By Hanna Perry, Contributing Writer
What is Toastmasters International?
Have you ever been nervous when you were presenting something for a class or giving a speech? If your answer to this question is yes then I think that there is an organization that may help you.
The organization is known as Toastmasters International and it is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping people with their public speaking skills.
Although you might be hesitant to check out Toastmasters International, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed if you decide to attend a meeting sometime.
When I first found out about Toastmasters International, I was immediately interested in attending a meeting because back in high school I was a member of the Wheeling Park High School Speech and Debate Team and I wanted to find another public speaking outlet because currently West Liberty has neither a speech or debate team so Toastmasters has become one of my new favorite organizations that I am a part of.
Back in July, I became the new Vice President of Public Relations for the West Liberty University Toastmasters International Club. I am often asked by friends and relatives of mine to explain what Toastmasters is, so I thought that the best way to answer that question was to reach out to the public to tell them about it.
According to toastmasters.org, “Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.”
Another thing that I am often asked by people is whether or not you have to be a student at West Liberty University. The answer to that question is no because anybody is welcome to come to a meeting to see what Toastmasters is.
The West Liberty University Toastmasters International club meets every other Monday night. Meetings begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. and they last until about 7:30 p.m.
Our meetings are held at the West Liberty University Highlands Center and they are free to anybody in the public who is interested in coming to check out the club.
Our club is always looking for new members to come to our meetings. If you end up becoming a member of Toastmasters International, then there will be a membership fee that you will have to pay every six months.
If you or someone you know would like to become a part of Toastmasters International, then you can log onto its website and you can find out more about the organization or you could join us at our next meeting that is taking place on Nov. 26.
The first meeting is completely free and if you think that Toastmasters might be a great club for you to join, then at the end of the meeting you will be given the opportunity to pay club dues in order to become a member.
