, DTM International Director 2013 - 2015

2. Objectives In this session you will: Learn about how our organization is doing overall Learn about opportunities that exist for you to help direct and grow our organization, and Hear about some exciting “Coming Attractions”

3. A Brief History

4. Clubs 1924 – First Toastmasters meeting held 1933 – 20 Toastmasters clubs 1935 – First district formed 1935 – First Toastmasters club chartered outside the United States 1938 – Charter #100 presented

5. Education Programs 1928 – First Toastmasters manual was published 1942 – Basic Training introduced 1980s – Advanced Communication and Leadership Program completely integrated 1984 – Basic Communication and Leadership Program revised 2006 – Competent Leader manual introduced

6. Where Are We Now

7. Toastmasters 2013 - 2014 292,000+ members 14,300+ clubs 122 countries, with the most recent being: • Afghanistan • Antiqua/Barbuda • Cambodia • Colombia • Dominica • Israel • Laos • Rwanda

8. Member Retention

9. Retention International President George Yen refers to retention as our Achilles Heel • Achilles Heel – a seemingly small weakness that can potentially lead to an organization’s downfall Attrition each year is to be expected Healthy, thriving member-based organizations have much higher retention rates Why?

10. Retention (Member Satisfaction) Opportunities to speak An inspiring, motivating club environment Positive challenge Club and district leaders they respect Professionalism Listening to other speakers and learning from them

11. Retention (Member Dissatisfaction) Club and district politics Overbearing leaders A lack of structure Hearing the same speakers again and again Pressure to become more involved

12. Retention (How To Increase) We each have the ability to make the member experience a positive one by: Sharing opportunities Encourage each other Provide honest, supportive evaluation and feedback Make everyone feel welcome Ensure that your club is focused on communication and leadership skill-building

13. Opportunities For You To Help

14. Mentoring Research tells us that most successful clubs – those with the greatest member satisfaction – have a solid mentor program Mentoring will be a critical aspect of the revitalized education program and will include a formal process for: • Selecting mentors • Pairing mentor and mentees, and • Rules of engagement

15. Mentoring (Benefits) The role of mentor is key to ensure endurance and provide guidance Many members rely on their mentors for encouragement, feedback, and for grasping a better understanding of the club Working with a mentor increases confidence and assures a more polished speech

16. Leadership Opportunities Effective leaders are needed at all levels within the organization and valuable in helping to direct and grow our organization. Club Officers District Officers What opportunities exist beyond the club and district?

17. Region Advisor Region Advisors are tasked with helping districts achieve their goals by: Assessing each district’s marketing system Providing mentoring and training in marketing Leading conference calls Facilitating district leader training Visiting districts

18. International Director ( In Boardroom) International Directors serve the entire organization in a strategic role in the boardroom by: Participating on committees Participating in strategic-plan development Financial oversight and budget approval Determining high-level policy direction and reviewing and approving policies Demonstrating global perspective

19. Out of the Boardroom International Directors also serve the organization out of the boardroom by: Visiting districts as an organizational ambassador Collaborate with the region advisor Interact with members to maintain awareness of the organization Act as an ambassador for the organization at all times

20. Coming Attractions

21. Revitalized Education Program (REP) Customized learning, based on the core competencies, that fits your personal needs Earlier recognition to reward success and encourage continuing achievement Projects that challenge you, require increased effort as you progress and result in demonstrable proficiency gains A formalized mentoring program Online access and achievement tracking

22. The Meeting Room Meet other Toastmasters around the world Access a knowledgebase of tips, tools, and frequently asked questions Access different communities based on your role, interests, and geographies Get real-time updates from your club, district, or Toastmasters International Post videos And Much, Much, more

23. Toastmasters International Convention 2014 Toastmasters International Convention will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center 5,000 attendees expected It will truly highlight the global nature of our organization

24. The 90th Anniversary The first official Toastmasters meeting was held in the basement of a YMCA in Santa Ana, CA, on October 22, 1924 In October of 2014, Toastmasters International will celebrate its 90th anniversary Plan something fun to celebrate in your district World Headquarters will provide resources

25. District Leader Title Changes

26. Q&A