TM FOR DISADVANTAGED & HOMELESS???
rlmeu...@ihug.com.au
1st time poster!!
I work in a charity with a large number of marginalised people,
including the homeless, disadvantaged, and many with low self esteem
etc I am sure that a toastmasters club could bring hope and skills
and enjoyment to some of our guests at our charity.
I would like to know if there any clubs anywhere in the world that are
catering for any of the groups of people I have mentioned. I have
approached TI but was told to approach individual clubs, not an easy
task! So am hoping that through this message board, possibly I may
hear of a club/clubs who are working with disadvantaged people.
many thanks
Louise
ni...@sysadmininc.com
Hi Louise,
Welcome to our little group.
Toastmasters will certainly boost the confidence and self-esteem of the
people at your charity and TI are right. The best people to help you
are existing clubs since they'll know best about other clubs with
similar needs to yours in your area.
That said, what might be more useful would be some Speechcraft sessions
hosted by local Toastmasters. I expect you'll have a large rate of turn
over with people coming and going through your doors and that would make
it hard to sustain a club without a lot of help. A Speechcraft can be
done weekly by a willing club or Toastmaster.
Depending where in Australia you are will determine who you would need
to contact.
Queensland, Northern Territory, Northern New South Wales is District 69
http://www.toastmastersd69.org/
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is District 70
http://www.d70toastmasters.org/
South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania is District 73
http://www.d73.toastmasters.org.au/
You should be able to find the people you need to speak to on those
websites.
Good luck.
Regards
Nigel
--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"
Librarygurl
This could be something you run similar to the way prison clubs are
run. I am not sure how other districts handle these clubs, but the
members of the district donate money, material and time to help
support prisoners who wish to belong to a Toastmasters club. Since
they don't have money in prison donations are collected at all
district events to cover the dues and many members match donations.
The clubs also donate extra material to the prison clubs. When my
club updated our library we donated the older items to the local
prison club so they could reach their advanced membership goals. We
also have a coordinator or 2. These are people who work with the
prisoners to guide them through the organization and coordinate
donations.
If you want to run a club for these people and pay for their
membership, organizing something similar to a prison club may be a
good idea. If you just want to expose them to Toastmasters, the
Salvation Army may be good. My club use to meet in the offices of our
local Salvation Army. I know they run workshops for people to help
build professional skills. We tried to get involved, but were unable
to work out the details. You can also ask local clubs to donate a
free membership to participants for a specific length of time. My
club doesn't broadcast it publicly, but we will donate memberships or
reduce the cost if we know a member has fallen on hard times. I would
talk to your district leadership to see what you can do and who can
help you. It looks like Nigel has listed those people.
Sara
LouMeu
thank you so much Nigel and Sara for your suggestions, you have really
helped me.
I hadn't thought of speechcraft but will definitely consider it now.
Even a mini speechcraft with a different purpose could be useful. I
will definitely also follow up on the prison toastmaster clubs, I've
been going to, I will email all three districts in Australia and see
if any are running in this country.
'
That said, I have to say i still believe that a club could work. I
have a very suitable venue and sponsorship for those (majority I
imagine) who could not pay fees.
Many of our guests live fairly chaotic lives and many would definitely
be transient in the club. However, our charity is very different to
others in many ways .. we serve breakfast and lunch 6 days a week, we
are very much a community, we become their home, their family, and we
have many ongoing weekly activities already like choir, and bingo and
once a month karaoke. It takes a little while to build up activities
but invariably once the core of the group is established, it will grow
slowly. I should also mention that our community also consists of
about 200 volunteers and they will also be invited to join. Some
volunteers, in time, could then go out and talk about the charity to
various groups etc. I'm also in a very strong area for TM, with quite
a few good clubs surrounding, many of whom I know personally and will
give support. My own home club is also very strong, I know will also
drop in from time to time to help and make up the numbers whilst the
club is growing.
I asked one of the guests if he'd be interested, and he said
absolutely .. absolutely I'll be there .. so long as I'm on parole!!
mmm so I'm not blind to the challenges but our charity is well known
as a most amazing place and the people always surprise me how much
more there is to them ... it's funny but I felt almost "called" to
leave my old job and work for a charity, and i have that same feeling
about this club .. but I guess time will tell
thanks again for the encouragement and brilliant suggestions
good luck to you both in 2008 in your TM ambitions,
Louise
Rick
A Speechcraft with help from near by clubs may work. If you held the
sessions back to back, they could join any time without missing much.
If they complete the program, there could be some sort of scholarship to
the nearby clubs.
If you have active members from the near by clubs, the transition will
be easier. Someone that they know would invite them to his/her club
meeting.
If you constructed the speech craft around the style of Youth
Leadership. The participants have their own officers for the session.
(They usually elect officers for the first half and for the second
half.) People who are only around for a short time could get benefit
form giving a couple speeches. If they are around for longer, they can
take on the additional responsibility of leadership. This will boost
their confidence, so they are ready to join a club with people from the
community.
Rick
Mark
Club 1714, Charlie's Angels, works specifically with the homeless in
District 39.
LouMeu
Louise
Missy Mitch
Toastmasters club that opened at a Homeless Shelter
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/02/17/toast_0218.html
Sonja
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