Toastmasters Can Change Your Life

What is your objective?

To overcome "stage fright?"
To be a better speaker?
To improve your critical evaluating skills?
To open doors for more career opportunities?

Toastmasters can help. The following stories are from our members. Here are examples of the ways Gresham Toastmasters can change your life:

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I joined Toastmasters because I found myself avoiding possible promotions at work that would require me to do public speaking. Since joining Toastmasters I learned the skills and gained the confidence that has allowed me to speak in front of the top finance personnel and the CEO of a $15 Billion dollar company. No longer do I have the irrational fears that previously held me back.

Thank you Toastmasters!

Cory Gradis

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The participation in Table Topics has given me the practice of speaking impromptu. In my work as a meteorologist in the Regional Office, I was often called upon in staff meetings and while leading weather discussions, to comment on a specific topic.

My ability to do this in a coherent manner, I am confident, led to subsequent promotions and eventually to my final position with the National Weather Service as Meteorologist in Charge/ Area Manager at the Portland, Oregon office.

George Miller

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I procrastinated for years before joining Gresham Toastmaster Club. WHY did I wait so long?

When I lost the election for Fairview City Council in 2002 and learned it was because I was not vocal enough, I decided to finally do something to help me win the next election. I joined Gresham Toastmasters in 2003 and I won the 2004 election by 13 votes! I was able to go toe to toe with my opponent and hold my own! I will be campaigning again in 2008 and feel secure in the knowledge I can win!

I also joined Toastmasters because I was moving up in my company and needed to feel secure talking to a lot of men (I work in construction). I also had to find my way into the Senior Management Team, which was still considered “the old boys club”. The experience and feedback I received from the members of Gresham Toastmasters not only gave me the “push’ I needed at my job, but the confidence to know what I had to say was important and find ways to make management listen to me.

Today I am happy in my position, well respected by everyone in the company, even though I don’t make money, I spend, spend, spend! What I have been able to show is that the spending I do, is minimal to what it could be were I not in this position.

Therefore, for now, I have learned to secure my future – thanks to my friends at Gresham Toastmasters.

Barb Jones

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The scenario: Karen wants a job where there are thousands of applicants.

The interview is an

open group interview where nearly 20 applicants are asked questions in a round table format.

How would Pre and post toastmaster Karens handle the interview?

BT (Before Toastmasters) Karen

• Decides she does not want this job much after getting the email about the open group interview.

• Sit in back, maybe they won’t call on me.

• Answers questions as quickly as possible so the attention will move on to someone else.

• Spends the whole hour worrying about when she’ll have to speak.

• Does not volunteer to answer questions.

• Appears reserved and shy.

• Hurries out of room to car as quickly as possible when it’s over.

AT (After Toastmasters) Karen

• Sees email about open group interview and immediately schedules it on her calendar.

• Sits in front.

• Answers questions in about 45 seconds to 1 minute, speaks clearly and intelligently, and appears at ease.

• Spends the hour listening and enjoying the answers and company of the other interviewees.

• Volunteers for most questions.

• Laughs and smiles a lot during the interview.

• Chats with other candidates after interview.

Change is hard. Nobody will force you to join Toastmasters. Make yourself go once. Then make yourself go again. You’ll find you begin to enjoy it and look forward to the weekly meetings. Toastmasters can change your life!

Karen Martinka

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I have been a member of Toastmasters twice. Once in my early thirties when I was struggling with presentation shyness! Toastmasters was a revelation and a supportive organization that allowed be to get up in front of others with shaky voice and quaking heart. I have fond memories of gaining confidence and discovering that there was an element of fun in public speaking.

Now its twenty years later and I no longer fear speaking but find that I can be a lot better at it. Rather than practice in my public capacities as a school board member I enjoy Toastmasters because I can practice and goof up THERE! When I am giving an award to a student or a teacher, I can truly honor them by being present and sure-footed because of mistakes I made at Gresham Toastmasters the day before.

Toastmasters has been there for me at different times in my life and helped me when I was at different stages of development. It speaks to Toastmasters versatility that the same organization can help a new careerist and a seasoned professional.

Katie Larsell

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I have only been in Toastmasters for a few months, but it has already changed my life. The communication skills used in Toastmasters helped me to better articulate myself in recent job interviews. I was also more relaxed and confident when interviewing.

I got the job!

Kyle Robbins

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English is not my native language. Communicating is always a challenge for me because I am conscious about using correct English grammar, sentence structure and pronunciation. Speaking in front of an audience is a double challenge.

Gresham Toastmasters has given me a feeling of warmth, kindness and heartfelt family. Eye contact with everyone from my friendly ‘family’ during speech presentations sends me a silent message that they care.

A strong connection with the wonderful members of my ‘adopted family’ has helped me enhance my self-assurance and capacity to better communicate. Gresham Toastmasters has improved my ability to recognize my strengths and overcome my weaknesses. Its members value my courage of being a non native English speaker and presenting speeches in front of a native speaking audience.

Positive comments and suggestions have made me feel less self-conscious and more motivated to improve my speaking skills and gain confidence. My six month membership in Gresham Toastmasters has positively changed my entire life.

Lidiya Cornelius

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Almost two years ago a friend and long time Toastmaster asked me to join. At the time the only motivation I had for joining was to improve my public speaking. Little did I know then how much Toastmasters was going to influence my life in other ways.

