Toastmasters

dkch · 04-21-2009, 02:42 AM

Absolutely the best public speaking training I have ever experienced. I was a polished, professional speaker when my job included a two-hour lunch on Toastmaster days. I checked it out. I learned from the moment I walked into the meeting. I wonder in these days of internet everything, microphones and videos and cameras, if there's an online meeting. The club is free except for a small (very small) weekly membership fee. It has a standard curriculum, great contests, wonderful travel and speaking opportunities and camaraderie for those who want more than training.

WildScribe · 04-21-2009, 02:51 AM

I am not disagreeing with ANYTHING else in your post except that you say: The club is free except for a small (very small) weekly membership fee.

Any fee is a fee. The club is not free at all, there is just a small (very small) weekly membership fee.

dkch · 04-21-2009, 03:22 AM

Yes, the materials did cost a little; and I think we brought our lunch and paid a quarterly fee of some small amount. Therefore, technically it wasn't free. However, compared to my university education and travel to conferences, it felt free. The meetings were also attended by those of very small means to those of well paid professions, so there was a democratic element I liked, the common thread of a common goal in spite of major differences in profession and economic status.

I see many Toastmaster posts; but after scanning many, I have not yet seen one about an online Toastmasters' organization. I'm sure one must exist; it's just a matter of tracking it down on Google or somewhere.

JenNipps · 04-21-2009, 11:05 PM

I'd check the club listing on www.toastmasters.org to see if there's one online.

mario_c · 11-05-2009, 08:58 AM

I attended one and it looks pretty challenging. I'll try to make room because I really have to get over my stage fright, fear of speaking for presentations, what have you. Therapy does not come cheaper - I shopped around!

Lavern08 · 11-09-2009, 11:25 PM

Years ago (more than 20), I joined Toastmasters as a networking tool through my job...

...After a year, I was elected president of our local chapter and I am eternally grateful for that experience.

It gave me so much confidence and helped my self-esteem tremendously!

Now, I'm able to speak (confidently) in front of hundreds of people when I'm called upon to do so, and while I've always written poetry, the speech-writing exercises inspired me to write my first play back in 1981.

Toastmasters is a great confidence booster and a fun organization - I highly recommend it.

KathrynLang · 03-10-2011, 04:28 AM

This is one of many recommendations I have heard for Toastmasters. The challenge for me will be making room in the schedule to attend meetings. There is nothing local so I will have to drive to the nearest meeting (about 1/2 hour away).

All the raves about it make me think it will be worth the investment of time and of money.

readlorey · 04-29-2011, 09:33 PM

I became a member just this year and the fees are nominal considering how much it would probably cost getting the training a lot more than the fees I pay twice a year.

PowerWriter · 03-21-2013, 08:56 PM

My wife is a DTM and a past area governor. I have been to many meetings as a guest. I really am impressed with the organization. They not only help you learn about speaking but also business etiquette like conducting a meeting, rules of order, and casual conversation. She's of course advised me to join, but I resist. I can type speechs all bloody day, but I like to sit and craft, not stand and blab. I tell her I'll join when I get my book published and it looks like I'll have to go on a speaking tour. She doesn't look too hoepful that I'll join.

04-21-2009, 02:42 AM	#1
dkch All I know is in this moment Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 30	Toastmasters Absolutely the best public speaking training I have ever experienced. I was a polished, professional speaker when my job included a two-hour lunch on Toastmaster days. I checked it out. I learned from the moment I walked into the meeting. I wonder in these days of internet everything, microphones and videos and cameras, if there's an online meeting. The club is free except for a small (very small) weekly membership fee. It has a standard curriculum, great contests, wonderful travel and speaking opportunities and camaraderie for those who want more than training. __________________ www.dkchristi.com Arirang: The Bamboo Connection Ghost Orchid The World Outside The Window "Rose's Question" Romance of My Dreams "The Ice Storm" The Virgin Odyssey (WIP) Digital short stories: Amazon Shorts Amazon.com

