Dear Toastmasters,
I would like to introduce the Social Media Monitoring and Discipline Committee to the members of The Official Toastmasters International Members Group. The committee was formed in September 2022 and includes Past International President Jim Kokocki, Past International Directors Kevin Doyle, Dotty Du, Teresa Dukes, and Gloria Shishido, along with World Headquarters staff support.
The purpose of the committee is to support the members of this social media group, promote a positive environment for sharing ideas and encouraging others, and ensure members here are upholding the Core Values of Toastmasters International.
This is really pathetic and sad, that one can be punished and kicked out of organization for what they say. Instead of focusing on resolving the issues TMI decides to shut down the critique.
Shame on the Past International President Jim Kokocki, Past International Directors Kevin Doyle, Dotty Du, Teresa Dukes, and Gloria Shishido for agreeing to be part of the thought tribunal!
Toastmasters becoming more toxic, this will not end well for them.
Do they really think that people they silence or kick out would not be able to talk about their frustration and experience on different forums / groups?
If only they’d put as much effort into fixing the crappy Pathways interface. Pathways was the beginning of the end for me.
I would disagree with that. 1) the majority of the consumer is not involved with social media as it pertains to TM in any significant way. 2) this seems to be a heavy handed response to TMs failures and people being willing to call them out. 3) this creates a culture of toxic positivity and was driven by a few people that thing we should always act happy no matter the circumstances.
In the end, this will drive away even more long term members as they now won’t feel comfortable airing opinions that do not shed a positive light on TM. Not one move has been at fault for declining membership, but many small one like this. I got out at the right time
“1) the majority of the consumer is not involved with social media as it pertains to TM in any significant way.”
Agree and absolutely true.”
2) this seems to be a heavy handed response to TMs failures and people being willing to call them out. “
Agree. They’re policing in force now. I expect there to be a reckoning. It’s going to be a kumbaya group and IMO it’s probably what it should have been all along.
” 3) this creates a culture of toxic positivity and was driven by a few people that thing we should always act happy no matter the circumstances.”
Already there, and that has been there at all levels since I’ve been involved. Consider this. WHERE in all of Toastmasters is there anything about how to work productively from a space of strong disagreements. What, one project or two? Where is in the organization baseline instruction on interpersonal communications, or a formal structure or process in order to meaningfully get divergent parties to come together toward consensus, or an organization-wide application or definitions of the stated core values, and yet promotes itself as a leadership and communication organization? We have ALL that at every company I worked for, and none of them claim to be what Toastmasters is doing. So what is the company going to do? ESPECIALLY in an organization that historically has been viewed as a safe haven for people struggling with social anxiety. Right? Thus the culture you have today.
Look at it from their standpoint. It’s the Official group. It’s associated with the company. WHY would they want post after post from their customer base about how bad their product is. How does that serve them? They already get plenty of feedback from people directly calling and e-mailing customer service about stuff? They already get plenty of feedback from the club/District officer hierarchy about what things aren’t working. They already get plenty of feedback from looking at their membership decline that something’s not going well. If they haven’t tried to address these things already . . . one more post about why Toastmasters is sucking probably isn’t going to foment this change.
I think the Official group provides valid criticisms and honest opinions. But I think much of the base wants the group to confirm that Toastmasters as an organization is as wonderful as their club experience, and right now that group doesn’t paint that picture. Even if it IS the truth.
“In the end, this will drive away even more long term members as they now won’t feel comfortable airing opinions that do not shed a positive light on TM”
Many long time members, especially who have volunteered in District, don’t anyway. I never have in any social media space except here. It’s sort of built into the whole Toastmasters culture, where it must be a safe space – publicly – for everybody. Facebook has never been a safe, anonymous space to air out those criticisms; you end up alienating some other Toastmasters members anyway.
Also, I believe some long term members in a codependent, even traumatized relationship with the organization. It’s a toxic part of their lives, and they have friends asking them to take a break . . . but they can’t/won’t.
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What a bunch of CRAP BULLSHIT. because of this, it legalised censorship and crap that TI has done behind the scenes. thanks for revealing who are the douches that ruin lives of toastmasters members. Some of them are even toxic in their district, because I know that.
Upholding the Core Values? Please don’t talk about that when the core values of integrity are not upheld.
oh positive? Too much fake positivity, fake reviews on Toastmasters International work groups and seriously how much you are sabotaging the people with disabilities, and causing my friend’s death indirectly.
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