Toastmasters is supposed to be a place where you learn about public
communications in a safe and encouraging setting and also about organizing
meetings. Yet at the same time, there are many Toastmasters Clubs that fail
to provide a safe and welcoming place.
Why is that so?
Here's my list of theories on why many Clubs fail:
1. No warm reception when guests arrive. Chilly welcomes definitely
set the stage for cool meetings. Warm reception = feel welcomed =
want to join club = club has more $$$
2. No halal food. For goodness sake, be considerate!
3. Emcee not well-prepared. Stammering and chronically unsure emcees
make for a poor impression on the impressionable minds of guests and other
visiting Toastmasters.
4. Starting late...and ending late. Unless you have bribed the
Community Club management to turn a blind eye to your timing
transgressions, do not end late!
5. Unclear programme or the emcee did not inform the audience
of the programme in a clear manner. Being a blur-sotong at a meeting
is not an enjoyable experience.
6. Lack of proper transitions between meeting segments. Its like
eating char kway teow in separate segments - noodles first, followed
by prawns, then cockles and at last you pour down the soy sauce down
your throat from the bottle. Not a nice ensemble.
7. Having a meeting that is only half-filled. Or 1/3 filled for that
matter. Either way, it is distressing sitting in a meeting that seems
not-in-demand. It makes you feel cheap!
8. Not properly thanking guests and visiting Toastmasters for
their presence and contributions. Hey! I came down here specially for
you guys and you just "forget" to acknowledge me!
9. Having your own club members' conversations during refreshments
time. Just the perfect way to make your guests feel truly unwelcomed! I call
this the wallpaper-fication of guests; a common phenomenon at many club
meetings.
10. Not pampering me enough! (The ultimate non-no!)
Well, enjoy enlightening yourself!
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