Toastmasters International -

My Toastmasters club meeting is something I look forward to every week. It’s a place where I connect with old friends, make new ones, and experience remarkable speeches that are both entertaining and educational. Every meeting offers the opportunity to learn something new, whether it’s about the speaker or the topic they present.

What stands out most in these meetings is the diversity of members. Some are seasoned speakers, while others may be at the beginning of their journey, still finding their comfort in speaking before an audience.

Yet, within just six months of active participation, the transformation is undeniable. Members who were once reserved become more confident, engage more actively, and show clear improvements in their self-esteem and communication skills. “Toastmasters changed my life” is a common sentiment among longtime Toastmasters.

Another common refrain you hear from those who see the value of Toastmasters, myself included, is, “I wish I had found Toastmasters sooner.” One of the silver linings of the COVID pandemic is that we’ve expanded our skills and adapted to new ways of meeting. Now meetings can be held in person, online, or in hybrid formats. This increased flexibility means that anyone can join Toastmasters.

For those skeptical about whether public speaking skills can truly be developed through online meetings, I like to share this story of a fellow club member who joined just before the pandemic.

A common refrain you hear from those who see the value of Toastmasters, myself included, is, “I wish I had found Toastmasters sooner."

He had attended only a few in-person meetings before we transitioned entirely to virtual sessions, so his Toastmasters journey was entirely online using the Pathways program. Barely a year and a half after he joined, the state of New Jersey (where our club meets) lifted its pandemic restrictions. He was then asked to officiate his niece’s wedding, which had over 100 guests.

The ceremony was a huge success, and he later wrote to me and the club officers with the subject line, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” He mentioned receiving numerous compliments, including from his wife. As he shared in his email, “My wife, with whom I shared no info beforehand, was particularly effusive in her praise. It was very nice, though a little irksome how surprised she was regarding how well I did! To be fair, she hasn’t seen firsthand how much Toastmasters has helped me.”

Fellow Toastmasters, we all know Toastmasters works! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take the Plus One Pledge and help spread the benefits of this amazing program to even more people!