Customer or Member

Over the years, I’ve noticed that some of our members really don’t act like members. They act like customers. They get in with specific goals, get what they want, and get out. They don’t want to help run the place, they just want to be customers!

Imagine what might happen if you walked into a retail shop and were treated as a “member”.  The people already there start asking you questions about what they should inventory, what their opening hours should be, whether so-and-so should be promoted to store manager!

Now, this might be something you really like, if it’s a store you feel passionately about, and want to make a big part of your life (maybe Apple Computer?).  But for many, they just want to buy a package of cookies and a carton of milk and get on with their life.

Apply this to Toastmasters.  Some of our members don’t want to help run the place, and that’s OK!  Sure, make them aware of what they’re missing out on, but don’t press on endlessly.  They may not be our future leaders (yet), but others will be.

When you talk to someone who’s just joined, ask them how involved they want to be.  Do they just want to work on some manual speeches, overcome some verbal tics, gain some confidence speaking (customer), or do they have an interest in helping run our organization, be a mentor or club officer, learn leadership skills, and help others (member)?

We need to make sure we have what our customers need — speaking opportunities, strong evaluations, opportunities for learning specific skills, even contests.  No matter how they join, ask what they’re looking for.  Match it up against our offerings.  Be sure they know we can help them with what they’re joining for, regardless of whether they are a customer or a member.

In my experience, very few people join Toastmasters as a member — they start as a customer (despite paying “membership dues”!), and then after a few meetings, a few months, even a few years, once they find out all that we offer, then they become “members”!

By the way, if you’re reading this, you’re probably a member, not just a customer!

We would be lost without those lifers, or even those willing to give back as an organizational leader — but most of our members really just want to come in and meet their immediate goals of becoming a better speaker. While we can hope to convert them later, we’ll just scare them off by trying to get them too committed too soon.

IMO, club meetings should be designed to attract customers, members are the residual effect of satisfied customers.

Bring in the customers and convert to members with this logic Toastmasters will continue to be the premiere organization for Leadership and Communication.

Next Meeting 13-3-2018

Next Meeting
Tuesday 13 March 2018
Time: 19:25

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Meeting Location
 
Chair: Mohd Ehsan
TMD: Jeremy Teo
GE:

Project Speakers:

Ismail Omar Visionary Communications Level 1 #Ice Breaker
Waihong Chin Innovative Planning Level 1 Research&amp

Next Meeting Tuesday 27-02-2018

Next Meeting
Tuesday 27 February 2018
Time: 19:25

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TMIKL Meeting Location Menara Centara Level 21
Chair: Mohd Ehsan
TMD: Jeremy Teo
GE:

Project Speakers:

1. Ismail Omar Visionary Communications Level 1 #Ice Breaker 
2. Waihong Chin Innovative Planning Level 1 Research 
3. Shaheen J Syed Leadership Development #1 Ice Breaker 

Speech Evaluators:

1. Richard Toh 
2. Mohd Ehsan 
3. Rhoda Omar 

Grammarian: Richard Toh
AH Counter: Nik Zaki
Timer: Ismail Omar



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Next Meeting Saturday 27 January 2018

Next Meeting
Saturday 27 January 2018
Time: 09:15 TMIKL Meeting
Location Menara Centara Level 21

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Chair: Rhoda Omar
TMD: Rhoda Omar
GE: Jeremy Teo

Project Speakers:

1. Cyril Jonas 
2. Ng Swee Weng 
3. Waihong Chin 
4. Mohd Ehsan 
5. Lim Yikang 

Speech Evaluators:

1. Mohd Ehsan 
2. Rhoda Omar 
3. Cyril Jonas 
4. Richard Toh
5. Jeremy Teo

Grammarian: Richard Toh
AH Counter: Nik Zaki
Timer:Ismail Omar

Next Meeting 12-12-17

Next Meeting
Tuesday 12 Dec 2017

Chair: Rhoda Omar
TME: Wai Hong Chin
GE: Mei Lin Ong


Educational: Jeremy Teo
Evaluate to Motivate

Project Speeches:

1. Calvin Lim
2. Shaheen J Syed
3. Wai Hong Chin
4. Cyril Jonas

Speech Evaluators:

1. Victor Ong
2. Aida Ang
3. Mohd Ehsan
4. Richard Toh

SAA: Andy Sani
AH Counter: May Ong

TMIKL's Own Founder

TMIKL's Own Founder? Well Almost

One of the above is a DTM

D-51 Annual Conference