Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through local clubs, Toastmasters members learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind.
Toastmasters International Vision
Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member Clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.
Whether you're a professional, student, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, Toastmasters is the best way to improve your communication and leadership skills. Toastmasters can help you…·
lose the fear of public speaking
become a better listener
more easily lead teams and conduct meetings
comfortably give and receive effective evaluation
You may already have some or all of these skills, but in Toastmasters, you can enhance them!
The mission of each Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.
A company's success depends on effective communication and leadership; Toastmasters produces results. Around the world more than three million men and women of all ages and occupations have benefited from Toastmasters training, and more than one thousand corporations, community groups, universities, associations, and government agencies now use Toastmasters training.
Community Benefits
Toastmasters has helped many members in their community service activities. Using their Toastmasters experience, members are better able to organize activities, conduct meetings, and speak in public as their organization's representative. Some even become active in local, state or national government
Learn More About Becoming a Member…
Becoming a member is as easy – just say “Yes, I want to join” when you’ve found the right club for you. For a nominal $54* per year, you too can be on your way to finding your voice and unleashing your communication and leadership potential.
Within a few weeks of joining, your New Member Kit will arrive from Toastmasters International. The kit will have your first communication manual of speech projects for you to prepare and present to your fellow club members. The kit will also include your first leadership manual of meeting and club activities that help you develop as a leader. You may work simultaneously on both manuals.
Once a month, you will receive The Toastmaster magazine full of helpful articles on improving your speech projects, leadership opportunities, member success stories, as well as information about upcoming events like the annual World Championship of Public Speaking. The Toastmaster is a greater source for all members, so be sure to take a look through each issue.
Each new member is also given a copy of the “The Toastmasters Promise” which helps set the expectations for you as a member:
To attend club meetings regularly
To prepare all of my speeches to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Communication and Leadership Program manual or the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals
To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments
To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations
To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow
To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so
To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy
To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers
To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs
To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities
* Toastmasters International dues are $54 per year per club. In addition, there is a one-time New Member Kit Fee of $20 to cover materials shipped from Toastmasters International. Due to meeting facility costs and/or additional member programs and materials, some clubs also have Club Dues. Be sure to ask about Club Dues when visiting a Toastmasters Club.
One of the most important factors to your growth and success in Toastmasters is finding a club in which you feel comfortable and have fun. We encourage you to visit as many clubs as you need to find the best fit for your needs. Attendance as a guest is free and you can go to the same club as often as you like as a guest until you are ready to make the decision to become a member.
What To Expect at a Toastmasters Meeting
For each club meeting, members either volunteer or are assigned as ‘functionaries’ to fill the variety of meeting roles. Some take meeting leadership roles, others give presentations or provide feedback, but there are always four core “skills” practiced at every Toastmasters meeting:
Prepared speeches: Members assigned as speakers will prepare their speech presentations on a subject of their choice, but constructed in a way to meet predefined objectives based on their member project manual.
Impromptu speaking: Members and guests can participate in this fast-moving and fun challenge to think quickly on their feet. A Topicsmaster poses questions or situations to which the responder has a limited timeframe in which to formulate their thoughts and provide their response.
Evaluation: Every prepared speaker will be assigned a speech evaluator, not to evaluate the person, but how well the person’s delivery of their presentation met the objectives of their manual project.
Leadership: Members assigned to meeting leadership roles focus on listening, time management and critical thinking skills. Most meeting leadership roles also contribute to the member leadership project manual activities, thereby allowing members to get immediate
Learn More About Our Educational Program...
First and foremost Toastmasters is focused on helping you improve your communication and leadership skills. We have two specific educational tracks that help you accomplish these goals through personal and group experiences.
Our communication track focuses on improving your public speaking skills through a series of prepared presentations. You can set your own pace and choose your own topics, but your communication manuals will outline specific speaking objectives to address with your presentation.
Our leadership track focuses on developing your leadership skills through practical leadership activities designed to help focus on personal leadership styles and for which an evaluator will provide you feedback. Most leadership activities will take place within your club meetings and club leadership roles. Advanced leadership opportunities are available serving in leadership roles at the area, division and district levels leading groups of 20, 30, 40, 50 or more.
Already aware of Toastmasters benefits and have decided to be a member?
When you've found the Club you want to join, any Club officer should be able to provide you with a Membership Application Form (Form 400) OR you can download one from the Toastmasters International website and take it to the meeting with you.
The names "Toastmasters International," "Toastmasters," and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States, Canada, and other countries where Toastmasters Clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
