Local Toastmasters club celebrates 25th anniversary and seeks new members
Are you looking to hone your public speaking skills, for a job interview or to be more successful in your current career?
Members of the Local Toastmasters Club 5701, which meets at Lee County Electric Cooperative corporate offices in North Fort Myers, recently celebrated the club’s 25th anniversary and are recruiting new members to help with speaking skills.
They generally meet every second and fourth Wednesday, but this month, they will meet again Thursday, Oct 28, because many are committed to the United Way kick-off.
The meetings are noon to 1 p.m., and many bring their lunches while learning public speaking skills.
While it is held at LCEC headquarters, you don’t have to be an LCEC employee to attend. Many from other businesses said it was a welcoming atmosphere.
“We are celebrating our Silver Anniversary here at LCEC – and that is very special,” said President and Toastmaster of the local branch Dianne Lawrence.
LCEC CFO Denise Vidal gave a greatly humorous and informative speech about the importance of great speaking skills, with a fast paced slide presentation. It kept the many guests attention, many said.
“Toastmasters makes learning fun,” was her main comment. “We also laugh a lot.”
There are numerous speaking techniques at the meetings, including “Table Topics” where speakers are asked to do a one to two minute talk on a subject. “Speakers never know the topics,” said Lawrence.
“We want everyone to participate in our meetings, and you learn to speak on your feet,” said the group’s Vice President of Public Relations Melissa Miller.
They even have a counter, who keeps tabs of speech flaws such as how many times a speaker does the faux pas of ums and ahs.
Yet they do it non-threatening way. “The reason Toastmasters is so great is that it is a non-threatening atmosphere. We don’t criticize or judge,” said Lawrence.
LCEC’s Aaron Warner, a wonderful speaker in his own right, had a tough time critiquing Vidal’s speech.
“She was impeccable,” he said. “It was what we call PechaKucha.”
By definition, PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds.
“She did it with slides in exactly 10 minutes, her allotted time.”
“We are really encouraging more to join our club,” said Miller.
For more information, e-mail melissa.miller@lcec.net or call 656-2363.