would have appreciated earlier notice!

[Jim Chamberlin]

Dear T.I. World Headquarters,

For clubs that collect dues quarterly, this notice of dues increase is coming quite late in our billing cycle.  We include lunch in our meetings and pass on that extra costs to our members.  Most of our July-September dues have already been collected.  This late notice puts us in a bit of a bind.  We would have appreciated earlier notice.

Jim Chamberlin

[Richard Lobb]

 

They have to pay for the branding initiative somehow . . .

[Jim Chamberlin]

Dear Friends in Toastmasters,

.....A month passed, and then a miracle happened, I got a reply and almost an apology for the late notice of the dues increase.

Oh, my goodness.  I feel so much better, I could just.....

I'm still waiting for a reply to my email saying that I've had to drop 2 of my clubs due to the dues increase that hits multi-club members especially hard.  I'm not holding my breath.  As a matter of fact I'm thinking of dropping further clubs.  And then I'm going to hold my breath until I turn blue.  That'll show 'em!

Jim Chamberlin

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dues Increase <duesin...@toastmasters.org>
To: Jim Chamberlin <chamberl...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 1:14 PM
Subject: RE: would have appreciated earlier notice!

Dear Toastmaster.

 

After lengthy discussions, the Board of Directors agreed that with all the changes and other announcements being communicated, it would be best to wait. In hindsight, they realize this information should have been announced sooner and will make every effort to do so in the future.

 

Thank you for your feedback and input regarding the upcoming dues increase.  We appreciate your service and dedication to Toastmasters.

 

Member Services

Toastmasters International
Where Leaders Are Made.

P 949-858-8255

F 949-858-1207

www.toastmasters.org

---

From: Jim Chamberlin [chamberl...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 7:52 AM
To: Dues Increase

Cc: tD36 Barry Piatt; tma Jaci Pasley
Subject: would have appreciated earlier notice!

[Dick Lobb]

I especially like the warm, personal touch of having the note come from "Member Services." 

Richard L. Lobb

Cell (202) 841-9611

[Dick Lobb]

Jimbo -- be sure to pass on my comments since the various lists would not accept email from me (not being a member of said lists).

Richard L. Lobb

Cell (202) 841-9611

On Sep 22, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Jim Chamberlin <chamberl...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Jim Chamberlin]

Dear Barry,

I appreciate your email very much.  I'm almost "over it" personally, but I think you're overly optimistic if you think this episode is "over".  T.I. may have moved on, and the district brass, such as yourself, around the country may have "moved on", just so that they can overcome their own cognitive dissonance, and get a good night's sleep.  But the mere fact that the top has moved on without acknowledging the pain and anger at the bottom, and without answering some basic questions, contributes and magnifies that pain and anger.  Jim Roberts email below gives eloquent testimony to that point of view.  I think TI will be very lucky if it doesn't loose entire clubs over this.  I'm not talking individuals who decide they don't have the resources for multiple memberships, such as myself.  I'm talking clubs, that before this came up, were thriving and were established for years, who now feel profoundly betrayed, ignored and disrespected.

I understand that you want to move on.  Good luck with that.  It's unfortunate that TI has chosen to provide this "spark" at the beginning of your administration.  By its actions, attitude and unresponsiveness, TI has provided one way to protest, and that is to leave.  

I appreciate they you're most concerned with the numbers.  I hope I'm wrong, and that the numbers continue strong. 

Jim

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "rober...@aol.com" <rober...@aol.com>
To: chamberl...@yahoo.com; jpa...@geico.com; bpi...@district36.org
Cc: capital2...@freetoasthost.com; officers-cap...@googlegroups.com; dupontspea...@freetoasthost.com; mdadv...@toastmastersclubs.org; guts-o...@freetoasthost.us
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: And then a miracle happened....I heard from Toastmasters International....

The reply from TI member services drips with feigned remorse

It is a condescending dismissal politely phrased

There is something rotten at the top of this organization

If TI is a non profit faithful to its mission, then its paid staff exists to serve us

The top down manner in which TI abruptly issued its dues increase dictate makes clear they believe we work for them nbsp;

As long as TI treats its members as their vassals instead of their masters, I see no reason to remain in its organization 

Jim Roberts

[Jim Chamberlin]

Dear Officers of Cap 1, Cap 2, Do Tell, Dupont Speaks, GUTS, and Maryland Advanced,

Last Friday, I cc'ed all of you with an email I sent to District 36 Governor Barry Piatt.  I also cc'd Past International Governor Heath Suddleson.  To quickly summarize I expressed my continued dismay with the dues increase, and the timing of its announcement, and tried to alert that dissatisfaction was deeply seated, with whole clubs deeply disaffected. 

