What do I get out of Toastmasters?

Your membership provides these benefits

• A unique means of learning and improving your communicative abilities within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun with fellow Toastmasters Club members.

• Unlimited opportunities for personal and occupational advancement based on improved abilities and expanded experience.

• Experience in leadership development through training and club involvement.

• Professionally prepared educational materials and resources on speaking, listening, discussion, parliamentary procedure, audio-visual techniques and conference and meeting procedures.

• The Toastmaster magazine - every month ‘The Toastmaster’ provides new insights on communication techniques, ideas and opinions.

• Continuing practice and exposure to sound communication techniques.

• Increased confidence, ability to organise logical thought and present it self-assuredly, and a better understanding of human relations.

• Affiliation with an internationally renowned educational organisation.

What is the worst that can happen to me?
You will meet a lot of new friends.

How do I join?
Come along to a meeting and speak to the Vice-President Membership or any of the club members who will be pleased to assist you.

When do I join?
As the Toastmasters programme is not lecture based, you can join at any time.

When do I make my first speech?
With the support of your mentor and the Vice-President Education, you are encouraged to present your first assignment as soon as possible. During the meeting you will hear from many members presenting various assignments, not all of them speeches as such. There will be a Toastmaster of the Evening, an Invocation, and some informal off-the-cuff speeches called 'Table Topics’. These are all programme slots that you can volunteer to fill.

 

What do I speak about?
You decide. We only require that it is in good taste and not of an offensive nature.

 

Do I follow a programme?
Yes. On joining, you will receive a ‘Communication and Leadership’ manual (C&L), which contains helpful advice and ten assignments which you will present. Each assignment concentrates on a different aspect of speaking. On completion of these first ten assignments, you will receive recognition from Toastmasters International in the form of a CC (Competent Communicator) Award. While your pace is your own, we encourage you to complete your CC within 12-18 months. Thereafter you can move on to the Advanced Communication and Leadership programme. Here you present further assignments from more specific topic criteria, such as ‘Speaking to Management’, ‘The Entertaining Speaker’ and ‘Technical Presentations’. Am I given feedback on my presentations? Most definitely! A major part of the learning process is the giving of effective evaluations. Each assignment you present will be evaluated by a fellow toastmaster, who will give constructive feedback. In turn, you too will evaluate other members' assignments. This is part of the ‘Leadership’ component of the ‘Communication and Leadership’ programme.

What else will I learn?

Apart from improving your speaking skills and thereby your self confidence, you will learn meeting protocol and procedures. You will, of course, be entertained and informed by the various speakers. You will hear guest speakers, and have the opportunity to enter speaking competitions.

What will Toastmaster Cost me?

You can check with the Vice-President Membership for exact amounts but at present you can expect to pay about R220 to join, which covers your manuals, and then about R180 every six months as your club dues, (the first six months is included in your joining fee). At each meeting there is a nominal fee, (currently R60) which includes light snacks, (a cash bar is available).