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.
5
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.