3. About Me
Web Development Manager or
Webmaster
Worked in the IT field with websites for
8 years
4. What is Free Toast Host?
• A free service to toastmaster clubs
• A web-based content management
information system
• Benefits the public and club members
• Created by Bo Bennett, DTM
5. Club Activites – Rising Stars
Agendas
Contests
Communications with members
Marketing
Goals
Dues
6. Issues
Communication is difficult once
members leave the meeting
Information dispersal happens at the
meetings and through email
No centralized location to find
information
Potential members must contact a
club officer to attend
7. How Free Toast Host helps
Centralized location for club
information for club officers and
members
Potential members can find
information about the club meetings
Inform all members in one location
Does not require technical knowledge
to manage
61 clubs in our district use Free Toast
Host
8. Features for club officers
Mailing lists
Club news and forums
Duty roster
Member information
Statistics
Downloads
Semi-annual dues
Club goals – annual and quarterly
9. Features for members
Signup for roles online
Member contact information
Forms
Club calendar
10. Features for potential
members
Publicize your meeting location and
time
Communicate what your about
Corporate clubs can communicate
internally
Promote your club through Google
12. Caveats
Balance marketing and member
information
Get leadership involved when setting
up the site
Remove unused sections
Check the link from the district site to
your site periodically
13. Caveats
Start small and add in features over
time
Train your members
Use only what you need
14. Caveats
Design
◦ Stick to the basics
◦ Unless your comfortable with changing a
website, stick with the basic setup
◦ Use caution with colors
15. Caveats
Chunk your words
◦ Users online do not read, they scan
◦ Chop your communication by using
bullets and headlines
◦ Get to the point
20. FreeToastHost vs. Club
Scheduler
Free Toast Host Club Scheduler
Online Personal Computer
Focused on collaborating Focused on scheduling
Allows all to interact Allows only an administrative
person
Does not generate a schedule Generates a schedule
Stores member information Stores member information
Free with a club number $40 donation
7000 clubs use Free Toast Host 1000 clubs use
21. Ready to start?
VP of Public Relations should manage
If possible, have two officers setup the
site
Ensure the username and password is
available to all managing parties
Club contact
Club information
Only one site per club
22. Ready to Start?
Requirements
◦ Internet Explorer 6+
◦ Firefox 1.5+
◦ Some users have reported issues with
Mac and some say it works fine