Member Experience
Being a member of Toastmasters is more than just showing up at meetings and giving a speech now and then. You’re part of a fun, supportive group of friends with common goals of self-development. And it’s not all about public speaking, either. Toastmasters is a place where you can hone your leadership and communication skills simultaneously, while joining a worldwide network of members who are doing the same thing you’re doing, one week at a time.
So how can you make the most of your time in Toastmasters? Need tips for serving in a club meeting role? Looking for an outline of the vice president education’s duties?
Whether you’re a beginner or expert, these hints and tips will help you get the job done.
Getting Started
The New Member
Congratulations! You’ve made the transition from Toastmasters guest to Toastmasters member, and your life is about to roar into high gear with a lot of fun, friends and learning. Here are some tips to get you started with your club activities and your first speech.
The Toastmasters Educational Program
The educational program is the heart of every Toastmasters club. It provides members with a proven curriculum that develops communication and leadership skills one step at a time, with many opportunities for awards and recognition along the way.
Meeting Roles
The success of a Toastmasters meeting depends on the program participants. There are many roles to fill, and each job is designed to improve the members’ public speaking and leadership skills.
Successful Meetings
When a Toastmasters meeting goes well, a lot of great things happen. Here you’ll find some best practices and planning tips for making every club meeting a thoroughly enjoyable educational experience for all attendees.
Moving Along
Speech Contests
Each year, thousands of Toastmasters compete in the Humorous, Evaluation, Tall Tales, Table Topics and International speech contests. A well-planned contest with eager, informed contestants can be one of your club's most popular events!
Club Officer Roles
Every Toastmasters club provides its members with the opportunity to take on one of seven leadership roles to aid in the governance of the club. On these pages, you’ll find a brief description of each club officer role, along with current electronic versions of all seven club officer manuals.
International Convention
If you haven’t yet attended a Toastmasters International Convention, make this the year you discover what everyone has been talking about. Improve your skills through seminars, learn from world-class speakers and have fun with fellow Toastmasters from all over the world.
Supplemental Programs
If you have fallen in love with public speaking to the extent that you’d like to make it your profession, Toastmasters offers some extra help along that path: the Accredited Speaker program, and district-level Speakers Bureaus.
Satellite Programs
If you’re interested in reaching out to those who might not qualify for regular Toastmasters membership, these satellite programs may be what you’re seeking.
Mentor a Member
Once you’ve gained some experience in Toastmasters, why not help a new member take advantage of all that the organization has to offer?
Mentor a Club
Looking for a new challenge? Consider mentoring a new club to help give them a solid start.
Online Resources
Social Networking
Toastmasters around the world can now connect through several online social networking sites that are moderated by World Headquarters. These venues offer a great opportunity to practice the art of networking and can help you become more comfortable interacting in small groups and in one-on-one conversations.
The Toastmasters Podcast
Tune in weekly to enjoy an informative, entertaining and educational podcast, hosted by Toastmasters Bo Bennett and Ryan Levesque.