Definition of a "Member in good standing"

[Crains]

Hi Everyone,
I have come across a little problem and hope some of you experienced
Toastmasters might be able to help me out here. We are about to hold our
clubs Evaluation Contest this week. In order for a member to be eligible
Toastmasters states that they have to be a "member in good standing" within
the club. I'm not sure what this actually means.

We have a member who has paid up his membership dues but hasn't been to a
meeting in over 3 months. The last meeting he was scheduled to be the
Toastmaster but cancelled at the last minute leaving our VPEd in a very
angry state. He has now requested to come along to our contest meeting and
take part as a contestant. Can he be regarded as a member in good standing
within the club? Is the choice upto the executive committee or are there
some rigid rules regarding this?

Any help is appreciated,
Thanks

[Rod Taylor]

Post by Crains
Hi Everyone,
I have come across a little problem and hope some of you experienced
Toastmasters might be able to help me out here. We are about to hold our
clubs Evaluation Contest this week. In order for a member to be eligible
Toastmasters states that they have to be a "member in good standing" within
the club. I'm not sure what this actually means.
We have a member who has paid up his membership dues but hasn't been to a
meeting in over 3 months. The last meeting he was scheduled to be the
Toastmaster but cancelled at the last minute leaving our VPEd in a very
angry state. He has now requested to come along to our contest meeting and
take part as a contestant. Can he be regarded as a member in good standing
within the club? Is the choice upto the executive committee or are there
some rigid rules regarding this?

Membership in good standing effectively means that dues are current with
WHQ. If, for any reason, dues have been paid to the Club, but the Club has
not forwarded them to WHQ, the member might not be in good standing. Note
also that the Club must be in good standing.

Active or inactive membership has no bearing on membership in good standing
in terms of WHQ's interpretation of this rule for speech contests. The same
applies to the member's attendance record.

The Club cannot make a local rule relating to eligibility for contests since
'These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no exceptions may be
made.'

An e-mail to WHQ will establish whether or not an individual's membership is
in good standing. Response times are normally quite quick.

Rod Taylor (rodt iafrica - don't forget the @ and the dotcom)
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa

[Eric Matto]

Post by Rod Taylor
An e-mail to WHQ will establish whether or not an individual's membership is
in good standing. Response times are normally quite quick.

You can also sign on to the club business section of the TI website using
your club's password and generate a club membership listing which shows all
members with the dates that they are paid up until.

[p c]

That's correct. For clarification, in my opinion, it means the member
has paid "club membership dues." TI portion and club portion.

In general, if you are shown as a club member on TI's roster assigned to
the club, you are a club member in good standing--because logistically,
the membership is approved by the club (with collection of TI and club
dues) and then sent to TI. But there is always the possibility that
someone might submit the new member appication on his/her on directly to
TI without knowledge of or approval by the club. (It has happened to us.)

..PC

Post by Rod Taylor
Membership in good standing effectively means that dues are current with
WHQ. If, for any reason, dues have been paid to the Club, but the Club has
not forwarded them to WHQ, the member might not be in good standing. Note
also that the Club must be in good standing.

[Crains]

Post by Rod Taylor

Post by Crains
Hi Everyone,
I have come across a little problem and hope some of you experienced
Toastmasters might be able to help me out here. We are about to hold
our clubs Evaluation Contest this week. In order for a member to be
eligible Toastmasters states that they have to be a "member in good
standing" within the club. I'm not sure what this actually means.
We have a member who has paid up his membership dues but hasn't been
to a meeting in over 3 months. The last meeting he was scheduled to
be the Toastmaster but cancelled at the last minute leaving our VPEd
in a very angry state. He has now requested to come along to our
contest meeting and take part as a contestant. Can he be regarded as
a member in good standing within the club? Is the choice upto the
executive committee or are there some rigid rules regarding this?

Membership in good standing effectively means that dues are current
with WHQ. If, for any reason, dues have been paid to the Club, but
the Club has not forwarded them to WHQ, the member might not be in
good standing. Note also that the Club must be in good standing.
Active or inactive membership has no bearing on membership in good
standing in terms of WHQ's interpretation of this rule for speech
contests. The same applies to the member's attendance record.
The Club cannot make a local rule relating to eligibility for
contests since 'These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no
exceptions may be made.'
An e-mail to WHQ will establish whether or not an individual's
membership is in good standing. Response times are normally quite
quick.
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa

Thanks for clarifying that Rod

[Nigel Reed]

Post by Rod Taylor
The Club cannot make a local rule relating to eligibility for contests since
'These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no exceptions may be
made.'

Actually, can a club not use any method it likes to choose who will go
forward to the area competition? At our club we had members who didn't
sign the judges slips and we decided that they would all be eligable. As
another member noted, if we wanted to draw straws for who represents the
club then we can do.

Regards
Nigel

[Larry]

Post by Nigel Reed

Post by Rod Taylor
The Club cannot make a local rule relating to eligibility for contests since
'These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no exceptions may be
made.'

Actually, can a club not use any method it likes to choose who will go
forward to the area competition? At our club we had members who didn't
sign the judges slips and we decided that they would all be eligable. As
another member noted, if we wanted to draw straws for who represents the
club then we can do.
Regards
Nigel

NIgel,

Well, not exactly. A Club can indeed use any method they choose to select a
contestant (including drawing straws!). However, if the method chosen is to
hold a contest, then you *must* abide by all the Toastmasters contest rules.
We had a club last year that decided to hold a contest. Only one contestant
showed up. They held the contest, and she went overtime. She was thus
disqualified from going to the Area contest, and there was no alternate.

We strongly suggest to our clubs that if they have only one contestant that
they hold a "practice" not a contest.

Larry Lands DTM
IPDG District49
2001 World Championship Finalist

[Nigel Reed]

Post by Larry
We strongly suggest to our clubs that if they have only one contestant that
they hold a "practice" not a contest.

That's a pretty good idea. I always try to make sure we have at least
two contestants so that if one is disqualified then we still have a
chance, plus if they both qualify then we do have a backup. Besides,
competition brings out the best in people.

Regards
Nigel

[Eric Matto]

Post by Larry
Well, not exactly. A Club can indeed use any method they choose to select a
contestant (including drawing straws!). However, if the method chosen is to
hold a contest, then you *must* abide by all the Toastmasters contest rules.
We had a club last year that decided to hold a contest. Only one contestant
showed up. They held the contest, and she went overtime. She was thus
disqualified from going to the Area contest, and there was no alternate.
We strongly suggest to our clubs that if they have only one contestant that
they hold a "practice" not a contest.
Larry Lands DTM
IPDG District49
2001 World Championship Finalist

Reminds me of a few years ago when the club I was in had a contest. We had
two contestants, and both went overtime. Since there was some time before
the area contest, the club held a second contest the week after. This time
only of the two contestants was there, but he did compete. We told him to
stop talking as soon as the red light came on, even if he was in
mid-sentence.

[Rod Taylor]

Post by Nigel Reed

Post by Rod Taylor
The Club cannot make a local rule relating to eligibility for contests since
'These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no exceptions may be
made.'

Actually, can a club not use any method it likes to choose who will go
forward to the area competition? At our club we had members who didn't
sign the judges slips and we decided that they would all be eligable. As
another member noted, if we wanted to draw straws for who represents the
club then we can do.

A Club may choose its representative(s) to the Area contest in whatever
manner the members may deem fitting. However, if a contest is held, it must
comply with the rules and the result is final.

Rod Taylor (rodt iafrica - don't forget the @ and the dotcom)
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa