• This site will be a place to compile resources to support Toastmasters clubs in prisons. There are a few key elements involved in supporting Toastmasters clubs inside correctional institutions. These include

• ensuring that the members in the prison are able to make use of the Toastmasters educational material,
• mentoring members within the club,
• ensuring that the club is able to work effectively within the rules of the Department of Corrections (DOC),
• ensuring that the club is able to meet Toastmasters requirements,
• helping members be prepared to change their lives when they are released.

What are some common issues faced by the members of Toastmasters clubs in prisons?

• Finances – Toastmasters membership requires payment of dues, and often those who are incarcerated are unable to pay the dues themselves.
• Educational Materials – Toastmasters International educational program materials are designed to be accessed online, and as a general rule incarcerated individuals are not use of the internet to access material online.
• Meetings – In most correctional institutions, groups are required to have outside volunteers present in order to hold a meeting.
• Turnover – Many correctional institutions have a high rate of turnover, which limits the ability of clubs to maintain long term continuity.
• When leaving prison, individuals face a barrage of issues and challenges that make it difficult to continue participating in a voluntary program such as Toastmasters.

To meet these needs, the following resources will be developed on this site:

1. Support for being a Toastmasters prison club volunteer

• Links to existing guides

1. 1. • • Methods for communication among volunteers
      • • How to communicate with AICs
      • • How to get the project materials
          
          • • Updates on Changes to Toastmasters materials
          • • Communicating changes/requirements

      • • How to work effectively with DOC staff
          
          • • DOC Clubs vs Toastmasters Clubs
          • • Stories of specific incidents dealing with DOC staff
          • • Helping members in prison communicate well with DOC staff
          • • Understanding DOC rules in combination with TI rules

      • • Working effectively with TI
          
          • • WHO TO CALL
          • • Stories of specific issues
          • • Handling of dues payments, money
              
              • • Club funds vs outside funds for dues
              • • Scholarships

2. 2. Support for Toastmasters clubs in prisons
      
      • • How to get the Pathways projects and other materials
      • • Fundraising support
      • • FAQs about how to deal with club issues
      • • Analysis of Gavel club versus full club
      • • Guides for how to work with DOC staff and COs.
      • • Presentation at facility staff meetings
      • • Guides for how to organize a prison club
      • • List of partnering organizations i.e. CURE
      • • Guides for helping clubs to function successfully
          
          • • Participation in contests
          • • Gavel club participation
          • • Participation in outside clubs

3. 3. List of Toastmasters clubs in prisons
      
      1. • Links to pages for each prison club
      1. • Contact information for each prison club
           
           • • We will be starting with prison clubs in Districts 7 and 15, which are combining to become District 207.
      1. • Lists of where there are prisons without clubs (starting in District 207)

4. 4. Studies of prison clubs
      
      1. • Analysis of how many prison clubs exist, full clubs and gavel clubs
      1. • Analysis of past prison clubs
      1. • Analysis of impact on recidivism

7. 7. A procedural analysis of how AICs can become Toastmasters.
      
      1. • Prison has a club
      1. • Prison has a Gavel club
      1. • Prison that has neither (participate in outside club)
      1. • Resources for supporting AICs transition to outside clubs.

9. 9. Success Stories from Toastmasters in prisons
      
      1. • Links to articles and media covering prison clubs
      1. • New stories about what AICs in clubs are doing

10. • Opportunities to support speakers in prisons beyond Toastmasters