Q: What is Taking Flight?
A: Taking Flight is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to promote prison Toastmasters clubs. It accomplishes its goal by providing promotional, logistical, and limited financial support. It also serves as a network for established prison clubs to share knowledge and opportunities.

Q: Why form Toastmasters clubs in prison?
A: Statistics indicate that inmates who participate in Prison Toastmasters Clubs are less likely to return to prison than are other inmates. The statistics are not scientific, but, where tracked, they range from 5 – 10% recidivism for Toastmasters-trained inmates versus 50-70% for the general prison population. If fewer people return to prison, there will be less crime, fewer tax dollars spent for prisons, more tax paying citizens, and stronger families.

Q: Are prison Toastmasters clubs’ recidivism statistics good because only the best inmates participate in Toastmasters?
A: It is probable that Toastmasters clubs attract better inmates which accounts, in-part, for the success of the program. However, wardens have observed that inmates improve when they join a Toastmasters club. Observations from volunteers and communication with released inmates also support the contention that a change actually takes place in the members. Of course, some people change more than others and some don’t change at all.

Q: How does a prison Toastmasters club make a difference in the life of an inmate?
A: This is probably best answered by testimonials:
Jerome C. released prison member: “I have not only learned to be a better orator, but have also tapped into my potential to work successfully in a professional environment as an effective communicator, leader, and team player. To some of you, these achievements may not seem so spectacular, however, to a person such as myself whose daily use of English seemed almost confined to obscene descriptions of the human anatomy followed by a constant stream of "you know what I mean's" and the infamous "N" word - this was a life changing experience. Of the benefits which one can gain I believe that the self-confidence Toastmasters instills is by far the most beneficial. Many of us whose backgrounds are rooted in the streets have no problem in communicating on the street level. Unfortunately, when it comes to speaking to those outside our social circles…”

Vance D. released prison member: “I owe my job to the Toastmasters program. Getting work as an ex-felon is no easy task. Not only do you have to convince the prospective employer that you can do the job well, you also have to convince them that you are ready and willing to make a new honest start. You have to convince them that you are not going to slide back into your former life that took you to prison and take them down with you.”
James K. released prison member: “I believe in Toastmasters in prison because it is a place for us as inmates to show a side of ourselves that we can’t show in a dorm and some of us can’t ever show it in our lives. It gives us a chance to hear views and feelings on things that some of us may never encounter or that our backgrounds may have forced us to deal with in a different way. In doing that it helps us see at some level that we are all the same no matter what race, background or where we are from. To me, that is also one of the most important things someone can learn here. Because in this place it is so easy to breed hate.”
Paul Jagen, Founder –Taking Flight: “Prison is much like boot camp in the sense that a person is quickly stripped of his identity. However, unlike boot camp in which a person is given the positive identity of an elite group, a person in prison often absorbs the emptiness, hopelessness, valueless, crime-oriented identity of his peers - people for whom prison is a way of life, a revolving door. It is with this identity he is released from prison. It is with this identity he returns to crime. It's hard to build a positive life when you see nothing positive. But when you have a Toastmasters meeting in prison, its like opening the curtains, opening a window - on a dark, musty room. You will be able to see the despair and frustration leave their faces. You will be able to see their identity change from captive prisoners to people of hope. The difference is that dramatic. The difference is that obvious. And based on my experience, the difference stays when they are released.”

Q: How will I benefit from involvement in a prison meeting?
A: The best way to answer this question is with responses from two volunteers.
“I personally benefit from knowing I make a difference in someone’s life – a person I can shake hands with, a person I can see actually change, a person who writes to me after he’s been released to say ‘Thank you.’ I know of no charitable program that offers a greater return on time, effort, and money than prison Toastmasters.”
“ Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would receive so much personal gratification as I have in working with this group of energetic young ladies at the Hilltop Women’s Unit in Gatesville, Texas.”

Q: What are the differences between a Toastmasters meeting inside a prison and one outside the prison?
A: Prison meetings tend to be of higher quality, members are better prepared, and there is never a shortage of volunteers for any function or office. Prison meetings follow the standard Toastmasters meeting format. Some prison don’t allow inmate “clubs,” but do allow Toastmasters activities in a classroom format. Taking Flight document Satellite.060 can help convert a club meeting into a classroom format.

