When a club is floundering, do you stay or leave? You can't fault others for wanting to leave when they feel the club has no more value for them but I am a stayer.
When I joined Katong Toastmasters Club in November 2008, there were only 8 members. It was a struggling club and together we built it up by running an intensive 6-week Speechcraft workshop, which brought in many new members, many of whom have left.
People leave for all kinds of reasons. One member left because he could not withstand the stress of being VPE. He hated being let down, that people make promises to do their speeches or take up appointments but change their minds last minute with all kinds of excuses. I can't deny it's exasperating but that's life for you. Others left due to work priorities. One left without a word - all smses, emails and phonecalls received no response. Why can't say a decent goodbye? Who's going to hold you at gunpoint and say you can't leave? Whatever happened to social etiquette?
Another member recently revealed his intention to leave as many of the senior members were gone and the quality of the club was flagging. It was discouraging. I suggested staying on to make a difference to the club but greener pastures beckon.
So they leave... one by one...
Some stay but don't come... what's the point? I wish people could be passionate and committed. If they have made a decision to join a club which requires only monthly meetings, then at least make an effort to attend every month. 3 hours a month... how much commitment does it require to attend a meeting?
If you have signed up for a speech, then commit at least 2 days a month to write the script, edit and rehearse it. Speakers who take the stage with minimal preparation is really wasting everyone's time and not to mention, wasting their opportunity to learn and improve as a speaker.
Good speakers are a great way to attract new members. I joined NUS Alumni Toastmasters Club because of great speakers like Lau Kwong Fook and Ler Wee Meng; I wanted to learn from them, speak like them. I joined Katong Toastmasters Club because of good speakers like Justin Quek and Benjamin Gan. Lacklustre speeches are a real bane.
Let's hope members buck up, make an effort to deliver well-crafted and well-rehearsed speeches and give the impetus for members to stay and for more to join. After all, we are about public speaking, why speak if your heart is not in it?
