Why people leave Toastmasters.

The following is a collection of reasons I began to collect last summer as material for A Successful Club Series presentation. These are the answers I recieved over the phone from 38 members who quit their TM club within 1 year. I had networked at TLI's and conferences to obtain the list of members and contact info for other toastmasters. Since my background has been in Process Improvement, and because I believe most problems are the result of a poor process and not the person; members were willing to give me names of people who left. Each reply below is from a single individual.

Personal Reasons People Left:

1. Busy work schedule
2. Other priorities with family
3. Laid off
4. Completed my 10 speeches
5. Don't have time anymore
6. Completed my CC for my perf eval.
7. Too much work
8. Job transfer out of state
9. Don't have the time
10. Family more important (kids)

Club Reasons People Left:

1. Don't feel needed by club
2. Lack of commitment by others
3. Power hungry officers - rotate every year
4. Boring meetings
5. Terrible club atmosphere
6. Club is full of know it alls
7. Lengthy meetings (2-1/2 hrs)
8. Meetings never start on time
9. Demand for commitments
10. Experienced members are poorer speakers
11. Rules being ignored
12. No mentoring of coaching
13. Club too strict - no fun
14. Meetings don't start on-time
15. Scheduled speakers cancel
16. Lack of teaching or coaching
17. Too much emphasis on DCP every week
18. Lack of communication
19. People talking to each other while you speak
20. Boring meetings & speeches
21. Cliqish club - don't feel like part of the club
22. Criticizing evaluations
23. No coaching or help
24. Too expensive - must pay for buffet ea week
25. Meeting Room is Too Small - some stand
26. Can't Afford Club Dues
27. Club Rules aren't followed
28. Meeting Always Run Late