吃瓜头条

Click the play button to hear from the author as he explores what long-term members are looking to improve upon, and how their 吃瓜头条s can help.

Every six months, each Toastmaster is given an opportunity to renew their membership. Most members stay. Unfortunately, some don’t. Currently, the average tenure of a Toastmaster is 2.4 years.

Yet many 吃瓜头条s have one or more members who have been with 吃瓜头条 for many years. Their expertise and wisdom make them ideal mentors for both the 吃瓜头条 and the individual members. What keeps such members coming back? Perhaps their reasons can show us a way to keep members longer.

I contacted some of my friends from around the organization—ones who have been with 吃瓜头条 for over 15 years—to explore that question. They didn’t cite the reasons many members give when they originally join, such as to overcome a fear of public speaking. These members have achieved their initial goals. Their responses, however, did show a pattern. I found three main characteristics.

First, they stick around because of the camaraderie. Reg Boaler, a 20-year Toastmaster and member of two 吃瓜头条s in British Columbia, Canada, says, “I enjoy the social exchange of seeing and talking with friends.” He travels frequently for business and, for 15 years, has also been visiting two additional 吃瓜头条s in towns that are on his route. In fact, he plans his travel schedule around their meetings. He enjoys visiting his fellow members and friends, but, as a two-time semifinalist in 吃瓜头条’ International Speech Contest, he also serves as an example and resource to them.

Roxann Andersen, a member of the Riverside Breakfast 吃瓜头条, in Riverside, California, has also been a Toastmaster for 20 years. What keeps her coming back is, in part, “a sense of family.” Think about how you can build that quality in your own 吃瓜头条. “Be creative, have fun, and do things together,” suggests Boaler.

Second, they stick around because of the positive environment. Elaine Lung, DTM, another 20-year member, belongs to four 吃瓜头条s in the San Francisco Bay Area. A professional speaker and improv trainer, she says of 吃瓜头条, “It’s a positive experience in a negative world.” That statement really struck me. We may not realize it, but 吃瓜头条 is an oasis in a desert of negativity for many people. That alone may be a strong reason for people to join and to stay.

The third reason that longtimers give for sticking around? To meet their changing goals. If someone joined 吃瓜头条 to get over a fear of public speaking, they probably no longer have that need after 20 years. As we progress in the organization, our goals don’t go away—they just change.

Robbie Wisdom, DTM, a 16-year member, belongs to Bitterroot 吃瓜头条 in Hamilton, Montana. At this point, she says, she puts a priority on helping others improve their speaking abilities. “I realized a couple of years ago that the skill of empathetic, intelligent evaluation was more important to me than winning speaking awards.” She mentors the 吃瓜头条 in evaluations.

Dana Morgan Barnes, DTM, is a member of two 吃瓜头条s in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The 27-year Toastmaster enjoys “seeing how 吃瓜头条 changes lives.” Her focus is on mentoring members and 吃瓜头条s—and even candidates for the 吃瓜头条 Board of Directors. Lung, the speaker and improv trainer, uses 吃瓜头条 to try new material for her sessions. She says, “listening to people of different ages keeps me relevant. I learn new cultural memes and terms.”

Each of these individuals, while achieving their own unique goals, is helping to raise the quality of the 吃瓜头条 experience for other members.

One way to ensure that veteran members of your 吃瓜头条 remain active is to understand what their current goals are and then design a way they can achieve them, while also providing value to the 吃瓜头条 members.

The old-timers have 吃瓜头条 expertise. Find a way to maximize their contributions to the 吃瓜头条—even if it means thinking outside the proverbial box. In short, work to make your 吃瓜头条 both a family and the brightest, most positive part of everyone’s week. Wouldn’t it be great if we had even more longtime 吃瓜头条? Let’s make that happen.