Toastmasters – A Look At What Is
Happening In Our Organization
Richard E. Peck, DTM
International Director 2013 - 2015
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”
www.toastmasters.org
A Brief History
www.toastmasters.org
Clubs
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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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
Where Are We Now
www.toastmasters.org
Toastmasters 2013 - 2014
• 292,000+ members
• 14,300+ clubs
• 122 countries, with the most recent being:
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www.toastmasters.org
Afghanistan
Antiqua/Barbuda
Cambodia
Colombia
Dominica
Israel
Laos
Rwanda
Member Retention
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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?
www.toastmasters.org
Retention (Member Satisfaction)
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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
www.toastmasters.org
Retention (Member Dissatisfaction)
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Club and district politics
Overbearing leaders
A lack of structure
Hearing the same speakers again and again
Pressure to become more involved
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
Opportunities For You
To Help
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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?
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
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Coming Attractions
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
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
www.toastmasters.org
District Leader Title Changes
Current Title
New Title
District Governor
District Director District #
Lieutenant Governor Education and
Training
Program Quality Director
District #
Lieutenant Governor Marketing
Club Growth Director District
#
Secretary
Administration Manager
Treasurer
Finance Manager
Public Relations Officer
Public Relations Manager
Sergeant at Arms
Logistics Manager
Division Governor
Division Director
Area Governor
Area Director
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Q&A
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