Thursday, August 28, 2008

7 days and counting

Only a week to go to the return of Speak Easy Toastmasters after our summer break.

Just a reminder on what the Toastmasters International organization is..

A brief history; the Toastmasters organization began in 1924,more than three million men and women have benefited from its the communication and leadership programs. The first club was formed in October 1924, when a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the Santa Ana, California YMCA to form a club "to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members."

The group took the name "Toastmasters."

A year later, a second club was started in Anaheim, California, followed by a third in Los Angeles. By 1930, it was apparent that a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the clubs and to provide standard methods. After formation of a club in Victoria, British Columbia, the group became known as Toastmasters International.

Growth was slow during the early years, but the number of clubs increased steadily. The forerunner of today's Communication and Leadership program, Basic Training, was introduced in 1942 and has been expanded and updated many times since then to keep abreast of the times and members' needs.

Membership in Toastmasters International increased rapidly after the end of World War II, and by 1954 the number of Toastmasters clubs had approached 1,500.
Today there are over 11.700 clubs with 235,000 members in 92 countries worldwide.
In Ireland and the UK (Toastmasters District 71) as of July 2008 there were 196 Clubs with 11,368 members meeting, mostly, once a forthnight.

Speak Easy Toastmasters were founded in 1993 and since then has been one of the most active clubs in the country, constantly achieving top Toastmasters International Club Awards and also Speak Easy members achieving top positions in speech contests.
In leadership roles, Speak Easy members have been continuously to the fore.

So don’t forget, Speak Easy Toastmasters meetings resume on Thursday September 4th in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, at 7.50 for an 8pm sharp start.

If you are looking for something different to get involved in this September, why not try Toastmasters?

You will be delighted you did. Guests are very welcome and will not be asked to speak.

For further information on Speak Easy Toastmasters log on to our website at www.speakeasymasters.com or contact our Club PRO, Seán on 086 6054784.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Countdown Begins

Hello again.

My how the summer (season) has flown. It is almost time to start thinking of what to do for the long evenings.

As of today there are only 125 shopping days left ‘till Christmas but better still there are only 14 days left until the first meeting of the Speak Easy Toastmasters Club.

So for the coming long evenings why not try something different?

Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, Toastmasters is the best way to build great communication skills.

You will learn how to successfully organize and present your ideas and yourself.

Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation.

A Toastmasters club is not a classroom, it is a workshop where members meet once a fortnight to learn communication skills, such as how to speak with confidence, think on your feet, listen effectively, make new friends and, most importantly, to enjoy themselves.

Speak Easy Toastmasters Club is affiliated to Toastmasters International which has over 90,000 clubs worldwide with almost a quarter of a million members and in Mallow Speak Easy Toastmasters meet on alternate Thursday nights at 8pm sharp, from September to May.

Guests are most welcome to attend our meetings and for as many times as they like, so why not come along as our guest on Thursday September 4th and see what we are about?

Don’t worry, guests attending a Toastmasters meeting are never asked to speak.

Further information on Speak Easy Toastmasters can be had by visiting our constantly updated website at www.speakeasytoastmasters .com or contact our club PRO, Sean on 086 6054784.

So on Thursday 4th of September and on alternate Thursdays thereafter why not beat the “Recession Depression” and come along to the Hibernian Hotel for a night out which includes enjoyment, education, and coffee and biscuits,

You’ll be delighted you did.

See you there.