Every newly chartered club may have up to two mentors who are appointed by the Club Growth Director in consultation with the District Director. A club mentor advises, teaches, and guides a newly chartered club in implementing the Toastmasters program at the club during the first six months to one year of the new club’s existence. The club mentor should be an experienced Toastmaster who possesses leadership skills, passion for Toastmasters, and a strong sense of dedication to helping a new club develop the tools to become a strong club that will ensure their success for years to come. The mentor receives a certificate and credit toward their Pathways DTM after they return their “Get Credit” form to Toastmasters International.
Note: Mentors may apply for credit no sooner than six months after the club’s official charter date. A “mentor” is a trusted counselor or guide, tutor, coach. Your task, therefore, is to serve as a coach and advisor to the newly formed club. As a mentor, you have the opportunity to share your wisdom, knowledge, and experience with new toastmasters who want to learn, grow, and achieve. Your responsibility is not to run the club, but to allow the club to learn and grow as you gently offer suggestions guiding them toward excellence. A club mentor plays an integral part in the success of the club. By being a resource person, you can ease the growing pains of a new club and get it started on the right foot.
Club Mentor Duties and Responsibilities:
- 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 and a reference to the traditional education program).
- Acquaint the members with all the educational programs and activities Toastmasters has to offer (i.e. Speech craft, Youth Leadership, the Success/Communication and Success/Leadership programs, speech contests, Toastmasters Leadership Institute, etc.)
- Work with club officers explaining their duties and responsibilities.
- Plan joint meetings with other clubs so the members will have an opportunity to see how other clubs operate.
- Review TI’s online store with the club and explain how they can benefit from the materials offered.
- Explain Club Central and the resources available online at Toastmasters International and the District 35 websites.
- Encourage Club members to attend Area, Division, District, and International meetings.
- Keep your District Director and Club Growth Director informed of your progress.
Help club members build positive habits (these are the kinds of behavior you want displayed long after you have left the group). Emphasize these positive habits:
- Regular attendance at meetings.
- Present Pathways and/or Manual speeches.
- Diligent preparation for speeches and meeting roles.
- Learn how to deliver excellent evaluations.
- Maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude. In TI’s most successful clubs, members gain strength from a shared commitment to a worthwhile goal including self-improvement for all members.
- Special attention to guests and new members.
Remember: No position description can fully outline the total duties and responsibilities of the Club Mentor. Feel free to enlarge this list and reach out to other club mentors to find out their best practices. Being a club mentor offers you an opportunity to further develop and practice your leadership skills.
If you are interested in becoming a Club Mentor, please contact Club Growth Director Jason Feucht, DTM at jfeucht.tm@gmail.com
Here is one of many resources available to help you lean more about being a club mentor, a document titled “New Club Mentoring Matters“.