Q: How do I approach the prison about starting a Toastmasters Club?
A: Each prison should have someone appointed as a Programs Director. Call the prison and ask for the phone number of this person. Other suitable contacts might be the prison chaplain or prison principal. Keep in mind that all prisons are looking for outside volunteers to present programs. Setup a meeting so you can explain what Toastmasters is all about. Let the contact know what the program will need from the prison, such as a meeting location, materials storage, access from outside volunteers, and about 20 inmate members. Let them know what materials you will give the inmates, such as manuals, 3 ring binder or folder, stop watch, pen or pencil, and paper. Use your best Toastmasters presentation skills. Be flexible in working through barriers. Prison needs get top priority and must be met before we can even think about Toastmasters needs. Toastmasters meetings have a lot of flexibility in structure, meeting materials, and surroundings. Use this flexibility to simplify life for the prison staff. Taking Flight document Satellite.002 can help with this.

Q: What is the next step after I receive approval to start a Toastmasters club?
A: Ask the prison contact to recruit 40 potential members. If the contact plans to invite the general prison population, put together a flier briefly explaining what Toastmasters is all about; include the demo meeting place and time.

Q: Are only certain inmates allowed to join?
A: In most prisons, participation in Toastmasters is something that an inmate chooses. Some prison use Toastmasters as part of a pre-release program and require participation. Though some sponsoring Toastmasters groups restrict the program based on religion, most leave participation completely up to the discretion of the prison. Educational background is not a factor – members include people who have not completed grammar school and people with multiple PhDs. Some members are repeat offenders, others are first time. All races, creeds and social classes are represented in prison Toastmasters clubs.

Q: Does the length of prison sentence make a difference?
A: Prison Toastmasters members range from people who have sentences as short as several months to those with life sentences. A club with short sentences might have 50-100 members released per year, whereas a long-term facility might release 1 - 2 members per year. Members who have been in the club for many years will develop greater skills and absorb the program at a deeper level than the members with just a few months experience. The trade-off is releasing many people with a little training or a few people with a lot of training - both options benefit the member and society. It is unknown at this time which is the most beneficial.

Q: Is there any point in having people with life sentences in a Toastmasters program?

A: The benefit to society might not be as great from the involvement of a life-term inmate when compared to a short or medium-term inmate. However, according to wardens, prison Toastmasters members tend to become model inmates and influence the behavior of other inmates. There is no question that participation benefits life-term inmates, who in turn are a benefit to other inmates. It is harder to determine the extent of the benefit they will have on society.

Q: How many members should the club have?
A: Just as in all Toastmasters clubs, 20 is a good number. Some clubs have as many as 40 or as few as 10. Limiting factors tend to be program costs and opportunities to speak. Try not to have so many members that time between speeches is greater than 6 weeks.

Q: How long and how often should the club meet?
A: Once per week for 2 hours seems to work well. Twice per month is an option for medium and long term facilities.

Q: How do I teach the inmates to conduct a Toastmasters meeting?
A: Teaching the Toastmasters meeting format to a prison club is much the same as teaching it to a free-world group. You will need some Toastmasters to demonstrate the techniques; and you will need some people who want to become members. The biggest difference is that the prison club is usually up to speed in 2-4 meetings, and people are eager to accept responsibility for the meeting. Getting inmates involved at the first meeting is crucial in building rapport with those attending the meeting. Generally, 30-50% of the initial group of potential members drop out before the 5th demo meeting. Taking Flight documents Satellite.020, Satellite.021, Satellite.022, and Satellite.023 can help.

Q: Are there club officers?
A: If the prison allows it, the club should have officers. Being an officer is highly valued and an excellent opportunity for the members to build leadership skills. Some clubs have all 7 officers, some don’t have a treasurer, some have four officers (President, Vice-President of Education, Sergeant at Arms, and Vice-President of Administration). Some just have a Vice-President of Education. Taking Flight documents Club.106, Club.131, and Club.132, can help.

Q: Should club officers be elected or appointed?
A: If possible, have elections – a secret ballot works better than a show of hands. However, elections within a structured setting such as a prison can add extra stress on elected club officers because of social interactions of which we, on the outside, have little understanding. Appointing officers takes away some of the burdens a club officer will face, but also eliminates many of the benefits of an election process.

