Basic Membership Building Ideas:

  1. Provide a great club atmosphere 
    • A fun, organized, energetic, and welcoming meeting will attract new members and retain current ones.
  2. Complete a “Moments of Truth” evaluation on your club
  3. Hold an Open House (Open House Tips) 
    • Invite a special guest speaker
    • Consider extending the length of table topics to involve all guests
    • Invite friends, co-workers, and family to the open house
    • Use social media to get the word out; e.g. Create as an event on your Facebook page and post the information on LinkedIn
    • Send a press release about the open house to local media
    • Consider holding your open House during the Governor of Washington’s Proclamation of “Toastmasters Week” in early February (try to get your mayor to proclaim “Toastmaster Week” in your town)
  4. Advertise your club meetings to other local organizations and businesses such as the local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, BNI (Business Networking International), and other associations.
  5. Extend invitations to colleges/universities especially to communication, education, and business majors
  6. Create a club website with pictures of current members that is appealing, full of good information, and directions.
  7. Create a Facebook page with pictures of current members, information about club meetings, contest winners, open houses, special guests, weekly ribbon winners, etc.
    • Encourage your membership to “like” your club Facebook page and share it with friends and co-workers
  8. Have a “Bring a Friend to Toastmasters” day at your club
  9. Regularly send press releases to local media about upcoming events, open houses, officer elections, speech contests, special presentations, special guests, etc.

What to do when you have a guest:

  1. Always treat guests like royalty
  2. The VPM or other club officer should greet guests as soon as they enter your club venue to make them feel welcome
  3. Have them sign a guest book (name, phone number, email) 
  4. Give guests a basic brochure that gives information about Toastmasters and club meeting details
  5. Ask them simple probing questions such as . . .
    • What do you hope to gain from Toastmasters?
    • How did you hear about TM? Your club?
    • What is your profession?
  6. Seat them, if possible, with experienced Toastmasters
  7. During introductory remarks, the president can tell guests about the speaking opportunities during that meeting. e.g. introductions, participating in table topics, and comments at the end of the meeting.
  8. Be sure to thank guests for coming and let them know you’d love to have them back. Ask them if they have any questions and provide them with a membership application. 
  9. If a guest does not join that day/night, then follow-up with an email or phone call thanking them for attending the club meeting and offering to answer any questions. 
  10. Never pressure guests into joining your club

What to do when your guest wants to join your club:

  1. Have the guest fill out a Toastmasters International application.(Review to make sure it’s complete and sign the back of the form). 
  2. Tell the guest about the cost of membership dues (both TI and club dues).  
  3. Collect cash or check (some clubs take PayPal) and attach to application.
  4. Give to the Treasurer who will deposit the money and enroll the member into Toastmasters.
  5. Send them a new member welcome letter.

Other Strategies:

  1. Periodically send an email to former members and guests about what the club is up to and invite them to a meeting.
  2. Send an email to members who have missed a couple of meetings and let them know you miss them (they do matter to your meetings and club).
  3. Follow-up with guests and let them know how TM will benefit them and how their participation will benefit the club.

More Membership Building Ideas: