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What is
Toastmasters?
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational corporation headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Its mission is to improve communication and leadership skills of its members. Improving public speaking skills is a key element
but there is also a potent leadership and management aspect. The organization
has over 9,300 clubs worldwide and 195,000 members. For more information how our club fits into all of this, check out our Big
Picture page.
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Why is it called Toastmasters?
The name "Toastmasters" reflects the origins of the organization in the early 1920s - a time when after dinner speaking was one of the most common forms of public speaking. Today, Toastmasters has taken on the more modern requirements of public speaking: sales calls, training seminars, business presentations, school presentations, etc. Think of Toastmasters as a public speaking practice session. No need to bring a bottle of wine!
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What is the mission of a Toastmasters club?
"The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a supportive learning environment for its members to develop public speaking and leadership skills, which foster self-confidence and personal growth."
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What kind of people join
Toastmasters?
We have members of all ages
and occupations, from students to sales executives to retirees. Many of our
members received a new assignment at work and now must make periodic
presentations, so they come to the club for practice. Check out our club stats page for additional information about the
makeup our club.
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What
is special about the Greater Stamford Toastmasters Club?
There are many reasons why the
Greater Stamford Toastmasters is such a unique chapter. First, our chapter is
one of the most active clubs in Connecticut. We are one of the very few clubs
with an active and large enough member base to meet on a weekly basis. This is evidenced by the fact that our meetings usually have 20 to 35 people in attendance. The club also has had consistently strong results in competitions, garnering more District
level trophies than any other club in Connecticut.
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Does the Greater Stamford Toastmasters have a motto or by-line?
Yes, our club always strives to
be the "Best Damn Club on the Planet" or BDCP
for short.
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What type of organization is the Greater Stamford Toastmasters?
The Greater Stamford Toastmasters
is registered with the federal government as a non-profit organization. Our club
is dedicated to the ongoing development of communication and leadership skills of all club members through written and verbal feedback, a supportive audience, advanced technologies, and challenging opportunities. The club strives to maintain a strong presence in all speaking contests, and encourages members to reach out to the Stamford Community through programs such as Youth Leadership.
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Who are the current club leaders?
Please check out our club officers page for more information about these individuals and their positions.
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How many members do you
have?
We have enough to have about 20 to
35 individuals attending each week. And according to
the folks at Toastmasters International we are one of the Top 25 clubs worldwide(of 9300 clubs) in terms of membership base! Snoop around our club stats page for additional information about the makeup our club.
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Do you have any other statistics available
on your club?
Please check out our club statistics page for more information.
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Are there any other clubs that
might be closer to my home or work?
To find other clubs in the area check our Big Picture page.
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Does your club have a mentor program?
We have a number of senior
members who would be happy to mentor new speakers.
They can help you come up with topics, organize your speech, and provide support when
you give the speech.
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Can your club record my speeches?
Yes, we are probably one of the
few clubs in the country that can video record all your speeches. Check out
all the details on our Video Program page.
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Does Greater Stamford
Toastmasters have a Privacy Policy?
Absolutely. Your e-mail will
never be sold to another company, and will never be provided to another
member unless you want to allow it. Your contact info will not be provided
to any other members unless you specifically authorize it.
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When will the next meeting be held?
Meetings are held every Tuesday,with the exception of some holidays. Check our schedule page for the latest information on our meeting dates and special events for the next three months. We also send announcements of our meetings and special events via our Yahoo Group, click the button to the upper right to join our group.
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Where are meetings held?
They are held in the Equity Office Building directly across the driveway from the Stamford Marriott. The street address is: One Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901. Our meetings
are held on the second floor in the "Community Room".
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Do you have directions to the meeting?
Yes we do! Even a basic map for
parking alternatives. Please check our directions page
for complete details.
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What happens at a meeting?
The first half of the meeting
is devoted to scheduled speeches by members. A typical night has four speakers
each giving a 5 to 7 minute speech. This is followed by a 10 minute networking
break where you can talk with other members and enjoy refreshments. The second
half of the meeting is devoted to Table Topics in which members and their
guests volunteer to give a 1 to 2 minute extemporaneous
talk on a topic provided to them. The meeting concludes with evaluations of the
scheduled speakers. Please peruse our meeting agenda page
for a minute by minute breakdown of a typical meeting.
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Is there a dress code for your club
meetings?
While we won't kick anyone out for wearing jeans and a t-shirt, a professional appearance can have a significant positive effect on the way the audience perceives a speaker. Our members take pride in projecting confidence while speaking, and business casual is the most common style of dress.
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Is there anything that I can do to help out at a meeting?
Absolutely!!
We can always use help in setting up the room for our meetings. What is involved
in setting up the room? Read our setup checklist
for complete details. During the meeting, there are a variety of roles that
we need individuals to fulfill. Check our meeting role descriptions for more information. We always appreciate everyone's efforts
in running a successful Toastmasters meeting.
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I have a busy work schedule.
Do I have to come to every meeting?
No, you can attend as many
or as few as you would like. Club members are encouraged to attend regularly,
however, as frequent practice is important to foster improvement in speaking
ability.
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Where can I
park?
The parking garage on the
first floor of the building charges $3 for the evening. Alternative parking
is available across the street at the Stamford Town Center (Stamford Mall)
within five minutes walk. Please check our directions page
for more detailed directions
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Are refreshments
provided?
