WHAT, WHO, WHEN, WHERE, WHY & HOW OF TOASTMASTERS???

What is Toastmasters?

• a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide
• comprised of over 250,000 members in over 106 countries,
• represented by over 12,500 clubs, and
• dedicated to excellence in communication and leadership and is designed to help men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking

Toastmasters has grown from being an English-only organization to one that develops communication skills in several languages. There are now clubs in many languages, including Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Tamil, among others. The basic manual (the Competent Communication manual described below) can be purchased in Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Japanese and Spanish as well as in English.

Who joins Toastmasters?

• Anyone over the age of 18 can join Toastmasters, provided they have the desire to improve their communication and leadership skills.
• ...College students to professional speakers, salespeople, attorneys, teachers, and retirees. Anyone can join Toastmasters. Toastmasters really is for everyone because, when it comes to communication skills, there's ALWAYS room for improvement!
• Toastmasters International has a policy of non-discrimination (including based on ethnicity, nationality, and gender).

When did Toastmasters start?

The organization grew out of a single club, Smedley Club Number 1, which would become the first Toastmasters club. It was founded by Ralph C. Smedley on October 22, 1924, at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, United States. Toastmasters International was incorporated under California law on December 19, 1932. Throughout its history, Toastmasters has served over four million people.

Where do Toastmasters Meet?

• Almost everywhere, to be precise in 12,500 Clubs in 108 Countries
• Within corporations, in community centers, on university and college campuses, in churches and temples, in restaurants, in libraries, in prisons, and many other places.
• Majority of clubs are still in North America, but the organization is growing fastest outside of North America, particularly in Asia.
• Most clubs meet weekly for 1-2 hours.

The TMI Website tells us that -

• 52% are female and 48%are male
• Average annual household income $85,000-$99,000
• 30% earn $100,000annually
• 69% of members are between the ages of 35 and 49
• 82% have a college degree
• 36% have an advanced degree

What industries employ Toastmasters -

• 20% Sale, Consulting, Self Employed
• 18% Management
• 15% Finance & Insurance
• 15% Government
• 12% Education
• 20% Other

Why Should You Join Toastmasters?

Toastmasters meetings are a safe environment in which to learn. Everyone who attends is there for the purpose of gaining the skills from the Toastmasters program. You will learn the basic techniques to capture your audience and effectively communicate your message. Participants have a variety of opportunities learn about public speaking at every meeting.

We learn by:

• Practicing speaking in front of the group
• Listening to others speak to the group 
• Evaluating and listening to evaluations of speeches 
• Following the Toastmasters program of advancing in steps
•  Mutual support and encouragement are the cornerstones of Toastmasters meetings.

Improve your self confidence

By practicing speaking to a group in an environment where everyone is also learning, you become more comfortable with the task. All Toastmasters know what it's like to feel butterflies when called upon to speak. Experienced Toastmasters also know that the fear can be overcome just by trying.

• Learn at your own pace
• Toastmasters share and understand your feelings
• Opportunities every meeting to speak at the podium 
• Do what you want - prepared or impromptu speeches

Improve your listening skills

We learn about listening as well as about speaking. To fully participate in Toastmasters meetings, you must listen carefully to the other speakers. We develop our skills by listening on different levels.

We listen to the content but we also learn to be aware of the impact of the speech organization and presentation.

You need to be alert at Toastmasters meetings because:

• You may be asked to answer an impromptu question
• You may be asked to evaluate another speaker
• We learn by listening to evaluations of other speakers

Sharpen your thinking

A Toastmasters meeting excites your brain. Participants at meetings who are not giving a formal prepared speech are usually asked to participate in "Table Topics".  This is a 2 minute impromptu speech on a topic selected by the Table Topics Master with the speaker having no time for preparation.

Subjects could be on a theme such as:

• Flowers
• My favorite holiday
• The best Christmas I ever had was ...

or the topic could be more challenging:

• Do today's youth have a more difficult time than youth of twenty years ago? 
• Can we improve our economy with natural resources at the expense of our environment? 
• An election issue

Everyone who speaks at a Toastmasters meeting has their speech evaluated by another Toastmaster. Evaluating challenges you because you must always remain encouraging, constructive and positive. As an evaluator, you need to be very alert. You have to think on your feet in order to mention all the good points of a person's speech and mention some aspects that may need improvement.

Develop your leadership skills

There are many opportunities to be a leader within Toastmasters.

• Club and District Officers are elected annually in May to lead and represent the club and District from 1 July
• Members chair meetings and take on other responsibilities
• Toastmasters is an international organization with leaders from each geographical area represented on the International Board of Directors

How to Join Toastmasters?

You can join Toastmasters by following the five easy steps given below:

First Step
First, search the Toastmasters club database to find clubs where you live. Narrow the list down based on the time of day (morning, mid-day, evening) or day of the week that fits your schedule.

Second Step
Attend a couple of club meetings so that you can experience firsthand what Toastmasters is all about.
Plan to visit a few clubs. Don’t settle for the first club you find. Every club has a unique club culture. Find the one that suits you the best.

Third Step
Send an e-mail or call the contact person on the club listing to verify the meeting time and location and so that the club will know to expect you. Some clubs are entirely free to visit while others meet in restaurants and may require a meal purchase.
Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the meeting begins. Club members will be eager to meet you.

Fourth Step
If you have visited a club and found it to your liking, ask a member (preferably an officer, who is more likely to be able to help you) for an application form and Sign up.

Fifth Step
Toastmasters dues are inexpensive, particularly compared to other training options.
Commit yourself to excellence. Toastmasters is a program where you only get out in proportion to what you put in.