Maybe they come to network, improve their self-confidence and public speaking skills, polish their leadership skills and add equity to their resume, or simply to make friends. Whatever the reason, the Homestead Toastmasters club rivals the United Nations on any given Tuesday morning.’
The makeup of a meeting varies from week to week, because Toastmasters is a self-paced, experiential program that accommodates busy members, but it always includes international voices.
During a recent open house, speaking in beautifully accented British English, a guest participated in a part of the meeting called Table Topics. Given an extemporaneous topic, she described “customer service” as she experienced it in her native Nigeria, to the delight of the meeting attendees.
She was followed by a member who hails from Jamaica, a guest from Spain and several bi-lingual Americans. As a hotbed for northerners fleeing the cold weather, a typical Homestead Toastmasters meeting may also include the twang of the Midwest or the unmistakable accent of New York or Boston.
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, the organization has more than 313,000 memberships in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in their personal and business life, and especially in front of an audience.
While they come from all corners of the country and the globe, and encompass all demographics, Toastmasters share a common desire to help each other in a safe, supportive and fun atmosphere. If you are looking for world class personal development in your own backyard, check out Toastmasters.
Homestead Toastmasters meets every Tuesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., at the Community Bank, 28801 SW 157 Ave in Homestead. Guests always are welcome.
For information about Toastmasters visit online at www.Toastmasters.org or www.HomesteadToastmasters.com or contact Karen Baetzel, vice president of public relations at truebattleaxe@mac.com.
