There are several benefits to joining a Toastmasters club. Inviting members to join your club helps the club grow. One of the best tools that you could use, as a club officer, is to host an open house meeting. In an open house meeting, you will primarily showcase the benefits of joining your Toastmasters club.
Here’s how your club can host an Open House
● The Vice President of Membership, in consultation with the President, decides a specific date at least four to six weeks in advance.
● Appoint an open house chair (The VPM can chair the event or can appoint one). Coordinate with the chair and appoint a committee to lead various activities such as PR, program, etc.
● Download and use the Open House Checklist to plan the event.
● Work with the Vice President of Public Relations to create promotional materials and plan the promotional activities for the event. Use the resources available here. Reach out to the District’s PR office for questions regarding brand compliance.
● Invite past members, current members and guests to attend the event. Incorporate a registration process for the meeting attendees.
● Reach out to your club’s Area Director to invite special guests or contact the District 121 PQD office for inviting external speakers from here.
● Provide the attendees with information about what Toastmasters is in general, your club’s legacy, benefits of becoming a member, pathways curriculum, etc. Use the resources available here.
● Have fun during the event and recognise the guests for their participation.
● Follow up with interested guests immediately and answer any questions they may have regarding the Toastmasters program, membership process, etc.
○ Invite them to attend your club’s regular meetings before signing them up as new members. This is an important step as the guests must understand the format of your club’s meetings and, if they are comfortable, invite them to participate in Table TopicsTM as well.
Program recognition
District 121 recognises clubs that host open houses in the following ways:
- Hall of Fame award – Club earns credit under Club Retention category. Click here to know more.
- Clubs could qualify for Bring Your Buddy award. Click here to know more.
Has your club hosted an open house meeting already?
Submit your details here.
Questions? Please write to cgd@d121toastmasters.org
Associate Club Growth Directors – Club Retention
Sonal Shailendra
Sangeeth K M
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