If you’ve never attended a Toastmasters meeting, you may be puzzled by the assortment of activities available to members. Not everyone gives a prepared speech at every meeting. Volunteers enjoy several roles that help them develop confidence in other areas. Furthermore, a member can develop skills without ever volunteering – simply showing up and having fun can bring surprising benefits.

For example, time management is a skill that is prized in many avenues of life – particularly in the workplace – and members enjoy plenty of practice in this area. Several key events in each meeting are timed, and everyone receives feedback with notes on their successes as well as tips for improvement in working with the clock. It’s amazing how quickly a new member learns to keep the time limits on presentations.

A Cordial Atmosphere
Another benefit of membership is the camaraderie that develops between the members. Many people join for similar reasons – perhaps they’re overcoming a fear of public speaking or they want to move up the corporate ladder. Because of their shared circumstances, it’s hard not to form friendships. When you’ve applauded your fellow Toastmaster for presenting her first speech, you’ll recognize that look of gratitude on her face. The bond of friendship that forms between people who are learning and enjoying fun times together can last a lifetime. And the opportunities for networking abound.

But what about the fun? Some parts of a meeting seem to draw laughter. For example, Toastmasters often practice their impromptu speaking skills. Just watch the antics of volunteers who boldly stand and answer surprise questions in one- to two-minute sessions. This might seem like a game – and to some degree, it is – but it’s a game with hidden benefits. Everyone who participates learns to think and speak coherently and without hesitation. They build confidence each time they master a topic – which really helps later with such challenges as job interviews. Even a member who simply watches and applauds will develop critical thinking skills while having fun trying to figure out how he might have answered that last question.

A Place to Develop Skills
When a member does perform a speech, she benefits in more ways than merely presenting a talk to an audience of friends and supporters. She also learns to write a speech that dazzles. The first few projects in the Competent Communication manual, the basic manual for Toastmasters, offers help in developing speechwriting skills. Members can practice organizing their thoughts on the page, getting to their point quickly and using language with eloquence. This leads to clear written communication the member can rely on – whether she’s writing a cover letter for a résumé or a personal note to a friend.

Some volunteers can build their organizational and record-keeping skills while they help to set up and run the meetings or keep track of their fellow members’ progress. It’s not hard to learn the steps to success in these projects, and the volunteers are then able to transfer what they’ve learned to their careers and personal lives.

The skills don’t stop there. When members spend time in Toastmasters meetings, their confidence grows. They discover that they can successfully perform the same kinds of activities outside of Toastmasters. Their circle of experience widens, and they’re ready to try new challenges. This is why so many companies host Toastmasters meetings in their offices. Members become stronger, more confident leaders at work – and highly valued employees.

All of these provide Toastmasters with opportunities to develop skills that reach beyond giving a speech. And for many members, the benefits of this personal growth may mean more in the long run to their success in life. Whether they’re interested in honing leadership skills, strengthening one-on-one communication, practicing presentations, excelling at job interviews or just becoming a more articulate or dynamic speaker, Toastmasters is a benefit to everyone.

The date was October 22, 1924.

Smedley began working for the YMCA after he graduated from college. Observing that many of its young patrons needed “training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings,” he decided to help them with a training format that was similar to a social club. During the early 1900s, the word “toastmaster” referred to a person who proposed the toasts and introduced the speakers at a banquet. Smedley named his group “The Toastmasters Club” because he thought it suggested a pleasant, social atmosphere that would appeal to young men.

At that first Toastmasters meeting, members practiced speaking skills in a supportive, informal atmosphere. The seedling club blossomed. Then another sprung up in nearby Anaheim. Word spread about Smedley’s experiment and soon people in other communities, and even other states, began to request permission and help to start their own Toastmasters meetings.

As more clubs emerged, it was a time of firsts: Smedley created the first Toastmasters manual, and publication of The Gavel – the first Toastmasters newsletter – began in 1930. (The Toastmaster magazine made its debut three years later.)

In the 1930s, the organization grew to an international level by incorporating and chartering its first club outside the United States — in British Columbia, Canada.

Over the ensuing years, Toastmasters International laid the foundation for many of the activities and philosophies we know today: The first Inter-Club Speech Contest was held in 1938; District 18 of Scotland became the first district outside the United States in 1946; and in 1968, the first Competent Toastmaster (CTM) awards were issued for completing the manual Basic Training for Toastmasters. Two years later, the first Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) awards were handed out.

Until 1962, a series of rented office spaces in Southern California served as Toastmasters International’s “home office.” That year, the staff moved into its first World Headquarters building. The Santa Ana facility wasn’t far from the YMCA where the first Toastmasters club met.

In 1973, Toastmasters met an important milestone by opening membership to women. Twelve years later, Helen Blanchard became the organization’s first female president.

By 1982, membership reached 100,000. To better serve its growing worldwide membership, World Headquarters relocated in 1990 to its current building in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, 20 miles south of Santa Ana.

In July 1997, a bold new offering was developed for the educational program: An improved two-track educational recognition system that allowed members to pursue awards in both leadership and communication. In 1999, the 10-goal Distinguished Club Program was introduced.

… And Now

As Toastmasters International celebrates its 85th anniversary this month, the organization stands at a historic high point. Program offerings have never been more expansive. Toastmasters leaders have developed innovative strategies to keep up with advances and shifting cultural dynamics of the global age. Indeed, while many organizations around the world are downsizing because of the economic climate, Toastmasters International is growing; thousands of people are taking advantage of the organization’s programs to enhance their communication skills. Membership is at an all-time high, with more than 250,000 members in 12,000 clubs in 106 countries. As of June 30, a record 1,073 new clubs were chartered, and 56 districts were recognized as Distinguished or better, a number surpassing all previous years.

