Toastmaster members come and go. The average length of time of a Toastmaster stays registered is 18 months. To a certain degree, Toastmasters and similar groups will always have a transient and changing nature. From my own experience and listening to the stories of others, I though it would be good to share some ideas on choosing the most suitable club. This is intended to help Toastmasters be Toastmasters for as long as possible. These suggestions may not only help those joining clubs, but also Toastmasters members who are helping others choose a Toastmasters club.
Choose a Club That Is Easy To Get To
Life is busy and it seems like all of us increasingly have more commitments and obligations vying for our time. Toastmasters is one of those things that will compete for our time and attention. It therefore important to choose a club that is easy to get to. Where possible, try and chose a club that is less than 20 minutes away, a club that requires only 5-10 minutes to get to is ideal.
Of course, this is not always possible as there may simply not be clubs that are closer to you. If you find your self driving 30 minutes to 1 hour each way to Toastmasters, this will become difficult for you when your life and schedule come under time pressure.
Choose a Club That Feels Right for You
Distance to a club is important but so is being part of a group, being comfortable, and feeling welcome. I am lucky because the Toastmasters in my club have become friends and they are a group of people I want to see each week. When choosing a club, I was lucky to find the right club on my first visit to a Toastmasters club.
If you don't find the right chemistry or don't click the first club you visit, do try visiting other clubs, especially other clubs nearby. Feeling like you are part of the group, and being comfortable with the other clubs members, is a very sure way of increasing the length of stay at your club.
Choose A Corporate Club or Profession Oriented Club
Toastmasters have many clubs within corporations that are held over lunch hour. In these corporate clubs, the members are also employees of the company or corporation which is holding the meeting. For example, Boeing has corporate Toastmasters clubs where its employees can go to Toastmasters meetings over lunch. Corporate clubs have shorter meetings and can be a good way of making use out of a lunch hour.
If you don't have a club at your work, you may also be able to join a Toastmasters club that is not within a company but still is centered around a profession. For example, there are clubs that are specifically organized for "realtors", "bankers" or "information technology" professionals.
There are several advantages of joining a club that is designed for individuals of one profession. Joining these clubs will allow you to meet other people in your industry, you will be surrounded by people with similar backgrounds and interests, and you will also exposed you to speeches and ideas relating to your profession. Toastmasters is about public speaking and leadership, but if you can combine this with the love and interest you have for your profession, this will help you stay engaged and committed to Toastmasters for a longer period of time.
Toastmasters is wonderful organization that can add many benefits to your life but it will vie for your attention and time when your life becomes busy. Choose a club properly at the outset and you will be a Toastmasters member for longer.
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