04-21-2009, 02:51 AM	#2
WildScribe Slave to the Wordcount Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Purgatory Posts: 6,139	I am not disagreeing with ANYTHING else in your post except that you say: The club is free except for a small (very small) weekly membership fee. Any fee is a fee. The club is not free at all, there is just a small (very small) weekly membership fee. __________________ Sowing wicked plot seeds... Words for 2013 so far: 86,090 Sales for 2013 so far: 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Word total for 2012: 292,394 Sales total for 2012: 35 Check me out at KathleenTudor.com! *"The first problem of any kind of even limited success* *is the unshakeable conviction that you are getting away with something* and that any moment now 'they' will discover you." - Neil Gaiman

04-21-2009, 03:22 AM	#3
dkch All I know is in this moment Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 30	Yes, the materials did cost a little; and I think we brought our lunch and paid a quarterly fee of some small amount. Therefore, technically it wasn't free. However, compared to my university education and travel to conferences, it felt free. The meetings were also attended by those of very small means to those of well paid professions, so there was a democratic element I liked, the common thread of a common goal in spite of major differences in profession and economic status. I see many Toastmaster posts; but after scanning many, I have not yet seen one about an online Toastmasters' organization. I'm sure one must exist; it's just a matter of tracking it down on Google or somewhere. __________________ www.dkchristi.com Arirang: The Bamboo Connection Ghost Orchid The World Outside The Window "Rose's Question" Romance of My Dreams "The Ice Storm" The Virgin Odyssey (WIP) Digital short stories: Amazon Shorts Amazon.com

04-21-2009, 11:05 PM	#4
JenNipps Have you JHS today? Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south-central Oklahoma Posts: 3,673	I'd check the club listing on www.toastmasters.org to see if there's one online. __________________ ~Jen Now Available: DEVOTED TO CREATING "Giving yourself permission to create and to do the worst frees you to do what you want. You can evaluate the results later." (from "Permission," Devoted to Creating)

11-05-2009, 08:58 AM	#5
mario_c There's always time! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Shirking Posts: 3,743	I attended one and it looks pretty challenging. I'll try to make room because I really have to get over my stage fright, fear of speaking for presentations, what have you. Therapy does not come cheaper - I shopped around! __________________ Finished my first novel. You can tell me how to make it a book. I've also written 8 screenplays. I thought it would go like this, but it's actually like this.

11-09-2009, 11:25 PM	#6
Lavern08 DANG! Join Date: May 2009 Location: 7th Heaven Posts: 13,529	My Story... Years ago (more than 20), I joined Toastmasters as a networking tool through my job... ...After a year, I was elected president of our local chapter and I am eternally grateful for that experience. It gave me so much confidence and helped my self-esteem tremendously! Now, I'm able to speak (confidently) in front of hundreds of people when I'm called upon to do so, and while I've always written poetry, the speech-writing exercises inspired me to write my first play back in 1981. Toastmasters is a great confidence booster and a fun organization - I highly recommend it. __________________ "Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me - Don Vito Corleone .................................................. .................................................. ..........

03-10-2011, 04:28 AM	#7
KathrynLang New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 38	This is one of many recommendations I have heard for Toastmasters. The challenge for me will be making room in the schedule to attend meetings. There is nothing local so I will have to drive to the nearest meeting (about 1/2 hour away). All the raves about it make me think it will be worth the investment of time and of money. __________________ Finding my passion and pursing it to a Successful Freelance Writing career. Learn more about my writing and speaking experiences by visiting Push to Fly and discover the keys to unlock your passion and peace at the Peculiar Club.

04-29-2011, 09:33 PM	#8
readlorey figuring it all out Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: at my house Posts: 87	I became a member just this year and the fees are nominal considering how much it would probably cost getting the training a lot more than the fees I pay twice a year. __________________ I doubt, therefore I may be! My website: http://www.lorettastradley.com/ My blog: http://readlorey.wordpress.com/ Central Indiana Writers' Association http://sites.google.com/site/centralindianawriters/

03-21-2013, 08:56 PM	#9
PowerWriter figuring it all out Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 99	My wife is a DTM and a past area governor. I have been to many meetings as a guest. I really am impressed with the organization. They not only help you learn about speaking but also business etiquette like conducting a meeting, rules of order, and casual conversation. She's of course advised me to join, but I resist. I can type speechs all bloody day, but I like to sit and craft, not stand and blab. I tell her I'll join when I get my book published and it looks like I'll have to go on a speaking tour. She doesn't look too hoepful that I'll join.

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