“Toastmasters grew by nearly five percent in 2009,” says Toastmasters Executive Director Daniel Rex. “Tens of thousands of people have seen the value of the Toastmasters training in their personal lives and careers. They know the program can see them through a lot of challenges.”

As Rex sees it, there is no limit to the growth potential of Toastmasters International, and he is making sure the World Headquarters staff is well positioned to serve its members as their needs change and the organization continues to grow.

“Our renewed emphasis is to provide optimal service and resources at each member development stage, beginning with the prospective member who is looking for a club on the Web site, applying for membership in the club, receiving a New Member Kit, and talking with a staff member on the phone,” Rex explains.

One way to meet members’ needs is through the Toastmasters Web site, which is continually expanding through new product and service offerings. The organization’s first e-learning tool — Toastmasters Learning Connection (TLC) for district officers – is a recent addition to the Web site. TLC provides access to Toastmasters’ officer training in a virtual learning environment. Eventually, it is expected to include training for a variety of officers.

This distance-learning program is an exciting development, blending education with the power of the Internet. And it won’t replace face-to-face training – just complement it.

Another recent change is the approval of Global Representation and Support. The plan was voted in by members at this year’s International Convention in Mashantucket, Conn. It improves the organization’s structure by enhancing global representation with 14 regions and directors, and replaces The Nominating Committee with the International Leadership Committee (ILC). More information on the implementation of this plan is being shared on the Toastmasters Web site and in the November issue of the Toastmaster magazine.

The organization’s profile is about to grow even higher: A new film about Toastmasters is scheduled for a 2010 release. SpeakEasy, a feature-length documentary produced by Tumbleweed Entertainment, explores the 2008 World Championship of Public Speaking and the larger Toastmasters world.

From a gathering in a YMCA basement in 1924 to the 12,000-plus clubs that meet in 106 countries today, the Toastmasters story is one of dramatic growth and success. And with accomplishments come opportunities. “As we meet our members’ needs and greet thousands of club visitors, we offer the most valuable service imaginable: We help people improve their lives,” says Rex. “That’s what the Toastmasters mission is all about.”

It happens to everyone – that moment in front of a crowd when the lights go out, the microphone dies or an earthquake rumbles across the stage. Sooner or later, disaster strikes everybody. If you’re a novice speaker, the calamity is more often about your mind going blank, PowerPoint freezing up or not knowing how to handle a heckler. But even a pro can find herself in the middle of a nightmare instead of what was supposed to be a shining moment of glory.

No matter what has happened to you, have no fear. You’re not alone.

Please share in the comments about your scariest story and then breath…after all it is over:)

By Don Gabor

As a Toastmaster, you know that all speaking is public speaking – whether you are giving a Table Topics presentation at your club or conversing with colleagues and clients at the holiday office party. Of course, if an “ah” or “um” slips into one of your speeches, probably no one (except perhaps another Toastmaster) will ever know.

However, make one of the following conversation gaffes at the holiday office party and your career and professional image could be headed for trouble. Here are some of the most common career-crunching mistakes:

1. Making inappropriate comments – even in jest
Nothing can ruin a budding or even established career faster than, “letting your hair down,” in a way that keeps your colleagues whispering, “Can you believe what he said?” Using sexual innuendo or telling off-color jokes at the holiday work party is a sure-fire way to attract attention, but not the kind that will boost your career. This blunder can quickly send your prospects for advancement into a downward spiral. Never forget that the office party is a business – not social – situation, where most of the rules of business etiquette apply.

2. Talking only with your officemates
Chatting for a few minutes at seasonal office gatherings with your work buddies is all part of the fun, but if you stay ensconced in your closed circle of friends for too long, new co-workers, prospects or others will quickly cast you and your colleagues as cliquish, disinterested and not open to outsiders. Staying in one place too long, whether you are talking to someone or nibbling on the appetizers, will also give the impression that you’re shy, self-conscious or lacking confidence. Instead, chat with your buddies for a few minutes and then move to different areas of the room to introduce yourself to others you want to get to know better.

3. Talking too much or too little about yourself
“So, enough about my job! Let me show you a picture of my kids (cats, car, etc.)!” Sure, people love to talk about themselves, their pets, kids and grandchildren, but if you are the one doing all the talking at the office party, you could quickly become a bore to the other guests. On the other hand, if you are too tight-lipped, then people may see you as secretive, defensive or lacking interest and enthusiasm. The remedy is to exchange information about various light subjects at about the same rate so that you both know what the other enjoys and likes to talk about. Offer some information and then allow the other person enough time to fully respond with information of their own.

4. Complaining or gossiping about colleagues or clients
You might be tempted and it may even be well-deserved, but never get involved in a gripe session about a colleague or client while attending a holiday office party. As obvious as this blunder is, people seem to do it all the time, especially after a few drinks. Even if you’re not the one making the crass remarks, if word gets back to the “offending person” you will still pay the price long after the party is over. If possible, politely excuse yourself from the conversation as quickly as you can. However, if you find yourself stuck with this group, then take the initiative and bring up something that moves the discussion to a more positive topic.

Holiday Office Parties Offer Golden Opportunities to Hone Your Communication Skills
The holiday office party is a great place to make small talk, establish rapport and build better relationships with your colleagues, acquaintances and clients. As long as you focus on upbeat subjects that lead to sharing common professional and personal interests, goals and experiences, you’ll have plenty to talk about while boosting your career and honing your communication skills!

Condensed from “Talk Smart at the Holiday Office Party” by Don Gabor in the December 2009 Toastmaster magazine