A New Opportunity

Recruiting Members

I love May because it’s almost the end of the Toastmasters year. In Toastmasters, May presents an opportunity for clubs to gain new members. Many clubs are close to achieving distinguished status. For 80% of these clubs, having already achieved at least five DCP goals, all they need is membership.

Every year, membership is crucial in determining whether a club becomes distinguished. You’ll see many clubs holding open houses and inviting friends and family members to join their ranks. When it comes to becoming distinguished, many clubs simply need more members. District 3 Toastmasters boasts 33 clubs that have already achieved distinguished status, and many more are on track to do so by June 30th.

Educational Achievements

What makes May particularly exciting is that many members are striving to achieve educational awards. There are two essential components to becoming a distinguished club: membership and members achieving educational awards.

In May, you’ll notice more members eager to speak, and clubs often hold Speech-A-Thons. Some clubs might have the membership numbers but lack educational achievements, while others might have the educational achievements but need more members. Some clubs, of course, excel in both areas.

Since the introduction of Pathways, more members are attaining educational awards, and many are achieving the Triple Crown. Pathways empowers Toastmasters to enhance their speaking and leadership skills. During May, you’ll witness members pushing to achieve educational awards, and in the process, they gain the knowledge necessary for success.

Being A Club Officer

While some clubs wait until June to elect new officers for the upcoming Toastmasters year, others adhere to tradition and hold officer elections in May. It’s always inspiring to see new members being elected as club officers. You can sense their slight apprehension, yet they demonstrate a willingness to learn.

It’s equally motivating to see members who have been in Toastmasters for 20 or 30 years still enthusiastic enough to serve as club officers. They can mentor new officers, guiding their development into effective leaders.

Being An Area Director

In May, you’ll observe newly elected trio members and division directors encouraging members to apply for the role of area director. The first time I served as an area director, I was nervous, unsure of what to expect.

However, I will always be grateful for the support of experienced Toastmasters who had my back. I had an exceptional division director and a fantastic team that supported me. The remarkable aspect of being an area director is the opportunity to work with 4 or 5 clubs.

You act as a counselor, advising members on the DCP or suggesting ways the club can improve. You also have the chance to chair area contests. If you decide to become an area director, your leadership skills will flourish, and you will experience significant personal growth.

It’s important to remember that being an area director is a significant step towards becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster. It’s one of the more challenging steps, but also one of the most rewarding. While the prospect of being an area director might seem daunting, once you embrace the opportunity, you’ll realize how truly rewarding it is.

May is a chance to develop as a speaker and as a leader. In this process, you have the opportunity to collaborate with many wonderful Toastmasters who also have the chance to grow as speakers and leaders.