Page 22 - October 2019
P. 22
PERSPECTIVES
Has anyone fellow members and club. Just remember, you
reached out are not alone in this quest. You have your area
to them to director, your division director and everyone
find out why, else in the district has your personal and club
and what can be success as their goal and aim of service. Use the
done to get them Moments of Truth, the Club Success Plan, the
to renew their WOW! Factor and a whole host of other tools
membership? and helps put out by Toastmasters International.
Secondly, take a As for me, I don’t believe in Toastmasters
hard and serious look at your ghosts—the non-renewed memberships, the
club’s program. Are you still shades of inactive and suspended clubs and the
doing all the same things haunting comment “it won’t work here”. But-for
that you did when Dr. Ralph the things unseen, things that go bump in the
Smedley was alive? Our culture night and feelings that cause the hairs on the
is changing-our level of interest back of the neck to rise, well I believe. That’s my
is becoming complicated to the story, I’m sticking to it, and only the ghostly child
point that some people don’t have and the box in the floor of my brother’s closet
time for Toastmasters anymore. can say otherwise!
(That’s an argument for horror) Did you hold an open house or participate in
Change up your meetings a little. Spice the Toastmaster’s Smedley Award membership
up the table topics, use weekly or monthly campaign?
themes. Make it the best show in town! Clearly, we are facing a challenge already in
Thirdly, take a personal inventory. Yes, that’s our new program year of 2019-2020. 9 clubs have
a scary and spooky thought. Look deep within not renewed, a fact guaranteed to turn any district
yourself and ask these questions- do I value leader’s face pale as if they have seen a ghost. But
my Toastmasters experience? Have I learned if that was all, this next fact could be called the
something new this week? Have I helped scariest of all-27 clubs have low membership, i.e.
others to achieve their Toastmasters dreams do not have 8 or more members to be considered
and goals? DOES MY CLUB NEED MY HELP in a club in good standing. We don’t need Stephen
leadership whether long-term or short-term? Am King or R.J. Stine to tell us that something wicked
I just attending the meetings and not preparing comes this way!
for my role or speech? Here’s a couple of suggestions for you and
Don’t let your club become a ghost club-one your club if you are struggling with membership
of memory past but no longer vibrant and so far. No, you don’t need to consult the Witches
alive. Strive to improve first your personal of Endor. My first suggestion is to analyze your
Toastmasters experience and then that of your membership losses in September. Why did they
22 ONE COMMUNITY
