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Butts in the seats (BITS) & Membership is a lot like Gardening. Traditional Methods to Attract Members. Open House Networking events/organizations (student councils, etc.) Web site Invitation Bulletin Board (physical/virtual) Speechcrafters CKCU Toastmasters Hour
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Butts in the seats (BITS) &Membership is a lot like Gardening
Traditional Methods to Attract Members • Open House • Networking events/organizations (student councils, etc.) • Web site • Invitation • Bulletin Board (physical/virtual) • Speechcrafters • CKCU Toastmasters Hour • Information Table @ Event • Invite a Guest • Word-of-Mouth
Non-Traditional Methods to Attract Members • Website • Social Networking via: • Facebook – create a club page; forums; employers seek this information • Linked In – professional presence • YouTube – videos, etc. • EventBrite
Churn Rate – the Challenge! • What is Churn rate? • The number of members who have opted not to return to Toastmasters. • District 61 has 4,200 members; lost BITS (buts in seats) 1,950 – 47% • Life expectancy (membership maximum duration) – 18 months • 68 District 61 clubs have 20 members or less • Why are members leaving? • We need to find out why – at the club level • Need to develop solutions for membership retention
Churn Rate – potential solutions! • Mentoring and Buddy system • Look at MDPW Long time members – best practices, why are they staying? • Promote more than just the CC/CL but the Advance Manuals (Want Fries with that? Marketing approach) • Focus on the LEADERS are MADE – more than just speeches. • Conduct Exit surveys – find out why • Personalize the approach (What’s in it for ME) • Web Presence
At the District & Club Level • Every interaction has an impact on whether members leave or stay in a club, • Every interaction has an impact on whether clubs grow or decline…..
Why do Members Leave? • It is part of a club cycle to lose members, • Most members leave because they do not feel; • Needed, • Wanted, or • Appreciated…
Why do Members Stay? “People join to overcome their fear of public speaking They stay because they made REAL friends” • Craig Senior
Why do Members Stay? cont…. • Toastmasters is NOT a social club, BUT…. • We ARE social creatures, if we do not feel nurtured, we leave…
Why do Members Stay? cont…. • To keep our members and have strong clubs we need to build strong relationships with our members!!!!!!!!!! • It starts with our first impressions…
The right soil for the right seed- Matching Guests to the Correct Member • Why did the Guest come? • Do we have a member who joined for the same reason? • What type of “personality” is our Guest? • Introvert? • Extravert?
How to “interview” a guest • Family • Occupation • Recreation • Money (if applicable) i.e. club dues
The right soil for the right seed- Matching Members and to the Correct Mentor • Formal or informal Mentoring? • Why did the member join? • Is the Mentor Available/Willing…
Plants need talking too- Use the phone NOT email! • Email; • Great to pass information (agenda, roster etc) • Email is one way • Externally poor to “read” people! • Phone; • Phone is a two way conversation • Human contact • Allows to share…
Watering and feeding - Post-Toasties • Post-Toasties the all so important after the meeting meeting • Opportunity to: • Socialize • Go in-depth on a subject covered at the club • Mentor • Build the relationships….
Pruning - or, Leadership, when to let go • Leading is also learning to let go • Opportunity to: • Mentor/Coach • Learn new skills and/or • Move on….
What’s next? • Implement your solutions • Measure effectiveness (if possible) • Share Lessons Learned • Contact Brian Sutton or Sylvain Auffret with any thoughts or concerns on a monthly basis at • BSutton1@magma.ca • Sylvain@ChezSylvain.com
and • That’s it • Here is your chance to ask us what you never dared ask!(Toastmaster questions only please)
End of Presentation • Go out there and have FUN building relationships with you membership!