BCBSTX Toasties was chartered in 2011: a dozen years ago. According to the Dashboards, their club has thirty-five members. Club officers indicate twelve or more attend weekly. Is your club this large and this active? Read on for some insights.
Shelley Riddlespurger, Club President, joined the club three years ago for “The opportunity to improve my speaking and presentation skills as well as help other club members do the same.” Pin Hsuan Huang, Club Vice President of Education, has been a member for almost two years for similar reasons.
Shelley says the club’s success is because “We are a judgment-free zone. We let everyone know we are here to help: not criticize.” Pin Hsuan says, “We listen carefully for feedback from each guest or member. Club officers work together to improve the club.” To help keep the club members active and entertained, they give each person present “an opportunity to speak (by introducing themselves, participating in Table Topics, or asking questions).”
“BCBSTX Toasties is special because our club members have made our club a safe space where we can practice, even to the point of making fun of ourselves. In the past year, BCBSTX Toasties has focused on becoming a Distinguished Club.
We have shared the results of our membership growth, officer training, and speeches. We all feel the excitement of this journey,” Shelley imparts. Pin Hsuan extends that by saying, “Our club is diverse including different ages, job positions, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, etc. We work together with respect to self and others to improve our leadership, presentation, and people skills.”
The advice these club officers give to other corporations considering Toastmasters is: “Take annual roadshows to the various departments to introduce Toastmasters International and invite people to join our club. Be flexible and helpful working with the members.”
“When a new member joins the club, a welcome email is sent with the expectation and resource information to set a tone. The Vice President of Education assigns meeting roles and encourages members to start their pathway. The club officers are available to answer questions regarding the meeting process or pathway. Recently, they had two separate member orientations to talk about how to successfully fill in the meeting role and how to start the pathway.”
As a closed, corporate club, employees mainly reach Vice President of Membership, Pam Arriazola, for information about visiting or joining the club.
Recent Comments