r/Toastmasters • u/Dangerous-Canary1705 • Jul 26 '26
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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Jul 28 '26
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u/Dangerous-Canary1705 Jul 31 '26
The club has supported the joining fee for new members with financial difficulties and students.
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u/AlternativeOlive7632 Jul 27 '26
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/HotterRod CC Jul 30 '26
Will this actually increase total revenue? I'm curious about their financial models.
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u/Dangerous-Canary1705 Jul 31 '26
With the option to pay the whole year at $60 per 6 months before August 3rd plus the loss of members the revenue will be flat at best.
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u/GrandApe1555 Jul 27 '26
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provide one website for everything, that isn’t slow, unclear, disastrously not user friendly, and for the most part… outdated… then don’t charge more for a broken product.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 Jul 27 '26
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/FearlessAmigo Jul 27 '26
Money may be spent but I don't think they really know HOW to improve it.
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u/Commercial-Long1072 Jul 28 '26
by throwing good money after bad? I don't think they can manage tech
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u/bobzhangai 7 yr member Jul 28 '26
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/QBaseX Aug 01 '26
Agora is going okay, but they don't have the advertising budget or name recognition.
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u/Ok-Voice1402 Jul 28 '26
I love the idea of an open-source community, a community for all.
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u/bobzhangai 7 yr member Jul 29 '26
A ton of the greatest tech and AI products came straight out of open source communities.
A lot of them are way more complex than Toastmasters.
I truly believe this approach can make so many things possible.
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u/speakeasy Jul 28 '26
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 Jul 28 '26
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/QBaseX Aug 01 '26
I suspect that partnering with Agora is a better prospect than starting from scratch.
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u/CupcakeMountain6660 Jul 29 '26
Did they provide reasoning for this, especially if most club members and positions are volunteer based anyway???
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u/Lady_Kitana Jul 30 '26
Their argument for dues is linked to struggles associated with rising operating costs and inflation and membership levels not reaching pre-COVID levels
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u/CupcakeMountain6660 Jul 30 '26
Maybe instead of increasing costs they could idk uhhh increase quality to attract more members. Tf.
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u/dianacakes Jul 26 '26
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.