Membership Information
At Berkhamsted Speakers Club, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. We have around 30 members - men and women with various backgrounds - who meet twice a month for 2 hours. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:
Conducting meetings
Meetings usually begin with a short business session which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.
Presenting prepared speeches
Three or four members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Programme manual or other manuals. Initial projects cover such topics as speech organization, vocal variety, language, gestures, and persuasion, and build to help you deliver a truly persuasive speech.
Giving impromptu speeches
Members present 1-2 minute impromptu speeches on ‘surprise’ topics. We call this bit ‘Table Topics’.
Offering constructive feedback
An evaluator is assigned to every prepared speaker, to point out speech strengths and offer suggestions for improvement. Every member is encouraged to give brief written feedback on each prepared speech and this feedback, from perhaps on average 15-20 members with varying experience and levels of skill, is particularly appreciated by speakers. The whole process exists to encourage and support each of us develop our speaking skills.
The Toastmasters System
We are part of Toastmasters which is an international, not-for-profit organisation that provides a framework and network for members to develop communications and leadership skills through “learning by doing” in a supportive and social environment. It was founded in 1924 in California and today, in 92 countries, has around 226,000 members participating 11,500 clubs. In the UK and Ireland, there are 200 clubs and over 5000 members. The educational program is the heart of any Toastmasters club. It is the means through which you develop your communication and leadership skills and achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator.
The Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks - a communication track and a leadership track. You may participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish. Every new member gets a set of materials to guide them through the program. Included in the material are manuals to get you started in both tracks: Competent Communication, Competent Leadership, Your Speaking Voice, Effective Speech Evaluation, and Gestures: Your Body Speaks.
Berkhamsted Speakers can help you to;
- give more informative and more effective presentations
- build confidence in public speaking which spills over into other areas
- hone your persuasive speech skills
- give the greatest wedding speeches including the challenging "best man speech"
- communicate more effectively with colleagues
- learn to more effectively develop and present ideas
- develop your coaching and leadership skills
- accept challenge more objectively
- fully develop your career potential
- and most importantly have fun with a group of people who enjoy nothing more than a social night out
Joining and Membership Costs
Joining Fee : £25. When you join you get your first speech manual and the competent leadership manual. You also get speaking tips booklets and soon you will get your first edition of the monthly Toastmaster Magazine.
Annual Fee : £75. This is paid in two installments, one in September and one in March. For new members you only pay for the rest of the year - i.e. if you join 2 months before the end of the year, you pay £15.
Some feedback....
"I've never met anyone who didn't think Toastmasters was super valuable to their career. We gain self-esteem, self-confidence, and assertiveness. This makes us better salespeople, better managers, better leaders…"
- Harvey Mackay, Bestselling Author of Swim With the Sharks and Sharkproof
"Toastmasters has helped me most in front of groups of people at job interviewes and meetings. A year ago I was faced with several job interviews that turned out to be 'surprise' group interviews. 30 applicants sat in the room together and had to answer questions about ourselves. One question was; 'If you could hire anyone at this table besides yourself, who would you hire?' Nearly everyone at each of these groups was so nervous, they could hardly speak. I, on the other hand, was offered the job in every situation over all the others. After the interview, other applicants came up to me and complimented me on my confidence and eloquence. It was great! And I owe it all to Toastmasters"
- C. Jordan
"The greatest part is the incredible friendships that are made."
- K. Clark
A Toastmaster's Promise
- As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise...
- To attend club meetings regularly
- To prepare all of my speeches to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication manual or the Advanced Communication Series 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