Q: How often should officers meet?
A: Some prisons do not allow officer meetings and require all club business be conducted during the regular meeting. Where separate meetings are allowed, twice-per-month 90-minute meetings work well.

Q: Are prison members allowed to compete in contests?
A: Anyone who is a member in good standing of a chartered Toastmasters International club is eligible to compete. Participation by an inmate is most easily accomplished by having the contest within the prison. Some prisons will allow members to leave the prison under guard accompaniment to compete at outside locations. The cost of security, lodging, and transportation is rarely paid by the prison - it is usually paid the prisoner or by an outside person or group. Having a contest in a prison or with prison member participation is an outstanding way to get front page and TV news publicity.

Q: Is it better to start a Charter Club or a Gavel Club?
A: In a chartered club, the members are individually recognized by TI, can participate in TI sanctioned contests, and pay about $60 per year for membership. In a Gavel club, the club is recognized by TI but the members are not, members cannot participate in TI sanctioned contests, and there is no individual membership fee. In the Gavel club, there is a $50 annual club fee payable to TI plus the cost of whatever member materials are used. Both clubs use the same materials, follow the same format, and develop the same skills.
If costs were not an issue, the charter club is the best choice. However, inmates are sometimes prohibited from paying their own way and the free-world sponsor often has some limitations on fund raising skills and opportunities. If money is a limiting factor, it is usually best to start the club as a gavel club. This will give you time to gauge the turn-over rate of club members, estimate the extent and cost of club support, allow the inmates to realize the value of club participation, and establish a base of financial contributors and volunteers.

Q: What does it cost to sustain a Toastmasters club in prison?
A: That depends on many factors – Charter or Gavel club status, length of members’ sentences, materials provided to the members, ability of members to pay their own way. A gavel club can be sustained for as little as $15 per member per year, whereas a chartered club will cost about $60 per member per year.

Q: How are the club’s expenses and membership fees paid?
A: Some prisons will pay the fees and some prisons require all expenses to be covered by the sponsoring group. Some prisons will allow the inmates or inmates’ families to pay the fees. At normal prison wages, an inmate typically works a full month to pay Toastmasters dues for one year. Many inmates are estranged from their families and receive no outside support.

Q; How can I obtain funding?
A: The best ways to get donations are through personal contacts: 1. Have a Toastmasters ask his/her church - mission committee, evangelism group, women's group, etc., 2. Have a Toastmasters ask his/her employer, 3. Have a Toastmasters ask his/her doctor, dentist, family members, etc., 4. Have a Toastmasters speak to Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Bar Associations, and other civic or professional organizations. Taking Flight document Satellite.211 can help. Guidelines on the nature and extent of permissible fund-raising are provided by Toastmasters International.

Q: What materials should club members receive?
A: At least a Basic Manual, 3 ring binder, Pen and writing tablet. If a member drops out, try to have them return all materials. This practice will keep inmates from joining the club just for the materials, then dropping out and keeping the materials.

Q: How should I treat inmates?
A: Always treat inmates with respect. The inmate should always treat you with respect. Develop club rules and hand them out so each inmate knows what they can and cannot do during a meeting. If an inmate becomes unruly, have that inmate removed from the meeting and removed from the club roster. Almost everyone in the club has committed a crime. Many excel at manipulating people. Don’t give out any personal information. You are there as a Toastmaster, not as a friend. Maintain a professional relationship. Always be conservative in what you say and do. If there is any doubt, talk to your prison contact. The prison should provide training in this area.

Q: What rules do I have to follow?
A: Each prison has a set of rules for outside volunteers. The number one rule is to cooperate fully with the prison staff. The number two rule is that prison staff is always right. Avoid making mistakes - read a copy of the rules and always follow the rules. If you are unsure of something, ask first.

Q: How often should someone from the outside visit?
A: At least once per month. Some prisons will require a volunteer to be present at every meeting, some don’t require any on-going volunteer visits. For the sake of the members and stable direction of the club, a free-world Toastmasters should visit at least once per month.

	©2004. All Rights Reserved. Taking Flight P.O. Box 2161 Orange, Texas 77631 1-877-883-0922	Updated 11/17/04 info@takingflight.org