Eastside Toastmasters

About the Eastside Toastmasters

• Meeting Times: Every Friday 7:15 p.m.
• Location: 92NY (1395 Lexington Ave, 92nd street)
• Membership Restriction: None; the club is open to all interested parties.
• Before visiting, please contact us at eastsidetoastmasters92@gmail.com to inquire about space availability.

The Eastside is one of Manhattan's Toastmasters clubs holding weekly in-person meetings every Friday. This format provides a valuable chance to enhance your communication skills and expand your professional network.
We provide a unique opportunity to sharpen your communication skills and actively grow your professional network through face-to-face interaction. Our mission is to create a vibrant, encouraging space where progressive activists and professionals can strengthen their voices and leadership abilities, leading to a direct boost in personal confidence and growth.

What to expect with your free club visit
Before visiting, please contact us at eastsidetoastmasters92@gmail.com to inquire about space availability. The seats are limited, and we don't want to have too many guests at one meeting because we need to guarantee existing members' right to speak.
Be On Time! The meeting starts at 7:15 PM, so please plan to arrive by 7:05 PM to greet other members and get used to the atmosphere. If you expect to arrive after 7:05 PM or after the meeting starts, please do not come on that date or do not enter the room in the middle of the meeting. Later, email us to arrange a visit for a different date.
When you visit a Toastmasters club as a guest, you will be invited to the stage at the start of the meeting to briefly introduce yourself to the audience. While we do not pressure guests to participate in Table Topics on their first visit, we certainly encourage you to try! Every club is unique; please visit as many as you like to find the right fit for you.

FAQ
What should I prepare for the first meeting? Should I pay?
The cost to visit a meeting as a guest is free.
As a guest, you'll introduce yourself to the audience at the start of the meeting. You're also welcome to participate in Table Topics. We want you to be completely comfortable with our meeting format before you register as a member. Once you join, you can take on meeting roles or deliver prepared speeches.
How can I be a member of the Eastside Toastmasters
We encourage you to attend our meetings as a guest at least three times before making a decision. When you are ready, you can find the VP Membership to fill out the form and complete your registration.

What does it cost after being a member?
Toastmasters International membership dues are $60 every six months and the club dues $60 every six months. (As we rent a meeting room, we collect the club dues.) Toastmasters dues are due twice a year. New members also pay a one-time $25 new member fee.
Dues period

• October 1 ~ March 31: Dues are due by September 30.
• April 1 ~ September 30: Dues are due by March 31.

If you join the club mid-dues cycle, you will pay a pro-rated portion of the dues for that period. For example, if you join the Eastside in August:
As of the date you join, you will pay a $25 new member fee, plus a pro-rated amount of $40 ($20 for Toastmasters International and $20 for the club) to cover August and September.
In September, you will then need to pay $120 ($60 for Toastmasters International dues + $60 club fee) to cover the next full period, from October 1st through March 31st.

Do the Eastside members provide a warm atmosphere for guests? How many people attend the meeting usually? Does the Eastside have happy hour or social activities outside the Toastmasters meetings?
When you visit the Eastside as a guest, members and other leaders will greet you warmly with a smile and ask your name. We endeavor to provide a comfortable and warm atmosphere for you. About 20 to 25 people attend every meeting.
After the meeting, folks head over to the Barking Dog (two blocks away from the meeting place) to snack and schmooze. We have a social chair designated to take you to the Barking Dog and help you feel part of our friendship (Participation in the social round is not mandatory). Also, we open social events like summer and holiday parties.

If I have additional questions, can I email and ask?
Rather than inquiring via email, we encourage you to attend the meeting as a guest first. (For now, email is the method you can use only to inquire about visiting our meetings on a specific date.) You can experience the club firsthand and ask any questions you have to our members after the meeting. Of course, you can also use Google or an AI tool to find answers to your questions.

Why does the Eastside Toastmasters Meetup page not have the 'Join this group' or 'Attend' functions activated? Can I RSVP to indicate my attendance status, "Yes”?
We are currently testing this Meetup service to advertise our club and provide information to potential guests. We are always open to and welcome visitors, but we aim to attract more committed guests. We also need to manage the number of attendees, as we don't know the level of interest the Eastside will generate. If you are interested in visiting the Eastside, please email us first at eastsidetoastmasters92@gmail.com inquire about space availability.