What is Toastmasters?
Welcome to Toastmasters
Basic Communication & Leadership Program
Mission of Toastmasters International
Mission of a Toastmasters Club
Get more information about Toastmasters or District 57

Toastmasters is a unique learning environment, a step-by-step program that develops speaking and leadership skills in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. More experienced Toastmasters guide you in the fundamentals of verbal communication. You practice and improve your skills by following the assignments in the Communication and Leadership manuals.

You have the opportunity to practice your leadership skills in a wide variety of leadership roles: as meeting leader, club officer, and over the entire spectrum of leadership positions necessary in an international organization with more than 195,000 members.

You learn by doing. You gain confidence by practicing basic communication skills including written presentations, impromptu speaking, the use of audiovisual aides and body language as well as effective listening.

By participating in the Toastmasters program, you can realize dramatic improvements in many areas of your life:

• On the job, communication with your employer, associates, and subordinates will become more effective and productive.

• At home, you will find interactions with family and friends easier, more enjoyable, and more fulfilling.

• In your community, you will become more effective in getting things said, planned and done.

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The purpose of Toastmasters is to help members overcome apprehensions about speaking in public and to improve communication skills. This is accomplished by providing a self-paced, focused speaking program and a supportive, experienced group of people to assist you. You can become more effective in formal public speaking, in individual communications, in impromptu situations, in meeting management and in leadership abilities.

You are always welcome at our meetings. You may take part if you wish, or just observe. As a guest you will be introduced to members of the club. You are encouraged to join, however, the decision to become a better communicator is up to you.

A typical Toastmaster meeting consists of four components:

• Business meeting

• Table Topics to practice and improve our impromptu speaking skills

• Prepared speeches from the Communication and Leadership program

• Evaluation of prepared speakers and of the meeting in general to help us improve

Your investment to join a Toastmasters club is about $30 for 6 months, plus a one-time fee of $20 for materials. The cost is much less than a seminar or a college class.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US! find a club in your area

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As a Toastmaster you develop your speaking ability in a self-paced environment, one skill at a time. The first 10 speeches make up the Basic Communication and Leadership Program, in which all new members participate.

• The Icebreaker – introduce yourself and get started by talking about a subject on which you are an expert.

• Organize Your Speech – organize your thoughts into a logical sequence leading to a clearly defined goal.

• Get to the Point – ensure the structure and content of the speech supports and reinforces its purpose.

• How to say it – find the precise words to communi-cate your ideas clearly, concisely, and vividly; eliminate jargon.

• Your Body Speaks - use stance, movement, ges-tures, facial expressions and eye contact to convey your message.

• Vocal Variety – use volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message.

• Research Your Topic – Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered from research.

• Get Comfortable with Visual Aids – select the appropriate visual aids, use them correctly with ease and confidence.

• Persuade with Power – Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action.

• Inspire Your Audience – inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging your listeners to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.

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Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality.

Through its member clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding, and contribute to the betterment of mankind.

It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of clubs, thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs.

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The mission of a Toastmasters club is 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 foster self-confidence and personal growth.

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Click here to send your question or comment to a District 57 officer.

District 57 has Toastmaster clubs in the East bay, from Fremont north through Oakland, Napa and on to the Oregon border.