Patuxent Toastmasters leadership and communication skills meeting.

WELCOME TO PATUXENT TOASTMASTERS

The mission of the Patuxent Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop both communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

See Below for the perfect wedding toasts......courtesy of Toastmasters International

Patuxent Toastmasters Club meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month. Regular meetings start promptly at 7:30 PM at the historic Oliver's Carriage House in downtown Columbia.

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Oliver's Carriage house is located at 5410 Leaf Treader Way, Columbia, MD.

MAP (http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LjU0MTAlMmJMZWFmJTJiVHJlYWRlciUyYldheSUyNTJjJTJiQ29sdW1iaWElMjUyYyUyYk1EJTdlc3N0LjAlN2VwZy4xJmJiPTM5LjIyNzgyMDY4MDU)

All are welcome. Our club offers a diverse learning environment. We have members from many different walks of life, ethnicities, religions and nationalities. Although we meet in a community church, our club has no religious affiliations.

Holiday 2012 Club photo

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Tips for Perfect Wedding Toasts from Toastmasters How to honor the newlyweds with style http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnthumb/20130701/LA40555 (http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130701/LA40555)http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnthumb/20130222/MM64912LOGO (http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130222/MM64912LOGO)

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire (http://www.prnewswire.com/)/ -- Summer is wedding season, and with weddings come opportunities for the best man and others to honor the happy couple with a traditional toast. Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/), the global organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development, offers proven tips for delivering a memorable toast with confidence and finesse.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130701/LA40555 )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130222/MM64912LOGO )

The most important piece of advice: Keep it personal and be sincere. "Speaking from the heart is the key to a great toast," says John Lau, president of Toastmasters International. Consider sharing a personal anecdote or story that highlights the bond between the blissfully wedded couple. The toast should focus on the newlyweds, not on the speaker.

For more on toasting tips, view the Toastmasters video How to Give a Toast. Weddings aren't the only opportunity for a toast; here are some proven pointers on how to give a memorable toast for any special occasion:

Be prepared. The best toasts include an opening, a body and conclusion. Get personal. A toast should be original, heartfelt and customized for the occasion. Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your message in advance in front of a friend or group. Use humor, but make it tasteful and appropriate. Don't use potentially offensive or embarrassing language. Be creative. Avoid cliches and consider using a relevant quote to illustrate your words. Be brief. A toast should last no longer than three minutes. Stand, lift your filled glass by the stem and say, "I'd like to propose a toast." Pause to allow guests to shift their attention toward you and give them time to lift their glasses. When you start speaking, lower your glass to about waist height. Limit alcohol consumption. The toast sets the tone for the wedding, so you want to be in top form when delivering it.