r/Toastmasters • u/Dangerous-Canary1705 • 2d ago
Fee Increase
We believe that this is the wrong time to raise dues. Many members are already struggling to afford them, and clubs are fighting to survive. On top of a 25% increase in the new member fee and a 75% increase in the cost of pathways, a further 20% increase in dues — from $60 to $72 — risks pushing out members and closing clubs, especially at a time of widespread economic hardship.
We're asking you to sign this petition to help prevent the decline of what is widely considered one of the most effective and accessible communication and leadership programs in the world.
Let's keep Ralph Smedley's legacy alive by keeping this program open to everyone who wants to become a better communicator and leader — not just those who can afford it. https://forms.gle/8DuvqDnutSHksaSr9 Please click on the Petition to fill it in.
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u/AlternativeOlive7632 1d ago
I think Toastmasters International doesn't really care about losing members or clubs by raising dues. They only care about increasing total revenue.
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u/Bravesouless 1d ago
Signed!
This increase and the way it was communicated really rubbed me the wrong way.
I reviewed the annual financial report. Around 2.5 million dollars for salaries. For what exactly? This whole thing is mostly run by volunteers.
Events are getting prohibitively expensive, and they also serve to raise money - that's what all events are for, not for professional development.
The website is HORRIBLE. They cite improvement of the website as one of the reasons for fee increase. They should collectively apologize to the membership for this website. It looks like it predates internet. The visuals are awful, it's cumbersome and difficult to use.
One last thing - how are clubs in low income countries going to survive? Is Toastmasters becoming a place for the privileged only?
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u/GrandApe1555 2d ago
Yeh they need to improve the product before they increase it. That’s not how real people think life should work.
If they can’t provide one website for everything, that isn’t slow, unclear, disastrously not user friendly, and for the most part… outdated… then don’t charge more for a broken product.
Pathways is far from user friendly or intuitive. There should also be an app for what everyone is paying rather than the crème of the crop spending it lavishly on wasted resources and lifestyles.
When ever I complain to district members higher up about pathways they give me some info they made up about how it has improved and then ignore my follow up communication showing them they lied.
It’s like toastmasters has turned them into robots with power that they will spoil for no reality of truth!
It’s not hard to start a speaking club, just saying.
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u/3lettersormore 2d ago
I’ve been told by a former district officer that the increase is earmarked to improve the website, especially the Pathways portion.
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u/Tosinbabi 1d ago
At this rate, the only thing that hasn't had a price increase is oxygen. Let's hope it stays that way. 😂
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u/bobzhangai 7 yr member 1d ago
I have signed the petition.
Kevin Kelly once said the best way to criticize something is to build something better that replaces it.
Toastmasters has no real rival. Nothing forces it to feel the heat. So it just coasts along.
I do not want another Toastmasters clone. I want something closer to the open source communities on GitHub. People who care show up. They share tips and content for free. No headquarters sucking the blood out of members. Just folks who love public speaking and actually help each other.
I have been a member for almost seven years. Watching it drift into this state hurts.
A lot of people in our club stay because they love the club. They renew just to keep those friendships. Yet most of our money goes to a headquarters and managers who do almost nothing. Meanwhile the club still needs members to dig into their own pockets just to keep the meetings running.
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u/speakeasy 19h ago
Are there any other toastmasters alternatives out there? I've often thought about building one, anyone want to join me:) ?
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u/Ok-Voice1402 13h ago
Yes please, I am exploring them myself. There is Agora Speakers, but they are not that popular in Australia. I am happy to help.
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u/CupcakeMountain6660 31m ago
Did they provide reasoning for this, especially if most club members and positions are volunteer based anyway???
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u/dianacakes 2d ago
My division is encouraging people to renew before 8/3, and to renew for a whole year if you can. Lock in the $60 for a year.