Are you ready to UP your Leadership & Public Speaking skills ? Begin today!

Summer schedule!
Starting July 9th 2023 till September 11th 2023, meetings will be bi-weekly

Learn Public Speaking, Leadership and more!
We invite you to join us for a fun and exciting virtual meeting to develop your public speaking and leadership skills. At the St-Lazare Inspirers Toastmasters we believe in order to develop confidence, you need a safe and fun learning environment.
Put Passion into Practice and Perform with Pride!
You can also visit our website to get more information on our club.
https://sli.toastmastersclubs.org/

Preparing for Your First Toastmasters Meeting: A Guide for Guests
If you're considering attending your first Toastmasters meeting, congratulations! You're taking an important step in developing your public speaking and leadership skills. But, we understand that it can be intimidating to attend a meeting for the first time, especially when you're not sure what to expect.

That's why we've put together this guide to help you prepare for your first Toastmasters meeting. By the time you arrive, you'll have a good understanding of what to expect and why Toastmasters is structured the way it is.

Here's what you need to know:

• What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is an organization that provides a supportive and positive learning environment where members can develop their public speaking and leadership skills. Members meet each week to practice giving speeches, participate in impromptu speaking exercises, and give and receive feedback. This is a combination of in person meeting as well as online.

• A Brief History of Toastmasters

Toastmasters was founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley in Santa Ana, California. Smedley recognized the need for a supportive and structured environment where people could develop their public speaking and leadership skills. Today, Toastmasters has over 363,000 members in 143 countries, making it one of the largest organizations of its kind in the world.

• What happens at a Toastmasters meeting?

Each Toastmasters meeting has a specific structure, with several different roles and activities. Here are some of the key elements you can expect:
The meeting begins with a formal opening, usually led by the Sergeant at Arms (SAA) who introduces the Chair of the meeting. The Chair will lead the first half of the meeting and introduce the mini-roles. The purpose of having many small roles is to give the chance to more people to speak.
The Toastmaster of the Day (TMD) takes the lead for the second half of the meeting, the education session, which starts with the prepared speeches.
Members who have signed up in advance will give a prepared speech on a topic of their choice. The length and format of the speech will depend on the member's level and the type of speech they are giving.

Next is the Table Topics: This is an opportunity for members to practice impromptu speaking.
The Table Topics Master will ask a question or give a prompt, and participants have 1-2 minutes to speak on the topic.

Evaluations: For each prepared speech, an evaluator will give feedback on the speaker's strengths and areas for improvement. This is an important part of the Toastmasters learning experience, as it helps members identify areas for growth and improvement.
The meeting ends with a closing quiz. The quiz master will ask questions to make sure participants were listening!

• Why is Toastmasters structured this way?

The structure of a Toastmasters meeting is designed to provide a supportive and positive learning environment for members. With all the available roles, participants have many opportunities to practice their public speaking and leadership skills, receive feedback, and improve over time.
In addition, the structure helps to ensure that meetings are well-organized and run smoothly. This allows members to focus on their personal growth and development, without getting bogged down by administrative details.

• What should I expect as a guest?

As a guest, you can expect a warm and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to observe the different activities and get a feel for what Toastmasters is all about. You may be asked to participate in Table Topics, but you are under no obligation to do so. If you prefer to just observe, that's perfectly fine.
Most people visiting for the first time find it interesting and unique because of the structure and all the roles. After the meeting, you will have the opportunity to talk to members and ask any questions you have about Toastmasters. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you.