District Conferences Within Region II Fall 2004 and Spring 2005

Area Governor Cold Calls to Organizations with Intent to Form Clubs

[Points made during Mid-Year Training at the Ontario Marriott Hotel on Saturday January 17, 2004 during a session conducted by Alfred Herzing, DTM, PIP]

The following points should be considered as part of a script to be followed when contacting companies or organizations with the intention of interesting them in forming a new Toastmasters club.

1. The Area Governor should introduce self as “Area Governor of Toastmasters”. 2. They should then identify the Toastmasters organization and explain the purposes of the Toastmasters program. 3. Always keep in mind, when presenting the program, “what’s in it for them”, i.e. the prospective company and its people. 4. The Area Governor should ask “Can we meet with the President of the company, so that we can explain the benefits of having Toastmasters in the organization?” 5. [If told that the President is not available] “In that case may we speak to someone with decision-making power in the company?” [Good alternatives may be the head of Human Resources, Public Relations, Marketing, or Employee Training or Development]. 6. It is very important to emphasize “We have something great to share!” 7. If the first call is not fruitful, a follow-up to the cold call may yet be effective. 8. It may be effective to contact the President’s secretary or executive assistant as an initial connection. (Alternatively, the assistant to one of the other decision-makers referred to in #5 above). 9. Indicate that the visit will be very limited in duration – no more than 15-30 minutes. 10. Emphasize to the decision-maker the benefits to them, their employees, and the organization of having a Toastmasters club within the company (below).

Benefits of Toastmasters to Stress When Promoting a New Club to Company Decision-Maker

1. Toastmasters builds employee self-confidence. 2. Toastmasters promotes leadership qualities within the organization. 3. Inter-office communication will benefit. 4. Inter-personal skills will be enhanced – more than just speaking; also listening and leading. 5. Toastmaster accomplishment ties into people’s goals. 6. The training employees get in Toastmasters is extremely CO$T-effective! 7. Toastmasters, by way of regular club meetings, promotes continuous self- improvement. 8. Employees can receive credit for continuous education. 9. Employees take ownership of the Toastmasters program at their company, which fosters initiative and “pro-active” thinking within the organization. 10. Networking skills are enhanced. 11. The communication and leadership skills developed within Toastmasters are completely transferable to the workplace. 12. Toastmasters experience can enhance an employee’s résumé, provided that the focus on relevant communication and leadership skills developed is specific. 13. Toastmasters experience helps the organization to build up their own people, and build morale within the company. 14. Employee sales and marketing skills can become enhanced through participation in the Toastmasters program. 15. Meeting planning and running skills can become sharpened through the employees’ Toastmasters experience. 16. $AVE money for the company by promoting enhanced communication skills among the employees.