Club #5520 was recently chartered, thanks to the leadership of our President, Joel Garcia, and a strong membership.

We meet every other Thursday (First and Third) night at Healthtrax Fitness Center, 375 East Cedar Street in Newington. Visitors are encouraged to join us!

A Few Members and Guests at Our Recent Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest

If you would like to be our guest at a meeting, please contact us.

Tom Corrigan
Division C Governor

The Toastmasters Vision: Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, giving them the courage to change.

The Toastmasters Mission: Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through member clubs like ours, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking - vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leaderdhip potential, foster human understanding, and contribute the the betterment of mankind.

Tips For Successful Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here's how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:

1. Know the room. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

2. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.

3. Know your material. If you're not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.

4. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises.

5. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.

6. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to fail.

7. Don't apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience's attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep silent.

8. Concentrate on the message -- not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.

9. Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.

10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need.

VISIT A TOASTMASTERS CLUB! Toastmasters clubs meet in the morning, at noon, and in the evening in more than 60 countries worldwide. No matter where you live, work, or travel you are more than likely to find a club nearby. If you'd like to learn more about joining Toastmasters, follow the How to Become a Member link or send us e-mail.