District 19 Toastmasters is a family. We support fellow members, cheer with our accomplishments, give encouragement when our endeavors are less than desired. There is camaraderie and mentoring that is not found in other organizations. Without Toastmasters I doubt I could have accomplished many of the things I have tried and succeeded. 

My goal in joining Toastmasters was to become more comfortable speaking in front of a group of individuals – whether it was at a department meeting or giving a toast at a friends’ birthday party.  I was not familiar with the speaking options for Toastmasters, so it was a pleasant surprise to learn I did not have to give a speech every week and that I was able to customize my journey to fit my personal and professional goals.  One of the unintended side benefits that I have had with joining Toastmasters is the ability to network with various people across the company and other Toastmaster clubs.  This group is very supportive and wants to help you reach your goals. 

I love Toastmasters because it fosters an inclusive environment with opportunities for each member to grow both personally and professionally. Toastmasters self-paced programs are designed to meet each member where they are, regardless of the level of skill or experience. The programs cater to member needs whether the goal is to develop your own skills – or utilize them to inspire others. 

I have only been in Toastmasters a short time (in fact, I just officially paid my dues). I like the fact that people from different backgrounds come together once a week with the intention of bettering themselves. Pathways is particularly exciting to me because it allows me to pursue the idea of Public Speaking as an income stream and to add credibility to my future goals. 

I joined Toastmasters for the friendships I wanted to develop.  I quickly learned that through Toastmasters I could learn to be a leader.  As someone who is an extrovert working retail, the speaking didn’t seem to be as crucial.  However, no matter how much an extrovert I was, I was not a leader.  Now I am!