by Suzanne Whittingham
Williams Lake
Toastmaster
International Toastmasters week Jan. 31 to Feb. 6. was just recently celebrated.
As well, British Columbia has proclaimed February as “Talk of the Toastmasters” month.
Toastmaster’s clubs throughout the world raise their voices at this time to celebrate a vibrant community born of its founder, Ralph Smedley, back in 1924.
To quote our founder, “if you know how and when to speak, and when to remain silent, your chances of real success are proportionately increased!”
It is heartening to realize that in close to 90 years, this constant remains with us.
Perhaps the biggest thing each and every Toastmaster can celebrate is the fact that each of us has opportunity to share our voice in our member clubs.
We do not need to compete within the din of thousands upon thousands of voices, all yammering with ideas, ideology, stories and yes, even sales pitches.
Within each member club, many more things are learned: how to listen to others, how to frame our thoughts and ideas within a clear-cut format, how to think on our feet and speak effectively to questions and ideas thrown at us suddenly, and how to honour and respect another person’s ideas and position in life.
Perhaps most importantly, how to share and grow within this environment and the world at large.
All effective leaders know that finding that which is common to each and every one of us and which gives voice to and respects human dignity is crucial.
Each of us will have those pivotal events in our lives where we are called upon to speak. In high school, it can be as simple as addressing an assembly or a classroom debate. In college or university, many occasions arise where we need to speak and communicate.
Nailing that first job is incumbent upon a successful job interview.
Once you landed that job, how would you fare at that crucial presentation to a very important client?
You might be called upon to speak at a friend’s or sibling’s wedding.
Could you speak at your son’s or daughter’s wedding? Would you be prepared to speak at a parent’s funeral?
I invite each and every one of you to consider these questions and give them some thought.
I have just asked you to speak to one of these topics at a table topics at your local Toastmasters Club meeting here in Williams Lake.
Stand up, where-ever you are, and give a little talk to any of these questions.
You will, in all likelihood, discover it is not an easy thing. Some will break out in a sweat just thinking about it.
Now imagine you have a supportive and friendly group of enthusiastic friends and colleagues who are there to help you each step of the way on your path to speaking more effectively.
This will not happen overnight — but it will happen in incremental steps and at a pace that works for you. Think of the satisfaction and confidence you will acquire as you continue to grow and expand your public speaking skills.
What is the true value of this accomplishment? Priceless, of course.
Our small and humble community of Williams Lake boasts one of these Toastmaster clubs.
We invite you to join us and observe our meetings in action. We may not be big, but perhaps that is our greatest asset.
You will never feel lost in a madding crowd with a bombardment of voices assaulting you.
We are a friendly lot of folks. Remember, in your life, you are always number one.
That is where the change comes. Williams Lake Toastmasters welcomes you to come and witness Ralph Smedley’s vision in action.
Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. We are currently more than 260,000 strong.
Through more than 12,800 member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.
The Williams Lake Toastmasters Club meets September to June every Wednesday night from 7 to 8 p.m., at the back alley entrance to the Central Interior Services Cooperative Building, 51 South 4th Ave. in Williams Lake.
Please enter off of the entrance in the back lane (between Fourth Avenue South and Third Avenue South).
A sign will be posted on the door. For more information go to the web site at www.williamslaketoastmasters.com or you can call 250-392-1008 for more information.