About Toastmasters

What is Toastmasters?
Toastmasters teaches the art of public speaking. We teach leadership and presentation skills, we show you how to organize and conduct a meeting, and we help you become more self-confident.

Whether you're a professional, student, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, Toastmasters is the best way to improve your communications skills. Toastmasters can help you lose the fear of public speaking and learn skills that will help you to be more successful in whatever path you've chosen.

How does it all work?
At Toastmasters, members learn gradually, by following a proven carefully-tuned process of speaking to the group and working with others in a supportive environment. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:

Conducting meetings. Meetings usually start with a short business session which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.
Giving impromptu speeches. Impromtpu speeches are speeches without much preparation. Members present short speeches of about 1 minute in length on assigned topics.
Presenting prepared speeches.Three or more members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communications and Leadership Program manuals. Projects cover such topics as speech organization, voice, language, gestures, and persuasion.
Offering constructive evaluation. Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

Toastmasters and Leadership
Toastmasters build leadership skills by organizing meetings and motivating others to help them. Club leadership roles and a leadership development program also offer opportunities to learn and practice. Club Officers are offered formal training and guidance in performing their functions.

Company Benefits
Toastmasters training helps employees:

Give better sales presentations.
Hone their group management skills.
Work better with fellow employees.
Effectively develop and present ideas.
Offer constructive criticism.
Accept criticism more objectively.

Community Benefits
Using the speaking and leadership skills developed in Toastmasters, people have become more active and effective in business, churches, and service and charity organizations.

How can I learn more?

Attend a Hershaw Toastmasters meeting! We welcome guests and there is no better way to learn than by seeing and being a part of a meeting. Attend a few meetings with no obligation and find how Toastmasters can make a difference in your life. If you don't want to come alone, bring a friend.
Contact us. We look forward to seeing and speaking with you to answer your questions and give you details on how Toastmasters can help you.

Copyright © 2010 Hershaw Toastmasters, Club 5961, District 86, Division B, Area 31
"Toastmasters International", "Toastmasters" and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks of Toastmasters International