Introduction to Toastmasters International

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Introduction to Toastmasters International
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A Brief History of the Toastmasters Program

• In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr.
  Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA
  in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club
  to afford practice and training in the art of
  public speaking and in presiding over meetings,
  and to promote sociability and good fellowship
  among its members. The group took the name
  Toastmasters.

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A Brief History of the Toastmasters Program

• By 1930, a federation was necessary to coordinate
  activities of the many clubs and to provide a
  standard program. When a speaking club in New
  Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, expressed
  interest in forming a Toastmasters club, the
  group became known as Toastmasters International.

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A Brief History of the Toastmasters Program

• In 1962, the Toastmasters International staff
  moved to its first World Headquarters building in
  Santa Ana, California, not far from where the
  first club began.

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A Brief History of the Toastmasters Program

• In 1990 World Headquarters relocated to a new
  building in Rancho Santa Margarita, designed to
  accommodate Toastmasters Internationals expected
  growth well into the 21st century.

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A Brief History of the Toastmasters Program

• Toastmasters International enters the new century
  as the undisputed world leader in public speaking
  training,  with over 10,500 clubs and more than
  200,000 members in approximately 90 countries.

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How Toastmasters Can Help You

• Your success in business is based on how
  effective you are.
• Through participation in the Toastmasters
  program, people from all backgrounds learn to
  effectively speak, conduct meetings, manage a
  department or business, lead, delegate and
  motivate.

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How Toastmasters Meets Your Needs

• Toastmasters International uses time-tested
  programs that are continually updated to meet
  participants needs.
• Self-paced programs allow you to progress as
  rapidly or as gradually as your needs dictate.
• The hands-on Competent Communication and
  Competent Leadership programs provide the
  how-to and the practical experience so critical
  to progress.

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How Toastmasters Meets Your Needs

• Toastmasters clubs meet at various locations in
  the morning, at noon and in the evening. Youre
  sure to find a club that fits your schedule.
• The Toastmasters program is cost-effective,
  especially when compared to seminars charging
  hundreds of dollars per day.
• There is a U.S. 20 new member fee and 27 dues
  every six months. Clubs may also assess local
  dues to cover local expenses.

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How Toastmasters Meets Your Needs

• An atmosphere of professional camaraderie makes
  your Toastmasters club a unique learning
  environmentinformal, yet dedicated to learning.
• The Toastmasters program can be tailored to meet
  your personal objectives. Whether you want
  improvement in prepared or impromptu speaking or
  greater skill in the use of visual aids, youll
  gain experience and knowledge.

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How Toastmasters Works

• As your improved communication skills become
  obvious within the workplace, increased
  visibility, recognition and promotion will
  follow.
• Your improved presentation skills will win you
  the respect and admiration of your colleagues and
  employeesand make them wonder what you did to
  change!

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How Toastmasters Works

• Leadership skills acquired through participation
  in Toastmasters will increase your management
  potential.
• You will acquire an increased ability to motivate
  and persuade, making you more effective as a
  supervisor or manager.
• Youll have access to a wide range of educational
  materials, including books, CDs, DVDs and seminar
  programs, available at reduced cost through the
  Toastmasters International Supply Catalog.

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Become the Speaker and Leader You Want to Be

• Toastmasters offers a proven way to improve
  your communication skills. By participating in a
  fun and supportive Toastmasters group, you'll
  become a better speaker and leader and gain
  confidence to succeed in whatever path you've
  chosen in life.

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Become the Speaker and Leader You Want to Be

• Deliver great presentations
• Easily lead teams and conduct meetings
• Give and receive constructive evaluations
• Be a better listener

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How the Program Works

• The Toastmasters program exposes each participant
  to a wide range of communication and leadership
  experiences.
• Each new member receives a New Member Kit which
  includes the Competent Communication and
  Competent Leadership manuals, general orientation
  materials, and helpful booklets on evaluation,
  using gestures and vocal variety.

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How the Program Works

• If you want to focus on improving your speaking
  skills, youll want to work in the Competent
  Communication manual. If you prefer to develop
  your leadership skills first, you may work in the
  Competent Leadership manual. Or you may work in
  both manuals at the same time. The choice is
  yours.

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How the Program Works

• Each of the projects in the Competent
  Communication and Competent Leadership manuals
  focuses on developing a specific speaking or
  leadership skill.
• After completing each project in the manuals,
  youll receive a constructive evaluation that
  will recognize your strengths and offer
  suggestions for improvement.

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How the Program Works

• Youll have the opportunity to participate in the
  advanced communication and advanced leadership
  programs, where you can further refine your
  communication and leadership skills. The advanced
  communication program features 15 manuals on such
  topics as public relations, management and
  technical presentations. The advanced leadership
  program gives you the opportunity to serve in
  leadership positions at the club and district
  levels, where you learn how to motivate and lead
  others to achieve goals.

