Themes

Over the last six weeks we have introduced "themes" to the club practice but as an introductory showcase.  The goal from October 2016 on-wards is to get the Toastmaster (the MC for the club meeting) to decide on the theme and then either organize the theme, or call on a support member who can provide audio and/or visual support.

Themes are a way of making club meetings more interesting for members, so they are meant to evoke excitement and add more fun to the educational program.  It also challenges those members who have a creative flair.  If we were based out of the Oakville Campus, we would be in a greater position because that is where all the technology students study, but ours is a business campus and so we hope to attract students from business who are also good at visuals.  A couple of years ago we did have one student who provided great support with visuals.  At that time his specialty was video's and there were no themed meetings.

Istanbul Toastmasters have done a good job of combining themed meetings with excellent audio visual production and so that provides an example of what a high standard Toastmasters club can aspire to, albeit have the organization, support and quality of membership who have a strong long-term commitment to the club.   For a club in Turkey, it also shows how widespread the use of English is in globally based Toastmasters clubs :

Themes do add new possibilities for the students of the club but as college re-opens this month, it is very much dependent on the kind of new members we expect will be joining the club during this month.  Usually the start of a new college term ushers in those students who are looking for a student club, so we refresh our membership which usually dwindles due to the summer holidays, when the college is closed, but the campus club continues despite much lower turnout.   To get 10 to 14 members to show up in the Summer months is a fairly good attendance for off-peak season.   The college fair determines what clubs students choose and by introducing themes, we are simply adding an additional level of attraction, and if the meetings are as a result more fun, that only adds rather than detracts from educational goals.
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