• ToastMasters Speaking Group

    From warmfuzzy@700:100/0 to All on Sat Sep 26 20:34:26 2020
    If you're wanting to be an effective clandestine operator it helps to be able to make a presentation without appearing like your super scared.
    ToastMasters is a club of people who are interested in professional and
    quality amateur public presentations. The groups are around 20 people per chapter and you get to experience other people's speeches as well as make your own. It can really make you at ease with communicating to the public. Plus
    as a bonus after the meetup there is often time for a refreshing drink at the local pub. I have personally attended several meetups at the local ToastMasters club and found it to be highly educational, with plenty of
    highly useful tips and information on how to improve my own public
    appearance. Granted I'm not an intelligence operator so for me its not life
    or death, but I imagine that for someone who is this kind of training would
    be more than just a little helpful. Quite necessary even. Sign up for one
    of these courses. In Canada the dues is $120 per year, and everyone can
    afford what works out to be $10/month

    Good Luck and May You Be Blessed in Your Public Speaking Journey!!

    Best regards,
    warmfuzzy

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  • From CunningToad@700:100/33 to warmfuzzy on Sat Oct 10 14:33:47 2020
    I can say from my own example, that public speaking is skill that can be learned. Used to be scared of any kind of presentation, but after a few it gets better. Practice makes perfect - in everything.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/64)
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  • From Phoobar@700:100/70 to CunningToad on Sun Oct 11 00:27:59 2020
    I can say from my own example, that public speaking is skill that can be learned. Used to be scared of any kind of presentation, but after a few
    it gets better. Practice makes perfect - in everything.

    Worked in commercial radio for around 20 or so years. While in college had a professor I worked for which tried to get me to join back in the mid-80's. My question...have no problem talking in public...but can they give you a way to become a better speaker/announcer?

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  • From Nelgin@nelgin@endofthelinebbs.com.nospam to Phoobar on Sun Oct 25 21:38:26 2020
    Phoobar wrote:
    I can say from my own example, that public speaking is skill that can be learned. Used to be scared of any kind of presentation, but after a few it gets better. Practice makes perfect - in everything.

    Worked in commercial radio for around 20 or so years. While in college had a professor I worked for which tried to get me to join back in the mid-80's. My question...have no problem talking in public...but can they give you a way to become a better speaker/announcer?

    Yes, absolutely. One part of a Toastmasters meeeting is "Table Topics". You're asked a question or you have to give your opinion on a topic and you have to speak for one minute without using "filler words" like uhh, err, ahh, and the like, while using proper grammer. It helps you think on your feet and help you collect your thoughts better. This provides for a better listening experience.

    I was in Toastmasters for 7 years and can highly recommend it.

    While you are a member of a club, you're also a member of a worldwide family
    of speakers and leaders. Each club is in a Area with several areas making up a Division and these are formed into Districts. The Distrcit provides learning and leadership opportunities as well as training for club officers.

    You can attend Toastmasters meetings for free to see what they're all about before you decide to join up. You can try different clubs to see which suit your tastes.
  • From k9zw@700:100/69 to warmfuzzy on Sun May 30 21:27:35 2021
    On 26 Sep 2020, warmfuzzy said the following...
    If you're wanting to be an effective clandestine operator it helps to be able to make a presentation without appearing like your super scared. ToastMasters is a club of people who are interested in professional and quality amateur public presentations. The groups are around 20 people

    This is a high quality organization and based on the participants I've met
    well worth the effort.

    Other groups that do this sort of training inlcude the Dale Carneigie group.
    A bit expensive if out of your personal pocket but focuses on things that Toastmasters do not included.

    Actually the two look to be very complimentary.

    We received this training in school, in an innocently labeled "Public
    Speaking" class that was very much like Toastmasters adding intense peer pressure to speak well amoung classmates and friends!

    --- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS

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  • From Nelgin@nelgin@endofthelinebbs.com.nospam to k9zw on Mon May 31 09:04:48 2021
    k9zw wrote:
    We received this training in school, in an innocently labeled "Public Speaking" class that was very much like Toastmasters adding intense peer pressure to speak well amoung classmates and friends!

    Toastmasters have gavel clubs that are sponsored by a Toastmasters Club and
    are designed to introduce youth who are not old enough to join a TM club to public speaking.
  • From warmfuzzy@700:100/37 to Phoobar on Sun Apr 16 01:44:02 2023
    had a professor I worked for which tried to get me to join back in the mid-80's. My question...have no problem talking in public...but can they give you a way to become a better speaker/announcer?

    Yes, they can certainly help you be a better speaker; its not just for newbs but for anyone who wants to be more professional in speaking in public. I'd rate it 8/10. The only reason its not 10/10 is there was a God hater in the meeting that I attended and didn't want me to speak about anything to do with God, even though the Toastmasters organization itself has nothing against that... frustrating. After I did well in Toastmasters a guy came to my work and asked if I wanted to become a Mason in not-so-many specific words. The interview lasted about 40 minutes. Apparently the Masons don't allow women into their ranks and one of his questions was if he could check out my chest to make sure I didn't have boobs. I'm definitely masculine so I'm not sure why they have this ritual. The Masons may seem cool to join but I'm not into all their drama. I ended up not joining but have a good relationship with a Mason right now. So, yeah, ToastMasters can lead to bigger things, even entrance into a secret soceity. Fun times.

    Cheers!
    -warmfuzzy

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