Club Growth

Administrator D64 Blog

Make Great Posters and Get Noticed

Getyour next EventNoticed

Looking for an easy tool to make great posters to promote your clubs on your website or social media? I am going to recommend trying Canva.com.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3fnrjq_R4M]

This website provides you with all of the tools you need to make visually-appealing  posters for your club’s next amazing event, or whatever you need.

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to posting images on the internet. Canva also provides users with custom templates designed specifically for emails, websites, Facebook, Twitter and more. Never worry about what your posters are going to look like from one site to the next.

Get creative and have fun.

Bonus Tips for Making Effective Posters:

  • Less is more; keep your poster free of distracting elements that don’t serve the main message
  • Target only 2-3 colours and fonts; too much of either may hurt your poster more than help
  • Read out this really good blog post by Kimberly Mak on how to create effective posters
  • When in doubt, reference the official Brand Manual published by Toastmasters International for information
Administrator D64 Blog

News From 42

It’s been a busy fall season for all five clubs in Area 42.

There has been a focus on building memberships and creating a sense of comradery. Get this – U of W Toastmasters has a returning member from 10 years ago. How’s that for loyalty? It’s all about being an active member, as well as visiting your neighbouring clubs.

The word is out – Area 42 Toastmasters can attend up to four meetings a week at the noon hour. Our clubs are all within walking distance of the downtown core. All five clubs take a different spin on a meeting focus, so meetings are always exciting. With the completion of manuals on the minds of Area 42 Toastmasters, this is a great way to accomplish this goal.

Some recent initiatives within the clubs is also sparking a renewed vigour and interest in the Toastmasters program. First, in response to an increase in formal speeches, Licensed To Speak is introducing the “Speech Blitz” which aims to showcase speeches only. With this new initiative, they hope to broaden the opportunities for their membership to advance through their development manuals at a pace that matches the demand. The Forks Toastmasters welcomes an ‘International’ speaker to every other meeting. They also hold a roundtable evaluation ensures everyone gets a chance to speak.

Next up – moving beyond comradery and into rivalry (what’s wrong with a little competition?)

–
Paul Graveline
Area 42 Director

Administrator D64 Blog

Radio ads

Beginning May 1, 2017 and continuing for the whole month, you may hear a toastmasters radio ad in the rural areas of District 64 and Winnipeg. Check out these stations between 6 and 9 am, drive time! You can thank the Carillon Club’s PR team under the leadership of Mike Poirier for this initiative!

Mix 96 (96.7) Steinbach and most of Winnipeg
CJRB 1220 Brandon
Mix 96.5 Portage
Q104 Kenora
The Eagle 93.5 (Pembina Valley)

Let us know if you hear an ad. We hope they help you to build membership. Ask your guests where they heard about Toastmasters. If you are one of our rural clubs, you have received an email with directions about how to participate.

May and June are Toastmasters Beat the Clock membership contest months. Add five new paid members in May and June and win a prize from Toastmasters International. The prize is a rare banner ribbon and a 10% discount at the TI online shop.

I dont think I need to tell you why building membership is important, do I?

Administrator D64 Blog

Retaining Members – Part 8

  • Ask their opinion
  • Incorporate activities outside of toastmasters
  • Have them write down their goals
  • Encourage them to work on the leadership track
  • Establish standards for responding to members
  • When conducting focus groups at meetings, invite attendees who are not leaders to participate.
  • Send mini-surveys that can be done quickly (via fax or email).
  • When a new member joins, e-mail congratulations from an organizational leader that same day.
  • Post results of meetings and conferences on social media
  • Increase meeting attendance by featuring an interview with the meeting’s keynote speaker in the publication that comes out a month before the meeting.
  • List new members on your Web site.
  • Combine and coordinate all forms of member communication to support membership recruitment and retention efforts.
  • Have a special list serve and/or special section of the Web site for first year members.
  • Partner-up members for progress
  • Give members points when they participate in any activity, like frequent flyer points. They can spend their points in the District bookstore or for another award.
Administrator D64 Blog

Retaining Members – Part 7

  • Have a strong mentoring program
  • Have guest speakers
  • Have interclub meetings (do a banner raid!)
  • Have social activities
  • Variety in meeting format
  • Individual name tags or place cards
  • Executives speak to members personally
  • Recognize progress
  • Make friendships
  • Senior members set good example
  • Present toastmaster pin when the icebreaker is delivered
  • Encourage commitment
  • Solve conflict promptly and fairly
  • Motivate and teach
  • Thank-you notes for special jobs
  • Give awards for attendance
  • Send an audio file as an informal annual report.
  • Establish a  Member Service Centre for “one stop shopping,” a website or website page where they can receive all information and products/services they need