Looking for ways to help small clubs, but can’t find coaches to help them? D72 (New Zealand) has developed a very interesting group/virtual coaching approach, the MAX Plan, based on the Rising Star Program from D10/D28/D61.
They’ve developed a 40-page document that explains just how to go about it, and they’ve had some very strong success. The prime target is small clubs (12 or less members without a coach), and secondarily, medium-size clubs that may have stagnated (13-18 members). Often, distance is a problem, some clubs may be hours distant or hundreds of miles away from other clubs.
The goals are to help the club become distinguished (like a club coach), but also to be positioned for long-term growth, through educating officers and improving awareness of the Toastmasters program potential.
It starts with a half-day foundation workshop (usually done at the division level), followed up by virtual coaching, and 4-8 months later, a follow-up session. A full set of handouts and an outline of the presentation material is included, with some great resources.
With the permission of the author, Murray Coutts (District 72 Lt. Gov’r of Marketing), I’m posting the document (also on the Resources page on my web site), in hopes that others will benefit from this unique approach to helping small clubs improve. Take a few minutes to download it and skim it over, talk about it with your fellow Toastmasters leaders. If it seems like it might work, give it a try!
In the comments here, I’d love to hear what you think are the biggest challenges to finding club coaches, and whether this virtual team approach might help.
I just met with my DG this afternoon about this very subject. I get home this evening and you have the answer waiting for. Now, that’s what I call timing. I will be downloading the document and putting it to use if it is something we can use.
Thank you in advance,
Richard Elliott, DTM
LGM Founders District
Thanks, Richard, glad to be of service!
1. NZ is my standard case study on growth in Toastmasters. If District 74 had as many clubs per head of population as NZ has, we would have (wait for it) 7000 clubs. SEVEN THOUSAND. This is not a typo!
2. I am running for District Governor in 2011/12 and this is my strong and fervent belief. In five years, District 74 should be ready to split into two — we should have 250 clubs by then. I think it’s do-able and I’m hoping this document will show us how.
3. Thanks SO MUCH for posting this valuable information.
regards
Erich Viedge
Mike,
As one of our two LGMs for D27 (splitting to 27-29 in July), I am very
happy to see this approach, and will comment more later, because it addresses our all too comon problem: ” n coaches for m clubs”, where “n” is very much less than “m”! Thanks for the posting.
Mike,
This is very timely. It appears that District 8 Governors will be discussing the content of The MAX Plan during our Conference in a few weeks. Thank you for the posting.
Thanks — glad to be of help!