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nch Out by Visiting Other Clubs
Erik Bergman, DTM—Willamette Division Governor
With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day all falling on
Thursday this winter, my home club WE Toasted had to call off three
of its regular Thursday meetings. I found I was missing my usual
Toastmasters fix. The solution? I branched out with visits to other clubs. Locally, I
dropped in on Mentors of Focus Toastmasters down in Wilsonville and — way beyond
District 7 — Hilo Toastmasters in Hilo, Hawaii, while I was vacationing on the Big Island.
You don’t have to be an Area Governor to visit other Toastmasters clubs. Sure, those
club visits are a key duty of every Area Governor, and Division Governors should visit as
well. But seeing another club in action is so valuable and fun that it’s a shame to leave
the privilege to the governors. It’s wise to
reach out by email or phone to the club’s
contacts listed on its website, confirm the
meeting time and place, and make a
connection with a club member in advance.
Even so, there’s nothing wrong with a drop-
in visit for those who are spontaneous.
Visiting a club other than your own is a
ready source of ideas you can try at your club. From the moment you walk in, you can
spot the things that make a club unique:
What materials are offered to visitors? Hilo Toastmasters hands out a color brochure
featuring engaging photos of its members in action.
How are guests introduced and welcomed? The Hilo club officers and meeting
Toastmaster made sure I was greeted and announced as a guest.
What unique meeting roles does the club have? Hilo has a designated humorist to
deliver a joke or funny story.
How do they follow up after your visit? Those like Hilo that sent me an email thanking
me for coming and encouraging another visit should attract more repeat visitors.
All these observations and more yield valuable suggestions about how you can
improve your home. Even if you prefer the way your home club does things, you can still
(Continued on page 31)
27
Erik Bergman, DTM—Willamette Division Governor
With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day all falling on
Thursday this winter, my home club WE Toasted had to call off three
of its regular Thursday meetings. I found I was missing my usual
Toastmasters fix. The solution? I branched out with visits to other clubs. Locally, I
dropped in on Mentors of Focus Toastmasters down in Wilsonville and — way beyond
District 7 — Hilo Toastmasters in Hilo, Hawaii, while I was vacationing on the Big Island.
You don’t have to be an Area Governor to visit other Toastmasters clubs. Sure, those
club visits are a key duty of every Area Governor, and Division Governors should visit as
well. But seeing another club in action is so valuable and fun that it’s a shame to leave
the privilege to the governors. It’s wise to
reach out by email or phone to the club’s
contacts listed on its website, confirm the
meeting time and place, and make a
connection with a club member in advance.
Even so, there’s nothing wrong with a drop-
in visit for those who are spontaneous.
Visiting a club other than your own is a
ready source of ideas you can try at your club. From the moment you walk in, you can
spot the things that make a club unique:
What materials are offered to visitors? Hilo Toastmasters hands out a color brochure
featuring engaging photos of its members in action.
How are guests introduced and welcomed? The Hilo club officers and meeting
Toastmaster made sure I was greeted and announced as a guest.
What unique meeting roles does the club have? Hilo has a designated humorist to
deliver a joke or funny story.
How do they follow up after your visit? Those like Hilo that sent me an email thanking
me for coming and encouraging another visit should attract more repeat visitors.
All these observations and more yield valuable suggestions about how you can
improve your home. Even if you prefer the way your home club does things, you can still
(Continued on page 31)
27
