"We learn best in moments of enjoyment." --Ralph Smedley, Toastmasters Founder

Toastmaster club meetings need to provide those moments of enjoyment. It is more difficult to do during times of low membership or attendance. Here are some ways your club can still provide those moments when there are fewer than six members present.

TWO MEMBERS PRESENT--- HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND THE OTHER EVALUATOR The speaker can be prepared or impromptu. The evaluator should incorporate grammar usage and number of ah's into the evaluation.

THREE MEMBERS, PRESENT--- HAVE ONE SPEAKER, ONE EVALUATOR  AND A TOASTMASTER. If no one is able to give a speech then expand Table Topics. Everyone gives a topic, receives a topic and evaluates a topic. Use the District 6 Education Cookbook for other creative Table Topic ideas.

FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT--- HAVE ONE SPEAKER, GENERAL EVALUATOR TOASTMASTER AND T ABLE TOPICSMASTER. The General Evaluator incorporates the duties of "ah" counter and grammarian into the evaluation of both the speaker and the meeting. The Toastmaster also acts as timer. It is essential to the health of the club that these duties remain natural and that a positive attitude is adopted by members in order to keep guests interest in joining this club maximized.

FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT--- TOASTMASTER, SPEAKER, GENERAL EVALUATOR , TABLE TOPICS MASTER AND TIMER. With five people in attendance the duties somehow now seem to be a breeze. The opportunity to have a truly quality meeting according to all the requirements of TI are now possible. Each and every guest will see the Positive growth aspects of belonging to this club and if each one is ASKED TO JOIN, one can' be reasonably sure they will.

The business meeting (for all the above meetings} should incorporate the essentials of parliamentary procedure when- ever possible. Membership building plans to include conducting a Speechcraft, increasing local publicity, and every- one inviting three guests each week should be discussed. Invite your Area and Division Governor to attend and offer ideas.

The schedule of next weeks meeting would be reviewed and the Toastmaster for the following week would be directed to phone ALL members to remind them of their duties. Printed agendas should be available to help guests follow the meeting.

The key to a successful MEETING is to plan, prepare, execute and follow up. If you make each meeting organized, educational and fun, guests will join. The more members, the more opportunities there are to learn and grow. Remember "WE LEARN BEST IN MOMENTS OF ENJOYMENT" So make your next low member meeting one of enjoyment and growth!

The key to saving a CLUB and seeing it through (low member} hard times is for the members to remain FLEXIBLE AND POSITIVE. The kiss of death for any club is to suspend meeting until the membership has grown. The ludicrous aspects of this position are evident, the membership cannot grow if there are no meetings. TOASTMASTERS is the one club that will foster personal growth in people even under adverse conditions. In fact, anyone belonging to a low member club will undoubtedly experience personal growth in an enhanced capacity far more readily than those in larger clubs. Think it through, adjust the agenda and for your sake, DON'T GIVE UP! ! !  Attitude is everything.