Become the Speaker & Leader You Want to Be!

What is Toastmasters? (No, we don't make toasters!)

From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries, offering a proven – and enjoyable! – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.

There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.

To find a Toastmasters Club near you, please visit www.toastmasters.org

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About Public Speaking...

If you have a fear of public speaking, or speaking in front of groups, you are not alone! Here are some quotes from some famous people that summarize public speaking in a humorous way. 

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”  ~ Jerry Seinfeld

"Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary".                      ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"It's quite simple. (public speaking) Say what you have to say, and when you come to a grammatical ending, sit down".  ~ Winston Churchill