What is Toastmasters?

[Chad Schultz]

According to the Wikipedia article,

"Toastmasters International (TI) is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. Through its thousands of member clubs, Toastmasters International offers a program of communication and leadership projects designed to help men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking."

According to toastmasters.org,

"Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has more than 260,000 members in over 12,500 clubs in 113 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience."

Find a Toastmasters club near you

How does it work? You join a local club and attend meetings weekly, biweekly or monthly. You proceed at your own pace, taking as big or small steps out of your comfort zone as you are comfortable with. you practice prepared and impromptu speaking in a supportive local group of people who are all themselves also working on improving their own speaking skills, and are able to be mentored by more experienced mentors.