TOASTMASTERS - A SERVICE CLUB WITH A TWIST

If I were to ask each one of you to give me the reason why you came to this meeting, I
know I would get a variety of answers. If you have been a member of Toastmasters for a
long time you might tell me you are here because you want to further refine your speaking
skills. Or maybe you enjoy helping others. If you are a new member of this club you might
be here to learn the basics of public speaking and need encouragement to improve these
skills. Our guests this evening may be here for a variety of reasons. Maybe you have come
out of sheer curiosity. Maybe you have heard an advertisement about this meeting. Or a
friend has invited you. Whatever the reason your came, you have taken a first step in
joining hands with a network of some 175,000 Toastmasters in 8,700 clubs in some 70
countries in this world.
 	Tonight is a special evening for this club and I would like to focus on what this
organization has to offer you and our community Dr. Ralph Smedley founded the
Toastmasters Organization in 1924. Smedley was a pioneer in adult education. In its
77-year history, over four million people have benefited from membership in
Toastmasters. 
 	Toastmasters is a service club. But it is a service club with a twist. We are not like
Rotary or the Lions Club in that our mission is not to fund raise for community projects.
Toastmasters prides itself on being a non profit organization. Except for a small
administrative staff and an Executive Director in our World Headquarters in Mission Viejo
California., volunteers run toastmasters. 
	People come to Toastmasters from all occupations and professions with a common
desire to learn and improve their communication and leadership skills. Be they lawyers or
hairdressers, stay-at-home mothers or retired people, all have come to Toastmasters to
share their common need to become better communicators. Some people join
Toastmasters because they feel their speaking skills are lacking totally. Others may join
because they wish to perfect and improve upon these skills. 
	The philosophy of Toastmasters is that good communication is more than simply
being able to get up in front of an audience and speak. 

OH #1. The mission of Toastmasters is in the words of our founder Ralph Smedley "to
provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member
has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills which in turn fosters
self confidence and personal growth."

There are three major ways in which the Toastmasters program works to help its members
realize their potential..  OH#2

1. Helps members improve  speaking skills
2. Helps members improve listening and thinking skills
3. Helps members improve leadership skills
	There is rarely a situation in life that will arise that will not require a person to
express himself orally. But for many people speaking in public can be a frightening
experience. Toastmasters helps people overcome that fear so they can become
comfortable speaking in front of an audience. Toastmasters provides both impromptu and
prepared speaking opportunities. 
	Ever been in a situation where you had to give a speech at a moment's notice. I
remember once being at a good friend's wedding. Just before the start of the reception my
friend asked me if I would be the Master of Ceremonies. 
	Toastmasters trains you for these situations. At every meeting there is a portion
called Table Topics. You saw a demonstration of how this works earlier this evening. The
Table Topics Master gives you a topic and you have to give a speech lasting no longer
than two minutes without preparation time. Table Topics helps you to think on your feet
and prepares you for situations when you may have to express your thoughts be that at
work, at a parent council meeting or at your curling banquet. Our organization benefits
everyone no matter what speaking challenge he or she has to meet.
	The Toastmasters program provides the opportunity for members to perfect the
craft of prepared speaking. New members are given a basic manual that outlines ten
different speeches with each one emphasizing a different fundamental of public speaking.
Once a speaker has mastered this skill they are qualified for their Competent Toastmaster
award and receive a certificate from World Headquarters. Recognition by Toastmasters
means something too. The Certified Managerial Account and Certified General
Accountant programs accept Toastmasters training as their official communications
course. The Royal Bank of Canada also recognizes Toastmasters as a Training course. 
Once a Toastmaster has mastered the first level of speaking he or she can continue to
improve speaking skills by choosing from a wide variety of advanced manuals that provide
that person  with new speaking challenges. Each advanced manual contains five speeches
on a variety of themes including "Storytelling," "Speeches by Management," and
"Humorous Speaking" to name a few. Members can advance and by doing several
manuals receive recognition as Able Toastmasters at the bronze silver or gold levels.
	The second major area where Toastmasters provides training is in improving
thinking and listening skills. Too often in our homes and our places of work
communications break down because people will not listen. 
	At many Toastmasters meetings a member is assigned the role of quizmaster. The
quizmaster writes down statements made by various members throughout the meeting and
then challenges members to recall who said what. This helps members  stay focused. and
attentive to what is being said. 
	The most important area where Toastmasters teaches good listening and thinking
skills is in the area of evaluation. Evaluation is an important component in self-growth and
improvement. Evaluation is emphasized at a Toastmasters meeting. Every thing that
happens at a Toastmasters meeting receives an evaluation. The Table Topics Master and
the speakers receive evaluation from the Table Topics Evaluator. All speakers are
evaluated following guidelines laid down by Toastmasters International. Every meeting of
a Toastmasters Club concludes with remarks from the General Evaluator who comments
on what has gone on throughout the meeting. Toastmasters evaluations focus on the
positive. Where improvements are needed positive suggestions are offered.
	Evaluation is a fact of life and what better place to learn this skill then at
Toastmasters. If you are in the workplace giving and receiving evaluations is part of the
job. As a retired educator, much of my job evolved around evaluation. My Toastmasters
training helped me perfect that skill. Lawyers, judges, and policemen spend time
evaluating information given them by witnesses. Anyone can criticize but evaluating to
motivate is a skill that has to be learned. Toastmasters is the place to do just that.
	In all your working careers how many of you have had at least one bad experience
with your boss? Toastmasters provides the leadership training needed for people to
become effective leaders. Most people are not born with great leadership skills. They have
to be learned. Yet very few employers spend time and energy actually training people for
leadership roles. As well, people run for school trustees, for city councils and even for
presidents of their golf or curling club often without receiving any leadership training.
Toastmasters provides leadership opportunities and training. 
	Many Toastmasters Clubs have a business session where members are taught the
proper way to run a meeting. Toastmasters provides further leadership training through its
executive. Members are encouraged to run for club office where they receive two sessions
of training so they can learn their roles in club leadership. For those who want to further
improve their leadership skills, there are opportunities at the area and district levels. In
addition, members can further enhance these skills by working towards their Competent
Leader or Advanced Leader. Once more they will receive recognition from World
Headquarters upon completion of the requirements.
	Toastmasters focuses on the individual. We help each other to improve as speakers
and help each other gain confidence. Whether you are a new Canadian struggling to
improve your English or a lawyer or teacher with lots of public speaking experience,
Toastmasters can help. Unlike other courses, Toastmasters has no prerequisites and no
one is turned away because they cannot make the grade
	Yes, Toastmasters is a service club. But it is a service club with a twist. Its prime
area of service is not fundraising or community projects but to the individual member in
each club throughout the world. . Toastmasters provides the tools that members take to
their workplace, church, or any other organization they may belong to. Club members who
are here this evening already have learned of the benefits membership can offer. To the
guests, I urge you to come back to the next meeting and then give serious thought about
how joining this club can set you along the road to self improvement and developing better
communication skills.