First published Sun, 30 Nov 2003

TRUMBULL - As Paul Bailo sailed through a series of recent contests, he was alternately expectant, surprised and excited about his successive wins. He was never, however, at a loss for words.

That wouldn't have sat too well with judges of Toastmasters International's ``Table Topics'' extemporaneous speaking competition, in which loquacious contestants are expected to hold their own verbally.

``You have to really be able to think on your feet,'' said Bailo, 38, a local resident who is a member of the Greater Stamford Chapter Club of Toastmasters International.

The organization was established 79 years ago to help members develop public speaking abilities.

``The Greater Stamford Club is one of the largest clubs in the district. We're also the most active and the most competitive club,'' said James Jorasch, president of the Greater Stamford Chapter. He said Bailo's win was well deserved.

B.K.Angeletti/For the CT Post

Big talker: Paul Bailo of Trumbull, a member of the Greater Stamford Toastmasters, shows off one of the awards he has won for public speaking.

``He's a brilliant person. He's very creative'' with his speeches, Jorasch said.

Bailo won his club's extemporaneous competition in late September. He then won an area contest and moved on to the division competition, held at Yale University in New Haven.

``That was tough. There were a lot of Yale graduates in that one,'' Bailo said. He believes he stood out from the crowd by using humor.

``I had them [judges] laughing,'' he said. In two and a half minutes, he had to discuss why ``thank you'' is an important phrase. He offered a jocular talk about people like Toastmasters members, who give of themselves without getting anything in return.

``People from my club thought it was great,'' he said. So did the judges, who awarded Bailo the first-place trophy. From there, he participated in the Nov. 8 district contest, held in Albany, N.Y., and including contestants from Connecticut, Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. He placed second, narrowly losing the top prize to Kevin Wortman of Woodbury.

For Wortman, a member of the Toastmasters West-Conn Club in Danbury, the organization has helped him overcome a fear of public speaking.

``When I joined 10 years ago, I was just a horrible, horrible speaker,'' Wortman said. ``After the first six months I began to see improvement, and it's been gradual and consistent ever since. I am a work in progress forever.''

Basic tips the organization gives for successful public speaking include greeting audience members as they arrive, thoroughly knowing subject matter, and turning nervous energy into positive energy.

Jorasch said if he had to offer only one tip, it would be to ``speak about something you're passionate about. It's infectious, and the audience can feel it.''

The first Toastmasters Club was formed in 1924 by a group of men who met regularly in a Santa Ana, Calif., YMCA basement to help each other improve their public speaking skills. The idea caught on, and in 1930 a federation was established to coordinate Toastmasters Clubs that had formed in several states. The organization became known as Toastmasters International when a club was started in Canada.

Today, there are more than 8,800 clubs with some 175,000 members in approximately 70 countries, according to the Toastmasters International Web site, www.toastmasters.org. World headquarters is in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

Locations of the more than 70 clubs in Connecticut include Bridgeport, Shelton and Trumbull. Members of the Greater Stamford Chapter Club meet each Monday evening. They pay a $16 fee for starter written materials and $5 each month. The club is open to the public, Jorasch said.

It also offers free interview-skills workshops. Bailo, a senior manager for e-business for General Electric, said he enjoys getting feedback from the Stamford Chapter Club.

They comprise a strong support system for people looking to enhance their communication skills, but they also are tough critics, he said.

``If you did a crummy job, they'll let you know. The Stamford club really tries to make you better,'' he said. ``If you're willing to stand up and give a speech, everyone is willing to help you.''

The help extends beyond verbal skills, he said. ``The people there, each is trying to become a better person. It's not just speaking. It helps you to grow, to formulate goals and achieve goals.''

To learn more about the Greater Stamford Chapter Club of Toastmasters International, call Jorasch at 461-7150, or visit the club's Web site at www.stamfordtoastmasters.com. To start a club or for other information, consult the Toastmasters International Web site at www.toastermasters.org, or call 1-800-9WE-SPEAK.