Page 36 - 2017 August Voices

What in the (Online Toastmasters)

World is Going On?

by Susan Ellsworth, DTM - Guest Contributor, Maryland Be True to Yourself!
by Charles Shambry, CC
Interest in the contest rules, they quickly discovered that online
online Toastmasters speech contests are possible.
experience is growing. One day, something totally unexpected
There are now happened. A member of an online club brought
more than 2,400 his little baby daughter to a meeting for
members in the Online members to see. What a sweetheart! She smiled
Toastmasters Facebook group. at us! The oohs and ahhs erupted! Shortly
There has been an unexpected growth of thereafter one of the great storytellers in the
officially chartered online Toastmasters clubs. group posted a picture of that special moment
We are now a dozen, and expect the 13th any day and said, “It feels that online meetings are more
now. Will it be Competitive Communicators? intimate and a family, I love it!”
Or will it be Witty Birds? Stay tuned! That was quickly followed up with “We had
How did all that growth happen? The online
clubs family appeared in part because the a few guests, but she was our most surprising
Frebirds Collective (chartered in March 2016) one. What I found interesting, that despite what
is dedicated to the idea that their members are some say about online meetings “virtual” and
global leaders in online communication and not face to face, we get to know and love each
leadership excellence. They act on the belief that other better and faster.”
they will grow global leaders in Toastmasters So what’s going on? Just watch! A half dozen
through practice, collaboration, mentoring and more pre-charter online clubs are building and
demonstrating excellence. looking for you to say “Hello there!” Who knows
Witty Storytellers and Great White North but what we just might meet another future
(two offspring from the Firebirds Collective) online youngster!
chartered in September 2016. In 2016, the Board of Directors approved online
There is another special sauce that helps to membership for both brick and mortar clubs and online
grow online clubs. Cruise through the groups of clubs. While the online community continues on a
chartered and pre-chartered clubs on Facebook. growth trajectory, very few clubs across the spectrum
It’s a mashup of members from chartered clubs of Toastmasters have embraced the opportunity to
helping pre-charter clubs. Experiences are grow and thrive using the online option. Online clubs
turning challenges into success. A pre-chartered are paving the way for brick and mortar clubs to
club’s ads are pinned to the top of the Online welcome people to join via the internet. For very little
Toastmasters group, while attentive page admins expense, a little setup, and an internet connection,
send prospects to that club. clubs who are struggling to grow membership have the
Fast forward to March 2017—Tongue Twisters
had chartered the month before. Online opportunity to reach out to those who cannot travel
Presenters, a club dedicated to developing skills or whose schedules prevent them from leaving their
for webinars and online presentations of all sorts, workplaces to experience Toastmasters. For clubs who
chartered with dual members not only from are struggling to reach charter strength, the online
the Firebirds Collective and its offspring but option could increase membership significantly.
from other members of the online community. Online clubs have members from all over the world.
Shortly thereafter, Toastmasters Without There is no restriction that says your members have
Borders, the third offspring from the Firebirds to be within travel distance of your club meeting.
Collective, chartered. District 7 has the opportunity to become one of
Online club members talk and learn from the first Districts to fully embrace online members
each other. A while back, some of the online into their clubs. If you are interested in growing your
clubs met to hold an unofficial, online speech membership this year, contact me at phyllis.harmon@
contest. Using gently modified, official speech d7toastmasters.org for more information. [Editor]

36 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 JULY, 2017