106 Ideas to Retain Members

 

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.

 

1.           Call When Absent

2.           Put The Member On The Agenda

3.           Recognize Each Member 

4.           Reward Achievements

5.           Fun Meetings 

6.           Theme Meetings

7.           Find Out The Individual Needs of Members

8.           Attend Officer Training

9.           Have Educational Sessions

10.        Have A Strong Mentoring Program

11.        Have Guest Speakers

12.        Have Interclub Meetings

13.        Have Social Activities

14.        Keep It Fun

15.        Have Lively Meetings 

16.        Allow Time For Everyone To Participate

17.        Assign Roles In Advance

18.        Toastmaster Calls And Reminds All Participants

19.        Have A Mix Of Speeches

20.        Maintain Regular E-mail Or Phone Contact

21.        Follow The Agenda

22.        Share The Load

23.        Annual Member Interest Survey 

24.        Focus On Supportive Evaluations And Positive Feedback

25.        Promote The Awards Program

26.        All Members Are Active To Their Level Of Comfort

27.        Get Them Involved

28.        Praise Them

29.        Variety In Meeting Format

30.        Individual Name Tags Or Place Cards

31.        Executives Speak To Members Personally

32.        Recognize Progress

33.        Make Friendships

34.        Senior Members Set Good Example

35.        Present TM Pin When The Icebreaker Is Delivered

36.        “Over The Hump” Ceremony (after Sixth Speech)

37.        Induction Ceremony - Include Sponsor

38.        Be More Open To New Ideas

39.        Comfortable Meetings

40.        Listen

41.        Use Each Member's Specific Skills

42.        Be Warm And Smile A Lot

43.        Get To Know Each Member Individually

44.        Use Guilt -- "Don't Quit Or We Will Die!"

45.        Learn To Laugh

46.        Social Yet Learning Atmosphere

47.        Executives Delegate To Members

48.        Have Well-organized Meetings

49.        Show That You Care

50.        Give The Members Responsibility

51.        Don't Pressure New Members

52.        Always Manual Speeches

53.        Change of Pace In The Meetings

 

54.        Continuity

55.        Re-Invite Inactive Members

56.        Make Them Feel Important

57.        Get Them Working On A Goal

58.        Use Them As Mentors

59.        Talk Up The Benefits of Toastmasters

60.        Be An Audience

61.        Treat Others With Dignity And Respect

62.        Encourage Growth

63.        Have A Mystery Night

64.        Non-threatening Atmosphere

65.        Break Up The Routine

66.        Encourage Members To Get CTM, ATM, CL, AL, DTM

67.        Get Them To Attend A District Conference

68.        Use The Successful Club Series

69.        Use The Better Speaker Series

70.        Use The Moments Of Truth

71.        Plan Ahead Four To Six Weeks

72.        Have A Backwards Meeting

73.        Have A Brainstorming Session If Short A Speaker

74.        Positive And Encouraging Environment

75.        Annual Award Ceremony Or Recognition Day

76.        Send Out Postcards

77.        Have An Orientation Meeting

78.        Partner-up Members For Progress

79.        Encourage Them To Work On The Leadership Track

80.        Ask Their Opinion

81.        Have Them Write Down Their Goals

82.        Incorporate Activities Outside Of Toastmasters

83.        Have Refreshments

84.        Car Pools For Older Members

85.        Timely Meetings

86.        Send Lost Members The Club Newsletter

87.        Celebrate Birthdays

88.        Recognize Achievement With Trophies And Ribbons

89.        Post Toasties: Informal Get Together After The Meeting

90.        Periodically Do Training Speeches To Reinforce Roles

91.        Talk About The Next Meeting And Psyche Them Up

92.        Occasionally Change The Meeting Time And Place

93.        Get Well Cards

94.        Telephone Tree: Call Each Member Before Each Meeting

95.        Do Things As A Team

96.        Club Pays Entry Fees and Expenses For Contestants

97.        Encourage Members To Enter Contests

98.        Elect Strong Officers

99.        Have A  "Terrific Toastmaster" Plaque

100.     Tell Them You Miss Them

101.     Design The Meetings That The Members Want

102.     Encourage Commitment

103.     Solve Conflict Promptly and Fairly

104.     Motivate And Teach

105.     Thank-You Notes For Special Jobs

106.     Awards For Attendance

 

 

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO 73 TOASTMASTERS FROM REGION VI