🌟 **Progress Check for Paul Finkelstein's Mentoring at Biz Leaders Toastmasters!** 🌟

In my online Café, I’m thrilled to support a fellow member as they embark on perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the Biz Leaders Toastmasters experience: joining our club! 🎉 They are about to undertake a remarkable journey, one filled with **traps and triumphs**, **fear and confidence**. 

New members typically expect to gain specific benefits—most notably, **self-confidence**—in return for their membership. It's our club's obligation to help them achieve these goals. Often, we simply provide tips, advise them to pay attention during meetings, and hope they'll attain what they seek. However, a dedicated mentor can make all the difference between success and failure for a new member! 🌈 

The role of the mentor is crucial, not only for the new member but also for the health and development of the club. The more satisfied our members are, the longer they remain active and contributing! As a mentor, you should take a proactive approach with your new member. So far, we have five committed members in our Biz Leaders Toastmasters online Café, but we have 15 more to inspire! 🌟

As a founding member to be of this brand-new club to be in about 6-8 weeks for Toastmasters International, we proudly represent over 145 clubs across 45 countries! 🌍 District 47 stretches from the Bahamas to Treasure Coast. As a mentor, you must actively engage with your new members. A mentor who reaches out builds trust and lays the foundation for a successful relationship. Waiting for questions to arise or assuming the mentee will self-study can slow their development. 

Remember your own first steps and put yourself in the new member's shoes. Most likely, they used every bit of courage they could muster just to walk through the virtual Café door! 😰 The thought of delivering their first speech is terrifying for many, so reach out—call, email, text, or even meet them one-on-one in our online Café outside of club hours! 

### **Guidelines for Mentoring Program Success:**

1. **Encourage Participation!** 🌟 Help the new member with their impromptu speaking or table topics. Suggest they prepare a one-minute speech on something they know well, like their occupation, school, or a beloved pet. 

2. **Encourage Minor Roles!** 🎤 After a few meetings, ask them to take on a small role, such as the inspiration or timer. Think of their responsibilities as your own—take ownership of their progress! 

3. **Familiarize Them with Club Procedures!** 📜 Take time to review the procedures, agenda, and systems of Biz Leaders Toastmasters. When they enter the Café, they’ll see the agenda and club protocols—this familiarity will boost their confidence! 

4. **Support Speech Preparation!** 📅 A few weeks before a prepared speech, contact the member and review the project together. Remind them that focusing on the manual project helps alleviate fear. Encourage them to think, rather than worry, and offer solutions to any problems they face.

5. **Follow Up!** 📞 After a week, check in to see if they’re having issues constructing their speech. Help with writing if needed, but don't take on the project yourself—ask guiding questions to lead them through it! 

6. **Provide Positive Feedback!** 🌈 As they practice their speeches, offer constructive feedback. Highlight what you liked, suggest improvements, and show them how to enhance their delivery. 

7. **Celebrate Their Achievements!** 🎉 After delivering their icebreaker or another significant project, send them a congratulatory note. If they were unhappy with their performance, a note of reassurance could make all the difference—helping them want to continue on their journey! 

8. **Share Tips for Managing Nervousness!** 😅 If you don’t have personal advice to offer, a little research can go a long way. The best cure for nervousness? Preparation and more preparation! Encourage them to practice in front of a mirror or get comfortable in front of an audience before it’s their turn. 

9. **Encourage Leadership Opportunities!** 🌟 Motivate them to run for club office positions, participate in contests, and engage in functions. One-on-one encouragement can make a significant difference in their growth and development. 

Constantly testing and stretching their comfort zone is the only way to improve! 🌈 Serving as a mentor may not take much time or effort, but the impact you can have is profound. Watching a fellow Toastmaster grow into a confident leader is an incredibly rewarding experience! 

The gift of self-confidence is one that will benefit them for the rest of their lives, and you’ll get the satisfaction of having helped make it happen! I hope this mentoring program guide serves you well and inspires you to take on extra responsibilities, becoming the greatest Toastmaster member you can be! Let’s make this journey unforgettable! 🚀✨ 

--