Tuesday, January 1, 2008

What is Toastmaster?

You might wonder how Toastmasters came about, so let us share with you some history of how Toastmaster International was established.

In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming 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.”

Soon men in other communities and states asked for permission and help to start their own Toastmasters clubs. By 1930, a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the many clubs and to provide a standard program. When a speaking club in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, expressed interest in forming a Toastmasters club, the group became known as Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters International enters the new century as the undisputed world leader in public speaking training, with over 10,500 clubs and more than 200,000 members in approximately 90 countries. In the years to come, more people than ever will benefit from Toastmasters leadership and education.

We are in District 51 which comprises 3 countries namely, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Toastmasters International offers successful programs and gives its members valuable learning experience in communication skills helping them in turn to gain confidence in speaking in public.

The objective of DDYPC TMC is to ensure that members have the opportunity to learn communication skills that would turn them into articulate and eloquent speakers - and the only way to learn is to do it.

There are 3 main parts of our Toastmasters club meeting.

Firstly, the Table Topics Session, where members can practise their "Thinking and Speaking extemporaneously on their feet" skills. Table topic speakers have 1 to 2 minutes to speak.

In Part 2, which is the Prepared Speech session; we have members who will be delivering speeches based on the 10 projects from the basic Communication & Leadership Manual as well as the Advanced Manual.

In Part 3 our General Evaluator will preside over the Evaluation Session.

Do come to any of our session to learn more.