As an experienced Toastmaster, you may know about a club that is struggling with declining membership and related challenges. A club in that situation can often benefit from having an experienced Toastmaster who isn’t already a member of the club (Club Coach). The District’s Club Coach program pairs an experienced Toastmaster with a struggling club, so that, working together, the team can bring the club back to prosperity.

What Are the Requirements to Be a Club Coach?

To be a Club Coach you must be an experienced Toastmaster and, preferably, have experience as a club officer.

You cannot be a member of the club you are assigned to coach. Starting off as an ‘outsider’, you bring a fresh perspective that an ‘insider’ might not have. After you are assigned to be a club’s Coach, you can decide to join the club if you want to.

You should have an open, encouraging, and enthusiastic demeanor, and be willing to work with the club officers to be jointly responsible for the club’s success. In short, you must be a leader!

What Kind of Commitment Is Needed?

As a club coach, you commit to work with the club’s leadership to assess the club’s current situation and develop an action plan to address any issues that are identified. Time-wise, you should plan to attend most club meetings, as well as officer meetings. You may spend some time consulting with the club leadership outside of meetings as well.

Don’t worry that you’ll have to devise solutions to the club’s challenges all on your own. The District Leadership team, especially the Club Retention Chair and Club Growth Director will support you in your efforts, and will provide you with tools and materials to help your club increase membership and attendance, improve the quality of club meetings, and help lead the club back to prosperity.

What’s in It for Me?

Why should you volunteer to be a Club Coach? In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped a club back to success, you can have the following when you coach your club to Distinguished status:

• Credit toward the Pathways DTM
• A certificate from Toastmasters International to acknowledge your contribution to the organization

In addition, you’ll have an opportunity to work with the District leadership team, and to see tools and resources that the average Toastmaster isn’t usually exposed to. Your knowledge of Toastmasters will grow, you’ll gain experience in leading a club to success, and you’ll have the excitement of knowing that your efforts have helped the club and its members achieve their own goals.

If you’re an experienced Toastmaster, chances are that somewhere in your past, someone helped you as a mentor or coach. Your own club may have even had a Club Coach in the past. Becoming a Club Coach yourself is a great opportunity to pay back the people who helped you become the Toastmaster you are today!

If you’re interested in becoming a Club Coach, please complete the Leadership Opportunities Interest Form or email the District 31 Club Growth Director.