Sponsoring a New Club

Updated June 30,2023

What is a Club Sponsor?

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.  A club sponsor is an experienced Toastmaster with leadership skills, a passion for Toastmasters, and a strong dedication to helping charter a new club.  Each new club may have up to two sponsors.

Why be a Club Sponsor?

As a club sponsor, not only will you share your passion for Toastmasters with new members, but you will also enhance your own skills through the process, such as:

  • Enhance your leadership skills by inspiring others, sharing your knowledge, and creating new leaders
  • Translate values and strategies into productive actions
  • Develop project-management abilities.
  • Expand your marketing expertise.
  • Invest in the future of Toastmasters
  • To share the benefits of the Toastmasters pathways program with others.
  • Enhance your teamwork skills through a new learning experience.
  • Participate in the enthusiasm created in members when starting a new club.
  • Earn credit toward the Distinguished Toastmasters accreditation

Club Sponsors Duties and Responsibilities

The sponsor is responsible for organizing the new club, including promoting the new club idea to prospective members, helping to set up regular meetings, completing the charter paperwork, and planning the charter party.  Upon successful chartering, the sponsor receives a certificate and credit toward their Pathways DTM.

As a new club sponsor, you are responsible for:

  • Follow up with leads. Most often the district will already have a lead for a new club. Other times, an individual may need to produce his or her own leads.
  • Conduct a demonstration meeting. A demonstration meeting is a sponsor’s opportunity to show prospective members how a Toastmasters meeting is conducted and what the Toastmasters program can do for them.
  • Set up regular club meetings to maintain enthusiasm. It is important to quickly establish regular meetings to maintain momentum in the chartering process.
  • Help the prospective club submit the required forms to start a new club. See the club charter checklist below under ‘Link to club charter forms’
  • Help the club to request and set up a website. Encourage members to use it to manage their roles on the agenda and the executives to use it to simplify the administration of the club.
  • Help the club select their name, elect their club officers, establish their club dues, and pass their Club Constitution.
  • Submit the Application to Organize.
  • Help recruit members. Assist new club in recruiting members.  Engage the Area and Division Directors, as well as the District Public Relations team if required.
  • Help submit all appropriate paperwork. When the prospective club reaches 20 members, complete the charter application forms and send them, along with the new members’ fees and dues, to World Headquarters.
  • Introduce the Pathways program and the different paths within it. Help the new club understand how the Pathways program can help to facilitate their skill development.
  • Conduct educationals from the Better Speaker Series Programs to Help members develop their skills and a better understanding of the benefits of Toastmasters.
  • Inform the club about District Training Programs, Area and Division speech contests and conferences etc. and encourage their participation
  • Assist with planning the charter presentation. The presentation of the charter marks the debut of a new Toastmasters club and is an excellent opportunity to recognize those who helped form the club. It’s also a chance to generate publicity for the club, so plan the event carefully.
  • Keep your Club Extension Chair informed of your progress and immediately inform the chair of any chartering issue (complete progress reports)
  • Get Credit for being a club sponsor. Ask the club’s president to send an email to Toastmaster International’s New Club Unit indicating that you have successfully completed your club sponsor role.

Links to Club Charter Forms

Charter checklist Club Charter Checklist
Form 1 – Application to organize a Toastmasters club Form 1 – Application to Organize
Form 2 – Charter payments Form 2 – Charter Payments
Form 3 – Charter member application Form 3 – Charter Member Application
(The applications are retained for the club records)
Form 4 – Charter club officer information Form 4 – Charter Club Officer Information
Form 5 – Club Information Form 5 – Club Information
Form 6A – Club Constitution Form 6A – Club Constitution
Form 6B – Addendum of standard club options Form 6B – Addendum of Standard Club Options

Charter Membership and Club Officer Information
(This Excel spreadsheet is submitted to World Headquarters in place of Form 3 Charter Membership Application and Form 4 Charter Club Officer Information. Clubs are still required to have a signed charter application on file.)

If you are interested in becoming a New Club Sponsor, please fill out the application form HERE.

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