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The Vision of Toastmasters International

• Toastmasters International empowers people to
  achieve their full potential and realize their
  dreams. Through our member clubs, people
  throughout the world can improve their
  communication and leadership skills, and find the
  courage to change.

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The Mission of Toastmasters International

• Toastmasters International is the leading
  movement devoted to making effective oral
  communication a worldwide reality.

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The Mission of Toastmasters International

• Through its member clubs, Toastmasters
  International helps men and women learn the arts
  of speaking, listening and thinking vital
  skills that promote self-actualization, enhance
  leadership, foster human understanding and
  contribute to the betterment of mankind.

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The Mission of Toastmasters International

• It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters
  International continually expand its worldwide
  network of clubs, thereby offering ever-greater
  numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from
  its programs.

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The Mission of the Club

• The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide
  a mutually supportive and positive learning
  environment in which every member has the
  opportunity to develop communication and
  leadership skills, which in turn foster
  self-confidence and personal growth.

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The Mission of the District

• The mission of the district is to enhance the
  performance and extend the network of clubs,
  thereby offering greater numbers of people the
  opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters
  educational program by
• Focusing on the critical success factors as
  specified by the district educational and
  membership goals.
• Ensuring that each club effectively fulfills its
  responsibilities to its members.
• Providing effective training and leadership
  opportunities for club and district officers.

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The Values of Toastmasters International

• Toastmasters Internationals core values are
  integrity, dedication to excellence, service to
  the member and respect for the individual. These
  are values worthy of a great organization, and we
  believe we should incorporate them as anchor
  points in every decision we make. Our core values
  provide us with a means of not only guiding but
  also evaluating our operations, our planning and
  our vision for the future.

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6 OBJECTIVES, 30 STRATEGIES, 5 LONG-TERM
ENABLERS(long-term enablers are in italicized
text)

1. Consistently achieve membership growth.
2. Increase the recognition of Toastmasters
   International as expert in the fields of
   communication and leadership.
3. Become as well known for leadership development
   as for communication development.

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6 OBJECTIVES, 30 STRATEGIES, 5 LONG-TERM
ENABLERS(long-term enablers are in italicized
text)

1. Provide programs that are adaptable for different
   generations and cultures, and for emerging
   technologies.
2. Achieve global market penetration.
3. Achieve excellence in the quality and consistency
   of programs, products, processes and services
   throughout the organization.

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1. Consistently achieve membership growth.

• Increase retention of existing members.
• Increase recruitment of new members.
• Explore new mechanisms for building new clubs.
• Increase retention of existing clubs.
• Explore opportunities for the youth market.
• Increase visibility and accessibility of clubs.

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2. Increase the recognition of Toastmasters
International as expert in the fields of
communication and leadership.

• Devise mechanisms to partner with corporations.
• Develop new models to provide materials to human
  resource professionals.
• Create strong branding and consistent marketing
  initiatives.
• Explore the creation of certificate programs for
  communication and leadership skills.
• Devise mechanisms to create awareness of our
  expertise.

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3. Become as well known for leadership
development as for communication development.

• Develop a structured leadership skills program.
• Explore the opportunities for marketing selected
  materials outside the organization.
• Explore licensing of materials to universities
  and other organizations.
• Develop mechanisms to create awareness of
  leadership program.

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4. Provide programs that are adaptable for
different generations and cultures, and for
emerging technologies.

• Explore new materials and varied media.
• Explore different models of delivering program
  for various markets, including youth,
  corporations, etc.
• Develop strategic alliances with organizations
  and associations.
• Update existing materials to reflect contemporary
  usage and expectations.
• Use technology to provide online resources and
  support.

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5. Achieve global market penetration.

• Create alliances with major international
  corporations and associations to grow
  Toastmasters outside North America.
• Leverage relationships with individuals and
  organizations (e.g. existing Toastmasters who
  work or live in other than their home country).
• Seek nontraditional approaches to promoting TI
  program in developing nations.
• Work with governments that have declared English
  as a second language.
• Send ambassadors to emerging markets to stimulate
  growth.

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6. Achieve excellence in the quality and
consistency of programs, products, processes and
services throughout the organization.

1. Ensure that programs, products, processes and
   services evolve to meet strategic objectives.
2. Create a culture of continuous improvement.
3. Create a service orientation at every level of
   the organization.
4. Core values, integrity, dedication to excellence,
   respect for the individual, service to the
   member, will permeate all our activities.
5. Enhance the culture of teamwork among volunteer
   leaders, members and World Headquartersstaff.

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Big Audacious Goal

• Toastmasters International is recognized
  throughout the world as the undisputed expertin
  communication and leadership skills development.

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Mega Issues

• Time
• Generational Differences
• Cultural Differences
• Technology

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How Toastmasters works.

• Conducting meetings.
• Short business session
• Impromptu speeches
• Prepared speeches
• Offering constructive evaluation.
• Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator
  who points out speech strengths and offers
  suggestions for improvement.