A Club Sponsor is an experienced Toastmaster who possesses leadership skills, passion for Toastmasters, and a strong sense of dedication to helping charter a new club. Each new club may have up to two sponsors.
A club sponsor is assigned to each new club attempting to charter and plays a fundamental role in successfully creating a new Toastmasters club. The Club Extension Committee assigns club sponsors based on inquiries or applications from members progressing towards the Distinguished Toastmaster accreditation.
The sponsor is responsible for organizing the new club, including selling the new club idea to prospective members, helping to set up regular meetings, completing the charter paperwork, and planning the charter party.
The sponsor offers encouragement, guidance and advice to members until the club charters, helps the club with their charter party, and attends the new club’s charter presentation. The sponsor works with the new club to:
- Explain the benefits of attending events outside the club environment.
- Invite the new club’s members to attend speech contests, club officers training, and other special meetings and encourage participation at these events.
- Present programs from the Better Speaker Series, the Successful Club Series, and the Leadership Excellence Series at the new club’s meetings.
Roles and responsibilities when setting up regular meetings:
- Build a personal rapport with the club.
- Provide the new club with an overview history of Toastmasters International, the organization structure, and the relationship between the organization and the club member.
- Explain the educational system Pathways.
- Ensure members understand the club meeting roles, the skills they are developing and encourage participation.
- Acquaint the members with all the educational programs and activities Toastmasters has to offer.
- Work with club officers explaining their duties and responsibilities.
- Review TI’s online store with the club and explain how they can benefit from the materials offered.
Sponsors receive a certificate and credit toward the requirements of a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) after they receive their credit. Note: Sponsors must apply for credit no later than 90 days after the club’s official charter date.
If you are interested in becoming a Club Sponsor, please contact the Club Growth Director’s Club Sponsor Chair Wendy Williamson, DTM at “clubsponsor@toastmasters60.com“.
If you would like to learn more about chartering a new club, please read the document, “How to build a Toastmasters Club“.
