A look inside: Toastmasters
- Chuck Thompson
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Overcoming the fear of public speaking and building the confidence to seize the speech
By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent
Feature – Some may not think twice about it, but public speaking is a real fear for many people.
Toastmasters is an international organization dedicated to improving public speaking skills. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.
In Shelby, there is a small but dedicated band of Toastmaster members that come together on Wednesdays around noon to hone their skills of public speaking through courage, pronunciation, attention holding and story structure to not only build confidence in themselves but to learn how and improve their skills of captivating dialogue through storytelling.
About 10 members belong to the Shelby / Cleveland County chapter; seven of them were there the day The Shelby Independent dropped by to learn more about their mission: Mike Whitt, Emily Lesalle, Bill Jobe, Rich Taylor, Cynitra Stewart, Kim Powell and Rod Powell were present.
Every week, on person serves as the keynote speaker, which the group refers to as the ‘Toastmaster of the Day’ who Serves as meeting host and moderator. Shares brief educational or inspirational moments, reviews agenda, introduces meeting roles, speakers, and speech evaluators. That particular week it was Rod Powell who served as Toastmaster.
Powell quoted Will Rogers, stating, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” The room laughed but he had a point - it’s not always knowing what to say but, “When to stop and to listen, and making your point but not beating it to death,” Powell added as he addressed the room.
The Grammarian, Emily Lesalle, introduced the ‘Word of the Day’ and kept track of incorrect and particularly good uses of grammar.
Cynitra Stewart presented the Word of the Day: "Chic" - meaning fashionable and stylish.
Each meeting also consists of two main speakers. This week it was Mike Whitt and Kim Powell, who each took a turn to stand at or by the podium as the told a story from personal experience in a captivating way to obtain and hold the attention of the “audience” of the other members.
There were also unplanned spontaneous brief speeches which the remaining members all participated in, being put on the spot with a question or a topic and had to speak on the topic or answer the question in an interview type way to fill a timeframe of around one to two minutes.
It was all for the improvement of skills and the critic from other members could be harsh or supportive, but it was only to improve one’s own skills, as ultimately, they were all supportive, encouraging each other to seize their speech and vocalize their moment of thought.
Mike Whitt, club president, was the general evaluator of each members speech. He “graded” the speakers and offered notes of positivity and areas of improvement. “He’s the glue that hold us together,” Jobe said about Whitt.
Their actions are exactly what they claim in their mission statement: “To provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.”
Toastmasters states it is “a positive and supportive atmosphere in a community of learners.” Some of the benefits of being involved in the organizations are:
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• The opportunity to find your voice while learning to tell your story with confidence.
• Regular and constructive feedback from other learners as you practice organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly.
• Experience in leadership development through training and club involvement.
• Unlimited opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Access to a wealth of educational materials and resources on public speaking, listening skills, meeting protocol, the use of technology in presentations, and effective communication in conferences and meetings.
• A free subscription to the Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that provides insights on communication, leadership, club activities and other relevant topics.
For anyone interested in joining Toastmasters, stop by the Dover YMCA at noon on a Wednesday, and speak with V.P of Membership, Rich Taylor.
“I truly believe Toastmasters is an important organization for people to discover,” explained Taylor. “It's not only a supportive environment where people can overcome the fear and anxiety of public speaking, but it's also a place where confidence, mental resilience, and, perhaps most importantly, self-worth can grow. You develop the ability to think on your feet, a skill that carries over into everyday life and professional situations.”
The meetings usually begin around 12:15 p.m., in one of the meetings rooms at the Dover Y, and they would be happy to have you as a guest.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
The Shelby Independent.
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