Toastmasters
Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. Toastmasters learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. Each meeting gives members opportunities to practice speaking which has been prepared or rehearsed, listening, evaluating, impromptu speaking, thinking, organizational skills and leadership.
Toastmasters was founded in 1924 by a small group led by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley in Santa Ana, California. The focus of that first Toastmasters club was to create a recipe for success through practice, training, public speaking and presiding over meetings. In 2008, there are more than 226,000 members and over 11,500 clubs located across the United States and in 91 other countries.
Toastmasters members belong to local clubs, which generally have between six and 40 members, with 20 members being a typical size. The local clubs meet on a regular basis for members to practice various skills useful in public speaking, including giving speeches, speaking extemporaneously, listening, and providing each other with feedback and evaluation. Some clubs meet monthly, some meet twice a month, and some meet weekly.
Members stay with the Toastmasters program to continually hone their communication skills. Unlike seminars in public speaking that last 3 to 5 days, Toastmasters provides members with regular speaking opportunities with constructive feedback on their effectiveness, throughout the year. Members select their own pace. Toastmasters also provide opportunities to develop leadership skills through club and District leadership roles and training.
The principal benefit of Toastmasters for many people is the self-confidence gained from the experience. This self-confidence tends to manifest itself in different situations outside the realm of public speaking, because if you can conquer the fear of standing up and speaking in public; you often may feel more confident in meeting other challenges in your work and social life.
Toastmaster meetings tend to be very sociable and friendly occasions, so it is a good place to meet people and have a bit of fun for a while. In addition it is a good learning experience - not just in terms of what you learn from your own speeches, but also from what is to be learned from others when they deliver their speeches.
—————
The Truth About Cat Food - An informative story of the pet food industry and what to look for when choosing a pet food.