I have been exposed to hundreds of organizations as a professional speaker.  Only a few of these organizations have members and officers that sincerely and enthusiastically volunteer so much of their time to help others improve the quality of their lives. Toastmasters is definitely such an organization, and I am happy to support its efforts.

As an avenue of enriching my professional development on my job and enhancing my communication skills in community outreach, I made an excellent investment when I joined Toastmasters International. My confidence in public speaking has been enhanced tremendously and I feel much more enthusiastic and skilled in giving speeches, making presentations and speaking in general to management and staff.  Toastmasters has been a morale booster as well as a challenge to move from one plateau of achievement to the next.  I truly press toward the mark of achieving my Distinguished Toastmasters designation (DTM) by the new millennium and with the resources, encouragement and opportunities available to me from Toastmasters, I know I will make it!

I am a member of the Saturday Morning Workout club in Naperville, IL.  I have been a member of Toastmasters for about a 1 1/2 years.  Earlier this year, I earned my CTM and am currently working towards my ATM-B. 

I joined Toastmasters with the specific purpose of becoming a professional speaker.  The tools that I have learned along the way have given me the confidence to start my own speaking business called Minds In Motion, and to begin speaking around the Chicago area for various organizations and businesses.  It has been the various speeches and techniques I learned as a Toastmaster that have given me the confidence to get in front of any audience, of any size and deliver my program effectively. 

Next Monday, I will be auditioning for SkillPath Seminars as a national trainer and will begin delivering programs for their organization in the near future.  Of course this is assuming I do not make a major blunder during my 20 minute audition.  Then again, I seriously doubt that, as I have my Toastmaster skills and background to guide me all the way. 

In the future, I look forward to a lifetime of improvement in my speaking career, larger and larger fees, and an ever increasing amount of time and flexibility to be with my family, travel, and enjoy life to the fullest.  Thank you Toastmasters, for an invaluable experience and opportunity to boldly go where few others dare!
 

I have been an almost 14 year member of the Allstate Speakeasys.  I feel my  training has benefited me both in my work life and my personal life.

 I would like to think that the self-confidence I gained from my Toastmasters  training played a role in being promoted at work.  As a legal secretary, the lawyers I work for and the people I speak to over the telephone appreciate the communication skills I've acquired through my involvement with Toastmasters.  My experience as both a club and district officer has given me the teamwork/leadership skills needed to excel on the job.

Two years ago, while serving as Northwest Division Governor here in District 30, I faced a diagnosis of breast cancer.  I have since become involved with both Y-Me and The American Cancer Society as a Reach to Recovery volunteer. Without my Toastmasters training, I would find it difficult to "break the ice" with the women that the ACS has paired me up with to offer counseling and reassurance to.  I've also used my speaking skills both in and out of my club to speak about why it's so important for women to get mammograms and the value of early detection.  I also took part as a walker in the Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day from June 18-20.  To participate in this walk, I also had to be a fundraiser.  Again, my communication skills enabled me to approach people at work, friends, family and fellow Toastmasters to solicit contributions.  On May 22, 1999, I gave a speech (one  that also won me highest honors in the NW-4 area contest) called "The Fight of My Life" about my triumph over cancer  at the local ACS "Relay for Life" luminary ceremony held at Hoffman Estates High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, the community I happen to reside in.  I gave this speech to 200 plus people who cheered even before I concluded my speech.

Toastmasters has helped me tremendously in 3 yrs.  I have earned a CTM and CL because I consistently worked on speeches while accepting functionary and board positions.  I now have qualified requests for speaking engagements and enhanced financial compensation for presenting.  Speaking is a fun opportunity instead of an anxiety-producing event. I have met wonderful people thru my club and have learned more about their worlds.  If learning to communicate clearly is important to you personally or professionally, come and see if Toastmasters is a good fit.
 

When I first joined Toastmasters, my only real experience speaking was as a teaching assistant.  I remember my first speech-stiff, awkward, and very anxious!

By the time I had reached my sixth speech, I found that I tremendously enjoyed public speaking, and was able to express myself in a fashion more free and relaxed than I thought possible.

I'm doing things now that I never thought I'd do - going to conventions, participating in speech contests, and serving as Vice-President of Membership/Public Relations.

My Toastmasters training will certainly come in handy when I begin to look for a new job - in fact, instead of being nervous, I'm actually looking forward to the interviews!

When I first told my friends that I was joining a Toastmaster Club, they looked at me like I was crazy.  After all, I was in several plays and musicals in High School, College and even one in a Community Theater group.  I travel around to various  Historical Re-Enactments where I portray a Mountain Man and act as a Story Teller. All of this doesn't sound like someone who needs help with Public Speaking, does it?

To pay the bills I work as a computer technician.  A few years ago I was asked to give a semi-technical presentation to company management.  I didn't think it would be any big deal.  I knew the material well.  I knew all the people in the room, most were middle management people whom I'd worked with before.  And I'd had years of practice speaking to crowds much larger than what would be in that conference room.  Everything was just fine.  Until I stood up at the meeting - and choked!. I stuttered and stammered, my knees shook and I was sweating buckets.  I got through the presentation, but just barely.  I couldn't understand what had happened.

Then I realized what the problem was.  All of those other times it wasn't me who was speaking, it was really someone else.  It was the character I was portraying.  Even my magic shows and my Story Telling are done in character. That presentation was really the first time I ever had to speak as just myself. I realized, then and there, that I needed something to help me learn to be able to speak as myself.

About that time, Toastmasters was doing a demo meeting where I worked.  I joined on the spot and have happily been a member ever since.  And, just for the record, I was over my fear of speaking as just myself about halfway to my CTM.  I theoretically could have quit then and still accomplished my original goal.  But I stayed on because Toastmasters is fun as well as being educational.  I am a CTM now and I am working towards my ATM (with my sights set on getting my DTM).

There is also an added bonus.  Many people have commented that, although I was a very good Story Teller before Toastmasters, I have noticeably improved since joining.
 

Toastmasters has helped me improve my communication skills and gain self-confidence. Many people who've heard me speak do not know this, but I have a disability - stuttering. I stutter when under extreme pressure, particularly at my job. Through the support and training that I've received at Toastmasters, I have learned to effectively harness this disability, and speak clearly..to where my challenges in life are hardly noticed. Thanks Toastmasters!!!