Club Member Mentoring Program
Starting and/or maintaining a mentoring program for new club members in your club is an easy and simple program to adopt. The effort that is involved provides a better sense of accomplishment and growth for the mentor and a greater understanding of Toastmasters as well as a better knowledge base of resources for the member being mentored. This, in turn, ensures the new member continues their membership and engagement with the club. Let’s get started:

Starting a mentoring program in your club:
►Create a list of tenured members who would be willing to mentor a new member

• Takes a personal interest in and helps an inexperienced member (mentee)
• Serves as a role model, coach, and confidante
• Offers knowledge, insight, perspective, and wisdom useful to the mentee
• Helps someone become successful and learns new skills themselves

►Once a new member joins the club, the Vice President of Education assigns a mentor using the list of mentors. (both parties should agree on the assignment) Then:

• Mentor and new member exchange contact information
• Mentor and new member schedule time outside of the club meeting to talk/meet
• Mentor sits with the new member during club meetings
• Mentor discusses the meeting structure and the different roles involved
• Mentor assists the new member with logging in to Toastmasters.org, PathwaysBasecamp, and FreeToastHost (if applicable)
• Mentor assists the new member in choosing a Pathways path (include the VPE)
• Mentor available for new member questions about Pathways and assists with Level 1
• Mentor to fill meeting roles while being assisted by the new member in the beginning (Timer, Ah Counter, Grammarian, etc)
• Mentor encourages the new member in filling future meeting roles
• Mentor explains the organization hierarchy to the new member: club, Area, Division, District, etc and Toastmaster members who currently hold District roles (use the District website as a reference – www.toastmasters-d18.org )
• Mentor discusses events outside of the club environment: Speech Contests, Leadership Training, Spring Conference, etc
• Mentor explains the Distinguished Club Program

►Best practices to recognize new members and their mentors

• Club conducts a formal New Member Induction Ceremony (at least once every 6 months)
• Club recognizes a mentor by holding a Recognition Ceremony and presents the mentor with a Certificate of Recognition and/or Mentor Pin (item #1163P in the Toastmasters Shop).