Do you want to be able to speak to every person at a function with confidence or deliver that great speech at your child’s wedding?
Are you the type of person that the researchers at Psychology world Today say would rather be in the coffin, than delivering the eulogy at a funeral?
If you suffer from the fear of public speaking, like the scenarios above, then Toastmasters can help with achieving your goals.
Toastmasters International is a public speaking group that has been in the Manning Valley for approximately fifty years. Numerous numbers of individuals have joined Toastmasters in Taree over the years from politicians, entertainers, professionals, students, retirees or people who wish to develop their public speaking – leadership skills and become a part of a social network. Toastmasters has an avenue for everyone to explore. Members talk not just about gaining skills and professional networks but focus just as importantly on friendships and the ability of gaining resilience that the Toastmasters network can offer. It does not matter what walk of life you are from; a Toastmasters club has something to offer everybody.
There is a Toastmasters Club in Taree that is open to all people. Taree Toastmasters Club meets at Club Taree every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, barring January, at 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Meetings run for around two hours and follow an agenda. The first part of the meeting runs along formal lines with table topics being the focus; where each participant is given the opportunity to give an impromptu talk on a topic. The idea here is to develop speaking skills and speaking in front of an audience. Here, you can learn how to deliver that “elevator speech” and how to speak on your” toes”. Fun and fellowship are the main ideas behind table topics with the added benefit of learning important skills like speaking on your feet. An award for best impromptu talk on the night is awarded, with an award to best table topic speaker over the year.
The second part of the meeting is more formal, where members are asked to deliver prepared speeches for accreditation. There are numerous training programs to follow and you can pick your training path based on an individual assessment with the Toastmasters team. Programs range from communication mastery right through to effective leadership approaches. Some members meet for dinner beforehand and we have social functions outside regular meetings. Speaking competitions in the local club and inter club competitions are held with the option of representing Australia in America to be the best in the world at the international speaking competition.
Every member gets a mentor with every aspect of the meeting evaluated. Learning by doing and through thoughtful and honest feedback the valuable skills of communication are gained along with fun and fellowship. If you wish to find out more please contact Taree Toastmasters at the following email
tareetoastmasters@gmail.com.au
Look forward to meeting you.
Tim Connelly