Toastmasters Company Club Proposal

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Toastmasters Company Club Proposal

• Developing Communication and Leadership Skills in
  the New Economy

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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?
• Whats Required
• Toastmasters Survey Results
• Financial Support
• Incentives for Members to Attend and Participate
• Next Steps

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Whats 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 18.00.
• Each Club may also choose to assess local chapter
  dues for each member to cover additional costs,
  i.e., Club banner, awards, refreshments, etc.

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Toastmasters Survey

• We recently surveyed some prospective members
  through a Lotus Note email. 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.

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Survey Results
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Financial Support
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.
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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.).

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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.