Building a Strong Brand Foundation
The session on October 15th opened with a powerful message: a well-organized Canva account is key to lasting brand consistency and seamless officer transitions.
DoraMaria Abreu emphasized that clubs should create dedicated Canva accounts, ideally using the free Canva Pro for nonprofits, to access enhanced features such as brand kits, logos, and custom fonts. She highlighted how passing credentials during officer transitions preserves institutional memory and saves valuable time.
Participants learned how both free and Pro accounts can maintain consistent branding — from creating color palettes inspired by images to using official Toastmasters color codes and fonts. DoraMaria encouraged using the Toastmasters International Brand Manual, which details approved colors (HEX, RGB, Pantone) and fonts like Gotham and Montserrat to ensure professional design uniformity across all club materials.
Content Creation Made Simple
In the second half of the session, participants discovered ways to generate engaging, on-brand content efficiently using Canva’s AI tools and templates.
DoraMaria demonstrated how to search for ready-made flyer ideas by entering keywords such as “Good Morning Toastmasters” or “Open House Invitation.” Clubs were encouraged to save favorite templates in organized folders for reuse, reducing design time for recurring events like contests, elections, and open houses.
She also shared creative tips for integrating AI-generated design suggestions, extracting color schemes from photos, and sourcing images from Adobe Express, Midjourney, or public domain resources — all while maintaining professionalism and avoiding inappropriate themes.
The District 46 PRM team received special recognition for creating customizable flyer templates celebrating holidays and public speaking milestones — available on the District 46 website for all clubs to use.
Targeting the Right Audience
A major takeaway from the workshop was the importance of tailoring messages for different audiences — current members, community partners, former members, and prospective guests.
DoraMaria reminded attendees to keep club information current on Toastmasters websites and social media to prevent confusion and ensure visibility. Recognizing volunteers through “shout-out flyers” was highlighted as a powerful way to boost morale and foster engagement.
She encouraged clubs to emphasize benefits such as leadership, confidence, and communication in their marketing, and to use Pathways badges and milestones to celebrate progress. For corporate or specialty clubs, LinkedIn was recommended as an effective platform to reach professional audiences.
Workflow and Implementation Tips
To sustain long-term success, DoraMaria provided practical workflow improvements:
- Organize templates by theme (Open House, Contest, Meeting Flyers).
- Plan social media posting schedules organically for better engagement.
- Use WhatsApp reminders 2–3 days before meetings with light emojis to keep members active.
- Remove outdated links and clarify meeting platforms to avoid confusion.
- Obtain photo release forms when using member images to ensure compliance and authenticity.
Creative Vision and Community Impact
DoraMaria concluded by connecting Canva to a broader mission — building community through creativity and compassion.
She explained how positive, inclusive design helps clubs uplift members and prospects, particularly during challenging times, such as layoffs or personal setbacks. By telling authentic stories and highlighting Toastmasters’ centennial legacy, clubs can strengthen trust and attract new members.
Her final message: “Designs that reflect diversity, empathy, and respect build not just a brand — but a lasting community.”
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