Most meetings include
refreshments during the networking break. These are brought in by members
(one person volunteers each week), and the expense is reimbursable up to
$8 per meeting. Please check with the current
Treasurer for additional details.
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How much does it cost to
join?
There is a $16 charge for new
member materials, and a $5 fee for each full month of membership between the
time you join and the end of October. The new member fee and $3/month goes to
Toastmasters International, and the club retains the remainder to cover
operational costs (e.g. awards, ballots, contest expenses). Toastmasters issues
semi-annual memberships that expire at the end of March or September. If we had our preference
we would rather people pay through September, which is regular end for Annual Memberships.
So let's see how much it would cost from any given month:
| Month |
New Membership Thru March 31 |
New Membership Thru September 30 |
|
January |
$31 |
$61
|
|
February |
$26 |
$56
|
|
March |
$21 |
$51
|
|
April |
$76 |
$46
|
|
May |
$71 |
$41
|
|
June |
$66 |
$36
|
|
July |
$61 |
$31
|
|
August |
$56 |
$26
|
|
September |
$51 |
$21
|
|
October |
$46 |
$76
|
|
November |
$41 |
$71
|
|
December |
$36 |
$66
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And for existing Toastmaster members ...
| Month |
Existing Member, Thru March 31 |
Existing Member, Thru September 30 |
|
January |
$15 |
$45
|
|
February |
$10 |
$40
|
|
March |
$5 |
$35
|
|
April |
$60 |
$30
|
|
May |
$55 |
$25
|
|
June |
$50 |
$20
|
|
July |
$45 |
$15
|
|
August |
$40 |
$10
|
|
September |
$35 |
$5
|
|
October |
$30 |
$60
|
|
November |
$25 |
$55
|
|
December |
$20 |
$50
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How do I pay?
Make your check payable
to “Greater Stamford Toastmasters.” Checks can be:
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What do I get for my
membership?
You get a packet of materials
to help guide you through your first ten speeches, a subscription to
“The Toastmaster” magazine, and a welcome package of materials from the club
to get you started. Here are some of the other benefits
of joining:
- Constructive evaluations
to help you develop your skills.
- Positive support in a warm,
friendly atmosphere.
- Refreshments are usually
provided.
- Leadership Opportunities
within the club, as well as the larger District area of surrounding Toastmaster
groups.
- Lasting friendships
through insightful and meaningful interactions.
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When will I get my membership kit?
It usually takes about 4 to
6 weeks for the materials to arrive from the date that you submit your
membership form. For those who want to get started right away, club officers have a copy of the guidelines for the first three speeches.
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If I join, will you make me
speak right away?
No. You will not be asked to
speak unless you're ready to, although you will probably find that the
supportive atmosphere helps to melt away those first speech butterflies. Our
club attempts to arrange the meeting schedules in such a way that most members
are involved in some capacity at each meeting,
so just let one of the officers know what your
comfort level is.
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What if I have no experience
at public speaking or making presentations?
We all had to start somewhere.
The Stamford Chapter has a wide range of abilities within its membership. During
any given meeting, there will be some very experienced speakers as well as new
members with very limited experience. Perhaps the biggest fear many people have
is speaking before a group. One of the objectives of Toastmasters is to help
members to understand this and to provide them with the "laboratory" to bring
this fear under control.
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Do I get to choose the topics
of my speeches?
Yes, you can speak on any subject.
But to help guide your development, there is a ten speech program designed to
develop particular speaking skills. You begin by talking about yourself, and
then progress to more difficult speeches.We have a collection of Internet links if you need help choosing a topic.
As well as information about various performing arts classes occurring in the local area.
| Speech
# - Title |
Duration in Minutes |
Objective
of Speech |
| 1. Ice
Breaker |
4 - 6 |
Introduce
yourself to the club |
| 2. Speak
with Sincerity |
5 - 7 |
To show
sincerity / earnestness |
| 3.
Organize your Speech |
4 - 6 |
Organization / construction |
| 4.
Show What You Mean |
5 - 7 |
Gestures and body movements |
| 5.
Vocal Variety |
5 - 7 |
Voice volume, pitch, rate, quality |
| 6.
Work with Words |
5 - 7 |
Precision in word choice |
| 7.
Apply your Skills |
5 - 7 |
Combining all learned skills together |
| 8.
Add Impact to your Speech |
5 - 7 |
Props and visual aids |
| 9.
Persuade with Power |
5 - 7 |
Persuasion |
| 10.
Inspire your Audience |
8 - 10 |
Inspiration |
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How will I know how well
I’m doing?
After each speech completed
you will be evaluated by a fellow member. Our evaluations are constructive
and supportive, seeking to encourage you along your journey of self
development. A good evaluation will give you one or two tips to keep in mind
for enhancing your next speech.
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Are there any leadership
opportunities?
Yes, Toastmasters has a
rigorous program for helping members develop leadership
skills. Members have many opportunities to take on different
roles at every meeting and help it to be successful.
More experienced members can take on officer roles,
both at the club level and at Area and District levels.
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How can I find out what all these Toastmaster designations mean (DCP, CTM, CL, etc)?
Please check our
glossary page for more information. This almost
comprehensive resource is constantly being updated with new Toastmasters and club
terms and designations.
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Who can I go to if I have more
questions?
Any of the Greater Stamford Toastmasters Club Officers should be able to answer all
of your questions.
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