Membership Building Contests
Recognize membership-builders
for their performance.
"The deepest joy of belonging comes as one learns to cooperate, contribute and help . . ."
-- Dr. Ralph C. Smedley Founder, Toastmasters International
Congratulations to the clubs that participated in and were awarded for their efforts in membership-building contests during the 2010-2011 program year. Was your club one of them?
During the year, 1241 clubs were awarded for their achievements during the Smedley Award contest, 764 clubs were awarded for their accomplishments during the Talk Up Toastmasters! membership building contest and 1,266 clubs met the Beat the Clock! challenge.
Most members of Toastmasters joined a club because someone invited them to a meeting. Below you will find helpful information regarding Toastmasters membership building contests as well as the results from previous contests. These reports reveal the individuals and clubs who have taken the initiative to give others the same opportunity to learn and grow that someone else once offered to them.
Districts can use these reports to recognize clubs and individuals for their contributions to membership growth. The reports are in district order so, depending on your district number, you may need to scroll through the report to find your district’s information.
Club Contests
Smedley Award
Program Dates: August 1 – September 30
It all began in 1924. Ralph Smedley invited a few men to meet in the Santa Ana, California YMCA where he conducted the first meeting of what would eventually evolve into Toastmasters International. One person initiated a program that would go on to affect millions of people. In his honor, can your club add five new, dual, or reinstated members between August 1 and September 30? By doing so you’ll qualify to receive a "Smedley Award" ribbon to display on your club’s banner. Membership applications and payment for members who join between August 1 and September 30 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than September 30. Each member's join date as listed on the application must be no later than September. Transfer and charter members do not count for credit. In addition to the ribbon, qualifying clubs will also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order. Discount code expires six months from date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.
2011
2010
Open House Showcase
Program Dates: January and July
Retaining members is essential to the health of a club, and gaining new members is equally vital to its success. For potential members visiting a club, first impressions are paramount. Toastmasters' new Open House Showcase is a great way for clubs to make that first impression a positive one and to attract new members. Clubs that are successful can earn discounts on useful products. How? Follow these simple steps:
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Hold a successful open house in January and/or July.
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After the open house takes place, email your complete marketing package to marketing@toastmasters.org with your club name and club number in the subject line and include the following (bulleted items must be included to qualify):
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A completed, signed guest list
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Pictures of the event
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The open house agenda
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Sample marketing materials used to host the open house (e.g., fliers, brochures, guest packets, other promotional items)
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Your advertising plan. (The plan should include how and where you advertised, as well as samples of the actual advertisements. Some examples of this would include fliers in local stores, libraries or doctors' offices, ads in a local newspaper, magazine, on your club website or social networking sites, and word of mouth.)
You may also send video footage if you'd like.
As many as 50 of the clubs that gain the most new members as a result of their open house events will receive a 30% discount on their next club order. If any ties occur, the quality of the clubs' marketing packages will determine the winner.
All new members of a club must have been on the applicable open house guest list. The member's join date must be in January or February (for the January open house) and in July or August (for the July open house). Complete marketing packages must be received by February 7 (for the January open house) and August 7 (for the July open house). Membership applications and payment for members must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than February 29 (for the January showcase) and August 31 (for the July showcase). Clubs do not get credit for transfer or charter members. The 30% discount expires six months after the date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.
Talk Up Toastmasters!
Program Dates: February 1 – March 31
Toastmasters love to talk? So take advantage of it. During the "Talk Up Toastmasters!" membership contest, you can encourage your members to invite guests to a special meeting where regular procedures are augmented by a discussion of Toastmasters' many benefits. Add five new, dual or reinstated members to your roster between February 1 and March 31 to receive a special "Talk up Toastmasters!" ribbon to display on your club’s banner. Membership applications and payment for members who join between February 1 and March 31 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than March 31. Each member's join date as listed on the application must be no later than March. Transfer and charter members do not count for credit. In addition to the ribbon, qualifying clubs will also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order. Discount code expires six months from date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.
2011
2010
Beat the Clock
Program Dates: May 1 – June 30
Toastmasters are taught to run meetings on time, finish speeches on time and make membership goals on time. "Beat the Clock" is about finishing the year on schedule -with a bang! Here's a wonderful new club goal: Earn the "Beat the Clock" award! Plan a contest in your club to motivate every member to get involved. Clubs adding five new, dual or reinstated members during these two months receive a "Beat the Clock" ribbon to display on the club’s banner. Membership applications and payment for members who join between May 1 and June 30 must be received at World Headquarters or online no later than June 30. Each member's join date as listed on the application must be no later than June. Transfer and charter members do not count for credit. In addition to the ribbon, qualifying clubs will also earn a special discount code for 10% off their next club order. Discount code expires six months from date of issue and is not valid with any other offer.
2011
2010
Individual Awards
Annual Membership Program
Program Dates: July 1 – June 30, of the following year
Membership growth is important to ensure club success. As a sponsor of five new members, you will qualify to receive a unique sponsor's pin. As an outstanding sponsor of 10 new members, you will qualify to receive a special star pin. Effective July 1, 2009, as a sponsor of 15 new members, you will qualify to receive a special discount code for 25% off your next product purchase from Toastmasters International World Headquarters. Discount is not valid with any other offer. You’ve also made a significant contribution to your club’s long-term success. To receive credit as a sponsor, your name must appear on the application for Toastmasters club membership (Item 400) along with your home club number. Please print or type information legibly. No changes can be made to the applications once they are received by World Headquarters. New, dual and reinstated members count for credit; transfer and charter members do not. The new members join dates must fall within the July to June range. All applications and payments must be received at World Headquarters no later than June 30.
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
Membership Drive
Conduct a local membership-building contest
- Invite all your friends in advance
- Assign a sparkling host as Toastmaster of the day
- Schedule a variety of speakers, from beginners to experts
- Make Table Topics fun (with easy questions for the guests!)
- Schedule friendly evaluators
- Put on a great show!
- Give points for participation in the contest
- Reward those who achieved the objectives
Need help building membership?
Toastmasters International offers a variety of resources: