Toastmasters Company Club Proposal Developing Communication and Leadership Skills in the New Economy

Table of Contents How Toastmasters Can Help Us How Toastmasters Meets Our Needs How The Program Works What Can a Toastmasters Club Do for a Company? What’s Required Toastmasters Survey & Results Financial Support Incentives for Members to Attend and Participate Next Steps

How Toastmasters Can Help Us Our success in business is based on how effective we are. Through participation in the Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Program, people from across the firm can learn to effectively speak, conduct a meeting, manage a department or business, lead, delegate, and motivate.

How Toastmasters Meets Our Needs Established in 1924, Toastmasters International uses time-tested programs that are continually updated to meet participants needs. Self-paced programs allow us to progress as rapidly or gradually as our needs dictate. The hands-on Communication and Leadership Program provides the "how-to" and the practical experience so critical to progress.

How Toastmasters Meets Our Needs (continued) The Toastmasters Program is cost effective, especially when compared to seminars charging hundreds of dollars per day. There is a $16 new member fee, and $18 dues every six months. An atmosphere of professional camaraderie makes the Toastmasters Club a unique learning environment -- informal, yet dedicated to learning. The Toastmasters Program can be tailored to meet our personal objectives. Whether we desire improvement in prepared or impromptu speaking, greater skill in the use of visual aids, experience and knowledge is to be gained in the areas that most interest us.

How the Program Works The Toastmasters program exposes each participant to a wide range of communication experiences. –Each new Toastmaster receives a New Member Kit. The kit features a copy of the basic Communication and Leadership Manual, general orientation materials and information regarding skill improvement in areas such as speech evaluation and the use of gestures. –The initial prepared speeches, as outlined in the basic Communication and Leadership Program Manual, are designed with the new Toastmaster in mind. –A variety of assigned speeches help the participant develop competency in areas such as organization, voice inflection and persuasiveness. –During the meeting's Table Topics Session, members learn to think on their feet by delivering short impromptu speeches, lasting one to two minutes.

How the Program Works (continued) –After giving a prepared speech, each Toastmaster receives a constructive speech evaluation. This process recognizes speakers for their strengths and provides valuable insight into problem areas. –Upon completion of the basic Communication and Leadership Program, Toastmasters may participate in the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program. Participants may choose from specific business oriented topics such as Speeches by Management and Technical Presentations. –Workshop style Success/Leadership Programs are also available, offering opportunities for further skill development in areas such as leadership, public speaking and conducting business meetings. These programs are especially effective as in-house training and can be tailored to meet the needs of a Company Club.

What Can a Toastmasters Club Do for a Company? In recent years, nearly half of all new Toastmasters Clubs have been formed with companies. Why? Much of any company's success depends on communication. Employees face an endless exchange of ideas, messages, and information as they deal with one another and with clients day after day. How well they communicate can determine whether a company quickly grows into an industry leader or joins thousands of other businesses mired in mediocrity. Toastmasters provides the tools that enable employees to become effective communicators and leaders all at a very low cost.

What Can a Toastmasters Club Do for a Company? (continued) Toastmasters training helps employees: –Give better sales presentations –Hone their management skills –Work better with fellow employees –Effectively develop and present ideas –Offer constructive criticism –Accept criticism more objectively Toastmasters produces results. Around the world more than three million men and women of all ages and occupations have benefited from Toastmasters training, and more than one thousand corporations, community groups, universities, associations, and government agencies now use Toastmasters training.

What’s Required A new Toastmasters Club must have a minimum of 20 members. In addition to a $95.00 Charter Fee, the costs of starting a new Company Club are as follows: –All new members pay a one-time new member fee of $16.00 (Transfer, dual, or reinstated members need not pay this fee). –All members of the new Club pay six months' advance dues of $ –Each Club may also choose to assess local chapter dues for each member to cover additional costs, i.e., Club banner, awards, refreshments, etc.

Toastmasters Survey We recently surveyed some prospective members through a Lotus Note . The survey targeted employees who attended one of the following courses within the last year: –Effective Meetings –Effective Presentations –Influencing Skills As the results on the next page illustrate, 38 out of 40 employees are interested in joining a Toastmasters Company Club.

Survey Results The survey results clearly illustrate the interest in joining a TM Corp. Club The results indicate that a meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday would be most desirable The results indicate that a lunchtime meeting is preferred The results also indicate that bi- weekly meetings are preferred

Financial Support $445 covers the charter fee and supplies to get us up-and-running $44 per member covers start-up member fees for the first six months, thus 20 new members = $880 These costs are estimated and will be expensed as incurred A total cost of $95 + $34 x # of new members will be sent to Toastmasters International to charter the new club. The remaining fees will be used to buy supplies and support the start-up of the club.

Incentives for Members to Attend and Participate As an incentive for new members to attend and participate in the new Toastmasters Company Club, members will be required to pay the new member fee (i.e., $44) upon joining. They will be reimbursed during the semi-annual period (i.e., 4/1 & 10/1) if they meet the following minimal requirements (as monitored by the VPs of Education and Membership): –Attend 25% of the scheduled meetings within the 6 month period. –Present or evaluate at least 1 speech during the same period. –Serve as either Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, or General Evaluator at least once during the same period. Note: Members not meeting the requirements will forfeit their reimbursement to the general club fund (used for open houses, advertising, supplies, etc.).

Next Steps In order to move forward in chartering the new Toastmasters Company Club, the following steps need to occur: –Secure the financial support from the senior management to start Toastmasters Company Club –Schedule a Toastmasters Demonstration Meeting. This is where an experienced team of Toastmasters demonstrate a typical Toastmasters meeting to interested prospects. –Promote and advertise to all office employees the formation of new Toastmasters Company Club. –Sign-up a minimum of 20 charter members at the demonstration meeting. –File proper paper work and monies with Toastmasters International to charter the new club. –Schedule the first Toastmasters Company Club meeting. Elect officers to lead our club in the New Economy.