The LGM and its team are essentially responsible for finding new clubs/members and keeping clubs/members. Team members that have volunteered their time to assist the District with marketing and membership are:
Louis Burns louisrburns@yahoo.com – Austin Marketing
Steve Montgomery stevenm_52@yahoo.com – Austin Membership
Ren Liner tmren2000@yahoo.com – Hill Country Marketing and Membership
Ron Palermo area71gov@hotmail.com – San Antonio Marketing
Phil Garcia Philsa2@aol.com – San Antonio Membership
Laura Harris lauraharris@allstate.com – Coastal Marketing and Membership
The District is still looking for volunteers in the Laredo area and the Valley. If you know of someone that has a few extra minutes in the day, please send them my way lgm@tmd55.org.
Recent news on potential new clubs: Boerne Community had their first meeting on July 9th; American Cancer Society in north Austin had an initial information meeting on July 10th; Wimberley had their first meeting on July 12th.
Recent news on current clubs: Wiseman (in San Antonio) had their charter party on July 10th; TEL USA Austin had their five-year anniversary party on July 24th; Seadrifters (in Seadrift on the coast) celebrated their charter party on July 31st; Aim High Austin celebrated their 25th anniversary with an open house on August 1st.
At the TLI in New Braunfels, “tubes” were passed out to all clubs under 20 members. In these tubes were Progress Wall Charts, Membership Campaign flyers, Banner Raid flyers, and great ideas on how to attract and keep members. If the actual club was not in attendance, the Area or Division Governor took the tube to be distributed to the club. I hope you got yours! If not, please send me an email lgm@tmd55.org.
The District had their first banner raid on July 19th when The Austin Toastmasters raided Today Club. A good time was had by all!! Encourage your clubs to do the same! This is a GREAT way to cross-pollinate club ideas.
Club Coach request letters were mailed to clubs with 25 or more members at the end of July. These letters asked for someone to step up within those clubs to become a Coach and help out our struggling clubs. Even if you don’t have 25 members in your club and you want to be a Club Coach… PLEASE step up… we can always use you! In late August, letters will be sent to the struggling clubs asking them if they would like to request a club coach; if so, then hopefully we will have a Club Coach just waiting to step in!
As of August 8th, we still have 13 clubs that have not submitted their officer lists… is your club one of them??
Have you thought about joining an Advanced Club? There are several in District 55… Lone Star Leaders (Austin – must be a current/past District leader); Beyond Basics (San Antonio – must be a current/past District leader); and the newly chartered Debate & Discussion (Austin – must be a dual membership).
I will be traveling to Phoenix for the International Convention the week of August 13th. I hope to bring back lots of ideas from clubs and members from all over the world… stay tuned!
Don’t forget to:
Look for a potential new club in your area
Utilize the membership campaigns; there are great incentives for the clubs and members
Banner raid a club and gain new ideas to take back to your meetings
Submit a member’s name for potential club coach
Submit officer lists ASAP!!
