What can we do to increase membership?

There are as many answers to that question as there are clubs.  You need to evaluate your club's needs.  As a club, select about three of the biggest issues to work on.  Your club officers can make plans to address those issues.  Track your progress.  Tracking progress helps keep your members working toward your goals.  It also allows you to determine if your plans are achieving the desired result.  If they aren't, change them.

We think we're doing fairly well.  Is there help evaluating our club's needs?

Have you talked with your Area Governor?  His/her job is to provide an interface between the district and the clubs.  They are a good source for an outside evaluation of your club.  If the Area Governor is a member of your club, s/he can ask the Division Governor to visit your club.  If there isn't time to have a good discussion with your Area Governor after your meeting, meet one on one or plan a phone call.

The Moments Of Truth manual from the successful club series talks about the important characteristics of a successful club.  It also provides an evaluation guide for your club.   Since you have a good core membership, you may be want to have a club member present the material.  If not, you may be able to get someone from the district to lead it for you.

One of the exercises in the Success/Communication Module Effective Evaluation involves accessing your climate.  This is an excellent module.  It also provides excellent information on improving our evaluation skills. The entire module is two hours long.  It can be customized to fit in one or more of your club meetings.

We have a membership program, but it isn't working.  What can we do to improve it?

Try something different.  Either change the way you are approaching your current program or try something completely different.

Look at what you are doing and try to determine why it isn't working.  For example, if you hold a Speechcraft and only get a couple participants there is a reason.  Were several other clubs in the area holding a Speechcraft at the same time?  Was your publicity effective?  Like everything in Toastmasters, look at how you can do it better the next time.

Don't be afraid to try something completely different.  Even if the program was effective in the past, if it's not working now change it.

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