The Meetings follow a set Agenda that has been established by Toastmasters International.  Everyone who speaks receives some type of constructive feedback to help improve.

The Club has a list of Officers.  The Officers are in charge of keeping the Club running by recruiting new members, creating schedules, advertising . . .

Some members have been in the Club for over 10 years.  Most members stay for 3 – 5 years.

There is a schedule that helps to ensure members get to handle different parts of the Meeting Agenda each time we meet.  Speeches are also scheduled.  We encourage members to participate as much as possible but no one attends all the Meetings throughout the year.

There is a program that is followed to help new members develop their speaking skills.  Each new chapter builds on the previous chapter(s).  The first speech is simply introducing yourself. Speech times range from 4 minutes to as long as 10 minutes. Speeches, as well as other parts of the Meeting, are timed to ensure no one drags on too long.  Members are scheduled to give 4 – 5 speeches a year but you can do more or less depending on your participation.

Toastmasters has not only taught me to be a better public speaker but I think I relate better to people one on one. It has certainly helped me at work meeting and talking to clients.  I have participated in both Dale Carnegie and Toastmasters.  Toastmasters has been much more beneficial for me, personally, but both programs are worthwhile.