| Q. |
Who is Toastmasters open to? What kind of members do you have?
| A. |
Many people think Toastmasters is open only to those individuals who wish
to be professional speakers, but that is definitely not true. Toastmasters
is open to the public at large. Individuals who wish to improve their
public speaking are more than welcome, but individuals who want to just
enhance their self confidence or practice their own speaking and listening
skills are very much encouraged to attend.
| Q. |
How can Toastmasters help you in job situations?
| A. |
Communicating is becoming increasingly important, especially as we move to
an empowered work force. By becoming involved in Toastmasters, you will
learn different methods of relating what you really want to say, and how
you can best say it. Equally important, you will learn what your audience
expects from you so you can deliver that message to them in some logical
fashion.
| Q. |
Could these benefits carry over into social situations as well?
| A. |
Most definitely. Most individuals join Toastmasters in order to build self
confidence. Some people are comfortable around friends, but when they get
before a group they don't know, they get tense or develop a "case of the
butterflies". Toastmasters helps its members teach the butterflies how
to fly in formation. You never really get rid of them but you learn how
to adjust to the feeling, and use that energy to enhance your speech.
| Q. |
Is Toastmasters concerned with total communication, not just for speaking,
but other communication skills?
| A. |
Most often people assume that when you are listening that you are also paying
attention. This is not always true. Many times people are waiting their
turn to speak and are not really listening at all. Toastmasters can develop
a person overall in terms of organizing their thoughts, getting input from
others, and then receiving effective feedback.
| Q. |
Toastmasters is a structured organization. Will you explain the structure?
| A. |
It is structured for the purpose of administration but there is not an
echelon of individuals with positions within the organization. Those who
hold an office such as President or Vice President of Education hold that
office for the purpose of guiding the club members. They are elected by
the club members.
| Q. |
Whether you are a new member or head of the organization, is it the same?
| A. |
Toastmasters has an approach of learning by doing. Let me explain some of
the different ways this is set-up. The Toastmasters International
Organization provides an outlined manual called Communication and Leadership
Manual. We refer to this as the "Basic Manual" because it gives a guideline
for the development of speeches. These speeches cater to different purposes.
One objective might be to develop vocal variety. Another might be to
organize your thoughts or develop your use of humor in speeches. Regardless
of what your outlined objective is, you seek to accomplish these goals
while developing a speech on subjects of your choice. Once developed, you
then share it with a group of your peers for effective evaluations and
suggestions that promotes individual growth.
| Q. |
Can you also learn other skills, such as parliamentary procedures or being
Master of Ceremonies?
| A. |
Yes. The different assignments within Toastmasters involve not only
preparation of speeches and then presenting these before an audience, but
also responsibility of serving as the Toastmaster of the meeting. This
assignment is where the member receives practice at being an emcee for a
meeting. Other assignments include serving as an evaluator for another
speaker or serving as grammarian who will monitor our use of filler words
or phrases such as "and ah", "uh", or "you know". Both of these assignments
will allow the member to increase or enhance their listening skills.
| Q. |
Does Toastmasters work with the youth in the community?
| A. |
Yes. We refer to that as "Youth Leadership". We have worked very closely
with youth organizations here in Kingsport and youth groups in various
churches. We seek to provide these young people an introduction to effective
listening and speaking for eight weeks. Of course, you can't cover
everything in that time period, but it does give the individuals a taste
of what it is like to speak before a group.
| Q. |
There is also an eight week Speechcraft course offered for adults. What does
this involve?
| A. |
It is basically an introduction to Toastmasters in general. It gives the
individuals a compressed representation of what we do at the Toastmasters
Club level on a regular basis. It is only a sample, but we do get into
development of speeches and evaluation. It also provides the opportunity
for an individual to determine through Speechcraft whether or not they wish
to get involved in Toastmasters, by joining a club.
| Q. |
What can an individual gain from being in Toastmasters?
| A. |
Originally, most people get involved in Toastmasters to gain some self
confidence and to learn some tricks of the trade in the development of
speeches. As an individual continues to give speeches and improve, they
progress from the point of being fearful to stand before a group of peers
to the point where they can address any group of people with a degree of
self confidence.
| Q. |
Who can I contact about Toastmasters for additional information?
| A. |
To get more information, call ___________________________.
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