5 Ideas For A Great Open House
When is your open house? Start planning early for the best results. Here are some ideas to help you have the best one yet:
1 Organize a committee:
Find out who in your club needs a Pathways project
Organize or Help organize club special event
PR campaign - chair or help with
Membership contest
Befriend a guest at a meeting
2 Get all members involved
Share the plan
Review the moments of truth standards - these are found in your Club Leadership Handbook
All members greet guests
Arrange a fun themed meeting – all meeting roles filled in advance
Invite a guest speaker 5-7 minute manual speech with the evaluator
3 Promote the event
Flyers - distribute to members to post in the community or at their workplace
Social media, Eventbrite, MeetUp.com
Local papers- press release, article
Community calendar, SNAP
4 Arrange for greeters
Have lots of guest kits made in advance
Ask the guests how they found out about the meeting
Introduce both guests and members (30 seconds why they joined)
5 At the meeting
Have an easy fun table topics session, invite guests to try (ask them first)
Have an experienced member deliver the open house Powerpoint (download below)
Hold a special session for guests (VPM) during the break – explain the benefits of joining your club and answer questions
Measure your results
Process memberships promptly
Follow-up with guests
Invite guests to future meetings by phone or email
Open House Checklist (Download this Checklist into a Spreadsheet Here)
| Timeline | Task | |
| 6-8 weeks | Assign a committee & set budget | Club Executive |
| 6-8 weeks | Set date with VP Education, VP Membership & VP PR | Committee |
| Communicate date to Club Members | ||
| Plan Public Relations campaign - The key to your success!!!! | ||
| Invite local politician if appropriate | ||
| Arrange for Guest Speaker - creates buzz and excitement! | ||
| Approach experienced members for key roles - put on a good show. | ||
| Invite Area, Division & District dignitaries & put on agenda | ||
| Invite Past Members to attend - they might re-join | ||
| Invite Founding Members, Club, Sponsors/Mentors/Coaches | ||
| Ask Club Members to "Bring A Friend" | ||
| Pick an appropriate theme for the meeting (new beginnings, achievement etc.) | ||
| Pick a Word of the Day that matches the occasion | ||
| Prepare a suitable Table Topics session | ||
| Select speakers who will represent the club effectively | ||
| Prepare Open House packages/New member kits | ||
| Consider an incentive to join the day of Open House (with club approval) | ||
| 2 weeks before | Name tags purchased/prepared | Committee |
| Finalize Agenda | ||
| Decorations? Make it fun & festive! | ||
| Cake? - (Yellow & Blue theme) | ||
| Food? (Consider dietary restrictions when planning) | ||
| Supplies for food (plates, forks, napkins, cups) | ||
| Finalize incentive if using (gift card, draw, slight discount to fees, etc.) | ||
| Print ample supply of "Agenda's" | ||
| 1 hour before | Set up room theatre style & test AV equipment | SAA |
| Committee & Club Executive arrive early & set the welcoming tone | ||
| Guest Greeters to arrive early & set up welcome area | ||
| Guest Book, Open House Packets available | ||
| During Meeting | Welcome guests | |
| Allow guests to participate in Table Topics | ||
| Explain all parts of the meeting and the purpose of it | ||
| Thank the guests and dignitaries | ||
| Thank the organizing committee | ||
| Invite everyone to sign up or come back (Call to action is needed) | ||
Open House Resources:
PowerPoint from the Video Presentation Above
Graphics for Toastmaster Open House on Canva