Toastmasters group forming in Coshocton
COSHOCTON – If you want to improve your public speaking skills and become a more confident communicator and leader then the new Coshocton Toastmasters group might be for you.
An organizational meeting introducing the international organization to the Coshocton community was held Feb. 16 at Organic Technologies where Tom Heading and Gretchen Vannice work. Both are interested in improving their public speaking and communicating skills and have the backing of their company to host Toastmaster gatherings in their meeting space.
To help people learn how the group operates, Heading and Vannice invited people from Toastmasters to come share about their experiences and how meetings are run.
“Toastmasters is the world leader in communication and leadership development,” said Bob Genton, one of the guest speakers. “It’s a nonthreatening setting where you get to come improve your public speaking skills and we build our confidence through one another.”
There are 15,400 clubs in 142 countries and Coshocton would be in district 40, which has 182 clubs in four states.
During typical meetings speakers deliver five to seven minute speeches, hear feedback from their fellow members and participate in an impromptu speech exercise.
Toastmaster Bradley Craig gave a sample speech and then shared what he feels the group does for its members.
“We (the members) cheer for each other and help each other out,” he said. “We want those in the club to go from never wanting to speak to saying, ‘Yes I’ll do that. Just sign me up.’ My wish for all of you is that you become better speakers from this and have fun with it.”
Heading and Vannice need at least 20 members for their club to become officially chartered with Toastmasters. This will allow them to receive manuals for projects and other resources from Toastmasters International. Members will be required to pay a onetime $20 life time membership fee and $45 dues that are payable every six months.
A second meeting for the local Toastmasters club is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at Organic Technologies, 545 Walnut St. Anyone who wants more information before then on Toastmasters is welcome to e-mail coshoctontoastmasters@gmail.com or call 740-610-0066.
Heading and Vannice were excited about everyone’s questions after the meeting and encouraged people to join them again in March.
“We are all going to be learning together,” Vannice said.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