To his credit, Heath replied to me in what I consider to be the fullest and most constructive email yet from anyone representing Toastmasters International.  Since he deliberately cc'ed all of you, and since I know that his email to you would not be accepted by your club's FreeToastHost server, I am facilitating and sending Heath's email on to you for your information.

(Background:  FreeToastHost only accepts emails from members of the club, and at that, only from the emails that they are listed with inside the club.)

I know that many of you are distinguished (with a small '"d") Toastmasters and passionate about the organization, and upset with recent changes.  As he himself does, I hope that Heath's reply will help all of us to understand.  He has also solicited ideas on how this can be made right, and I hope that you will take the liberty of giving him your thoughts, if you have any.

The proof of course will be in the numbers, in individuals who may drop, and in clubs that may  disaffiliate of fold.  (Or renew, join and thrive!)  We won't know those numbers until late Fall, and ultimately for the next few years.  Perhaps Heath is right when he refers to the 2005 dues increase, when there was a slight dip, and the organization came back stronger than before. 

Heath mentions that there has been extensive discussion of these and other issues in the "social media", and so I refer you to those venues, if you'd like to pursue further discussion.  Personally I am not on the social media, and so I can't be more specific. 

Best wishes,

Jim Chamberlin

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "hsudd...@aol.com" <hsudd...@aol.com>
To: chamberl...@yahoo.com; bpi...@district36.org
Cc: capital2...@freetoasthost.com; officers-cap...@googlegroups.com; dupontspea...@freetoasthost.com; mdadv...@toastmastersclubs.org; guts-o...@freetoasthost.us; JVKi...@aol.com; dotell-...@freetoasthost.info; duesin...@toastmasters.org
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: thanks very much for your email

Jim,

 

I completely understand your frustration.  Allow me to briefly expand on what WHQ sent you.

 

At the time the dues increase was voted on, there was a lot going on.  We did not want to confuse the dues increase with the April collections.  Also, in not wanting Districts and clubs to lose focus on the end of year processing, we decided to wait until after July 1st.  WHQ was extremely busy with end of year processing, so we targeted August 1st.  All the best intentions that in the end left people with inadequate time to adjust and prepare for the increase.  It was a mistake on our part.  We are not trying to make excuses, but rather trying to help members understand that Toastmasters is a learning laboratory at every level.  We made a mistake.  It is not likely that such a mistake will be made again.

 

At the International Convention, Dan Rex and Pat Johnson both offered apologies for the late announcement.  Myself and Keith Ostergard have made many comments to this on social media.  We're not trying to discount people's feelings, but I am not sure what else people are looking for.  Since you're not "over it", please help me understand what more can be done beyond the apologies. 

 

Please also realize that this dues increase was needed.  I am a member of multiple clubs, as is my wife, Michele.  Our dues has gone up, too.  I would not be supporting a dues increase that I would be paying 4 times over if I did not believe with all my heart that it was needed.   We knew there was going to be an impact to some members.  When the dues was raised in 2005, there was a slight drop in membership, but the year ended on slight growth and the year following was much more growth.  That meant that in 2005 there was some impact to members, but the organization needed the dues.  There was simply no way to not impact members in some way, and still provide the total organization with the needed resources.  I can tell you that I completely understand this has had a significant impact on you and other members.  I can also tell you that every member of the 2010-2011 BOD understands this as well.

 

As I said, I am not trying discount your feelings.  I am just trying to help point out that 1) a mistake was made.  We get that.  And that 2) the mistake was not in the dues increase, but the timing of the announcement.  That said, please let me know what we can do to help make things right. 

 

Heath

 

 

 

Heath Suddleson, DTM PID

 

 

Dear Toastmaster.

 

P 949-858-8255

F 949-858-1207

www.toastmasters.org

[Dick Lobb]

LOL!  

What can they do to make it right?  Rescind the dues increase and pledge to live on what they have for the next five years. Find some other way to raise money. Times are tough. 

Richard L. Lobb

Cell (202) 841-9611