Special Thanks to 73 Toastmasters from Region VI

These 106 ideas for retaining members are not in any particular order.   We recommend that you look at each one and pick out those that you think will work for you, adapting them as you wish.   We hope that they will help your Club grow and become strong. Call When Absent

• Put The Member On The Agenda
• Recognize Each Member
• Reward Achievements
• Fun Meetings
• Theme Meetings
• Find Out The Individual Needs Of The Members
• Attend Officer Training
• Have Educational Sessions
• Have A Strong Mentoring Program
• Have Guest Speakers
• Have Interclub Meetings
• Have Social Activities
• Keep It Fun
• Have Lively Meetings
• Allow Time For Everyone To Participate
• Assign Rolls In Advance
• Toastmaster Calls And Reminds All Participants
• Have A Mix Of Speeches
• Maintain Regular E-Mail Or Phone Contact
• Follow The Agenda
• Share The Load
• Annual Member Interest Survey
• Focus On Supportive Evaluations And Positive Feedback
• Promote The Awards Program
• Ensure That All Members Are Active To Their Level Of Comfort
• Get Them Involved
• Praise Them
• 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
• Over The Hump Ceremony When The Sixth Speech Is Given
• Induction Ceremony – Include Sponsor
• Be More Open To New Ideas
• Comfortable Meetings
• Listen
• Use Each Members Specific Skills
• Be Warm And Smile A Lot
• Get To Know Each Member Individually
• Use Guilt – “Don’t Quit Or We Will Die!”
• Learn To Laugh
• Social Yet Learning Atmosphere
• Executives Delegate To Members
• Ave Well-Organized Meetings
• Show That You Care
• Give The Members Responsibility
• Don’t Pressure New Members
• Always Manual Speeches
• Change Of Pace In The Meetings
• Continuity
• Re-Invite Inactive Members
• Make Them Feel Important
• Get Them Working On A Goal
• Use Them As Mentors
• Talk Up The Benefits Of Toastmasters
• Be An Audience
• Treat Others With Dignity And Respect
• Encourage Growth
• Have A Mystery Night
• Non-Threatening Atmosphere
• Break Up The Routine
• Encourage Members To Get CTM, ATM, CL, AL, DTM
• Get Them To Attend A District Conference
• Use The Successful Club Series
• Use The Better Speaker Series
• Use The Moments Of Truth
• Plan Ahead Four To Six Weeks
• Have A Backwards Meeting
• Have A Brainstorming Session If Short A Speaker
• Positive And Encouraging Environment
• Annual Award Ceremony Or Recognition Day
• Send Out Postcards
• Have An Orientation Meeting
• Partner-Up Members For Progress
• Encourage Them To Work On The Leadership Track
• Ask Their Opinion
• Have Them Write Down Their Goals
• Incorporate Activities Outside Of Toastmasters
• Have Refreshments
• Car Pools For Older Members
• Timely Meetings
• Send Lost Members The Club Newsletter
• Celebrate Birthdays
• Recognize Achievement With Trophies And Ribbons
• Post Toasties – Have Informal Get Together After The Meeting
• Periodically Do Training Speeches To Reinforce Roles
• Talk About He Next Meeting And Psyche Them Up
• Occasionally Change The Meeting Time And Place
• Get Well Cards
• Telephone Tree – Call Each Member Before Each Meeting’
• Do Things As A Team
• Club Pays Entry Fees And Expenses For Contestants
• Encourage Members To Enter Contests
• Elect Strong Officers
• Have A “Terrific Toastmaster” Plaque
• Tell Them You Miss Them
• Design The Meetings That The Members Want
• Encourage Commitment
• Solve Conflict Promptly And Fairly
• Motivate And Teach
• Thank-You Notes For Special Jobs
• Awards For Attendance