Even though Toastmasters has improved my public speaking, it has also provided me with a support group to assist me in building confidence. This group has helped me discover areas in which I can improve; it has given me a team of peers to run ideas off of, and to assist in my advancement in job opportunities. Such was the case just last week when the club dedicated a whole meeting to help me prepare for an important job interview.

Another important influence Toastmasters has had on me is the chance to meet and learn more about club members. It is always enjoyable and informative to hear and learn more about members and their opinions by listening to their speeches. At the same time it has helped broaden my knowledge and has sometimes even changed my opinions on different issues going on in the world around me.

And last but not least are the lasting friendships that I have developed while in Toastmasters.

Mark Haner

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Since joining Gresham Toastmasters in November 2006, I have taken advantage of the knowledge and experience not only of the Toastmasters program, but also of the knowledge and experience of my fellow Toastmasters.

The positive and encouraging learning and teaching environment of a Toastmasters club cannot be duplicated anywhere else. As Toastmasters, we have two roles. Certainly, we increase our own communication skills. But we also encourage and help our fellow Toastmasters in their quest for improved communication and leadership skills.

Becoming better communicators and leaders. Then helping others to become better communicators and leaders. That’s what I value the most from Toastmasters.

Robert Canfield

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In the short time I have been involved with Toastmasters, I have met some truly sincere people with the intentions to help each other grow and become better. I have improved my skills with time management and discipline to be prepared for the meetings. I am also growing more comfortable with my ability to speak to a subject with very short notice. I am learning how to be a more effective speaker that will help me with my confidence both personally and professional.

Jim Bresnahan

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I joined a Toastmasters club over 15 years ago. I had just joined a company where I was asked to give regular updates to senior management. I had the knowledge base about my department, but lacked the confidence in my speaking and presentation skills.

Success at Toastmasters (being able to practice my presentation skills, the constructive feedback and even winning the Table Topics award) helped boost my confidence. I eventually received a very nice promotion, a huge increase in my salary and credibility with the senior management team.

With the boost to my confidence level, I also volunteered for a leadership role in a professional association I belonged to. I eventually became President of that chapter and Director for the entire state, overseeing 9 of the state-wide chapters. This experience provided me the knowledge, skills and abilities for my dream job which I do right now. And to think, it all started with a warm welcome from a membership chair at a local

Toastmasters club.

Diana Gould

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Toastmasters has helped me both professionally and personally. I joined three years ago, in anticipation of my first book being published. I wanted to be able to talk about the book with expertise. I am deeply appreciative of the speaking and listening skills I have developed through the Toastmaster program. I am more confident and professional in presenting to the public the message of my book.

I have many friends who have commented on the changes in me, changes that would not have occurred without Toastmasters. I had a light, airy voice that did not project, but almost hid from people. I have been told that even my conversational voice is stronger and easier to hear. I am able to project my voice far better and do not have the trembling fear of speaking I previously had. I am also able to respond quicker and much more clearly to situations and questions as they come.

I am still learning; confidence in my ability as a speaker grows as a blooming fruit tree. First the initial growth of stability as a speaker, then blossoming of new skills and finally, the wealth of fruit I will be able to harvest from speaking opportunities; all of these I continue to experience

because of Toastmasters.

Freda Emmons

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You remember the person who gets up in front of people and is visibly nervous, even turning a little bit of embarrassed red in the face. They say that many people’s fear public speaking more than death! That used to be me!

I have always had a fear of talking in front of groups of people, especially strangers. With a promotion at work requiring me to do more public speaking I was encouraged to join Toastmasters become more comfortable and skilled in doing so.

In the several months that I have been a member I am learning more about where my fears came from – it is the fear of not succeeding rather with my speech. Toastmaster’s has taught me that people want you to succeed when you are speaking in front of them. I should not be afraid of what the audience is thinking because they are listening to me!

I look forward to my continuing membership to work on building my skills – particularly off the cuff speaking and learning to give a full length speech with just bullet points for my goals. The support of my fellow Gresham Toastmaster’s is fantastic!

Austin Green

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As a lay minister and an active volunteer in other organizations, I am often in the position of needing to speak, lead a class or meeting, or make a presentation. I do fairly well if I have a written script, but find that I fumble for the right word if I’m speaking ‘off the cuff’.

Even though I am a fairly new member, it is crystal clear to me that Toastmasters is going to make a noticeable difference in several ways.

How? I realized that no matter how hard I try to disguise it, when I ‘read from a script’ it is pretty obvious to those listening – I need to learn how to speak without constantly referring to my notes.

Table topics is helping me learn to speak spontaneously, and giving me confidence. Learning how to use a catchy beginning and memorable closing while writing a speech is new to me, and I’m confident I will truly benefit from all the tips I’m learning at Toastmasters! I enjoy and learn from every meeting I attend – I highly recommend checking out Toastmasters clubs!!

Susan Gregory

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Let's talk!

For further information on joining Gresham Toastmasters, please contact one of the following members:

Tana Canfield (503) 839-9279

Gresham Toastmasters meets every Wednesday from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM at the Holiday Inn, 2752 NE Hogan Drive, Gresham, Oregon 97030.

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