Thank you for your interest in TASC Toastmasters. This sheet covers some of the basic questions that you may have about Toastmasters International and our club.
What is Toastmasters?
Toastmasters International (TI) is the world’s largest non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping people improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. Since the first Toastmasters club was chartered in California in 1924, the organization has grown to include over 11,300 clubs in 90 countries. Today, more than 220,000 people are proud to be Toastmasters!
How can Toastmasters benefit me?
Toastmasters can benefit you in many ways, including the following:
• Become a confident and persuasive speaker in front of small or large groups.
• Improve your ability to ‘improv’ and think/speak on your feet.
• Develop leadership skills by serving in meeting roles or officer positions, and by coordinating club events
What goes on at each club meeting?
A Toastmasters club is a laboratory for self-development, with a friendly, supportive environment that promotes growth and learning. While the format of each club differs in some ways, every meeting contains speeches, speech evaluations, and “Table Topics” (the opportunity to “speak off the cuff”). Prepared speeches are based on assignments in the Toastmasters Communication and Leadership basic and advanced manuals. Meeting roles are assigned to moderate meeting functions (such as Speech Timer) and to improve speaking styles (such as Grammarian and ‘Ah’ Counter). These roles are volunteer opportunities and are rotated among the members to provide a variety of experiences.
When and where does TASC Toastmasters meet?
The TASC Toastmasters club meets every Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m (bring your lunch!). Meetings are held at 15036 Conference Center Drive, Chantilly, Virginia, 20151 (USA), in conference room W1213 of the Independence Center building. We follow a similar structure for every meeting: we open with a Humorist and a Word of The Day, have two or three prepared speeches, a round of Table Topics, speech and meeting evaluations, and reports on grammar and time usage. We close the meeting with a short business session.
Who may join TASC Toastmasters?
A TI club is open to anyone (18 and over) with an interest in improving their communication and leadership skills. The person should also be willing to prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments, provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations, and to attend meetings regularly (note: don’t worry if you can’t make every meeting!). Lastly, although there are Toastmasters clubs all over the world, the sponsor of our club and the provider of our meeting location, TASC, Inc., requires Independence Center visitors to hold US citizenship.
Are visitors expected to participate during the meeting?
You may be asked to introduce yourself at the beginning of the meeting as well as give us your impression of the club at the end of the meeting. You will also be offered a chance to participate in Table Topics, the impromptu speaking portion of our meeting, but you are not obligated to join in.
How much does it cost to join?
Toastmasters membership is extremely reasonable. Compare the costs below to other public speaking/leadership programs:
• A one-time, new member fee of $20 covers the cost of your Competent Communicator and Leadership manuals and the monthly Toastmasters magazine
• Semi-annual membership dues are $39 (pro-rated depending on date of application) per 6 months. Membership dues are composed of Toastmasters International dues of $4.50 per month and club dues of $2.00 per month. Club dues are used to pay for this website, refreshments and materials during club events, and other club materials.
How do I join and what happens after that?
Joining Toastmasters is easy and takes place through a local club. An application form will be in your Visitor’s Packet or can be provided by any club member. Complete the application and submit it at any of our weekly club meetings or contact us for other options. You will receive a member’s package from Toastmasters International within one to two weeks containing your speech and leadership manuals, education materials, and your first Toastmasters magazine.
A veteran Toastmaster will be assigned to help you progress through the Toastmasters program and to mentor you through your first few speech projects. Most people give their first speech project, The Ice Breaker, within the first month. Volunteer for one of the easier meeting roles when you feel ready, such as the Word of The Day or ‘Ah-Counter’, and increase your participation as you gain confidence.
Please feel free to contact our club officers, members or Toastmasters International with any other questions.
We hope to see you at a future meeting!