Dear Friends,
I was a member of the Toastmasters Organisation in Malaysia for over 10 years.

During this time, I made many friends, and also improved in my confidence, to speak and to lead.

This is a non-profit organisation with no hidden agenda, except to see their members become better Leaders and Communicators.
You will get what you put into it, and I certainly got a lot!

This is where I met my wife, Cynthia Goh Chai Cheng and I proposed to her on a stage, on one knee, during a Toastmasters Public event, in Penang many years ago. There were many hundreds in the audience, and it was an outdoor event. Luckily for me, she said yes (it was the only way she could get off the stage, and being the somewhat shy person she is, that was the main reason she agreed to my proposal!)

You do NOT have to be an accomplished speaker to join, in fact, I have been to meetings and met new members who were shy and awkward, but very brave and genuine, in their desire to improve themselves.

Some did not have a good grasp of the English language but made up for it with lots of courage. I saw their confidence grow, as they were given simple tasks to complete. The Toastmasters environment is very supportive of members who wish to improve. Nobody makes fun of you, in fact, the opposite is true. Members provide helpful suggestions, and a heap of encouragement. Within 6 months, if new members participate actively, many are astounded by how much they have progressed to speak and to lead.

I sincerely urge anyone who is wanting to improve their Communication Skills, perhaps to get a promotion at work, or to improve their confidence, to check out this amazing organisation. Toastmasters was founded in America by Mr. Ralph Smedley over 100 years ago. To find a club near you, please visit www.toastmasters.org

You will be surprised how easy it is to speak boldly in front of a crowd, or to present your ideas clearly, or even to pitch a sales proposal to a potential client once you commit to join a club. Your commitment will ensure your success.

There are people of all ages in the different clubs, and there could be more than one club in your area. Since different clubs have different cultures, it is best to visit at least 2 clubs before selecting one that feels right for you. They are a great bunch of people, and the price of membership is reasonable, as it is a not-for-profit organisation.

Take this one small step today, and the new you will thank you in 6 months! You will be able to speak boldly, to present your ideas, and to improve your communication and leadership, by joining the Toastmasters Family.

Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts on this, there is some information below for those who want to know more about Toastmasters.

Nash Bhullar @ Papa Nash (3rd July 2022)

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At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:

Giving impromptu speeches.

Members present one to two-minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.

Presenting prepared speeches.

Three or more members present speeches based on projects from manuals in Toastmasters’ proven Communication and/or leadership program. Projects cover topics such as speech organization, vocal variety, language, gestures, and persuasion.

Offering constructive evaluation.

Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

The Tools You Use

Upon joining a Toastmasters club, each new member receives a variety of manuals and resources on how to become a better speaker and a more confident leader. Members also have access to other books and educational resources. They also receive the award-winning The Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques.
Toastmasters and Leadership.

Leadership cannot be learned in a day. It takes practice. In Toastmasters, members learn leadership skills by organizing and conducting meetings and by completing projects in the leadership manuals. Projects address such skills as listening, planning, motivation, and team building and give members the opportunity to practice them. Just as Toastmasters members learn to speak by speaking, they learn leadership by leading.

Company Benefits

A company’s success depends on communication. Employees face an endless exchange of ideas, messages, and information as they deal with one another and with customers day after day. How well they connect and share their ideas with customers, clients and co-workers can determine whether a company grows into an industry leader or joins thousands of other businesses mired in mediocrity. Toastmasters provide the tools that enable employees to become effective presenters and leaders – all at a very low cost.

Benefits of Membership

Around the world more than four million men and women of all ages and occupations have benefited from Toastmasters training. Thousands of corporations, community groups, universities, associations, and government agencies now use Toastmasters training.

Community Benefits

Toastmasters have helped many members in their community-service activities. Using the skills developed in Toastmasters, people have become more active in business, churches, service, and charity organizations. Toastmasters are able to organize activities, conduct meetings and speak in public as their organization’s representative. Some even become active in local, state or national government.

Becoming a Member

Membership is for individuals aged 18 or older. The organization now has nearly 220,000 members in 90 countries. They come from a variety of occupations and backgrounds. Joining a Toastmasters club is easy. With more than 10,500 clubs around the world, there is sure to be one near you. Many clubs are listed with chambers of commerce or can be located by visiting the Toastmasters Web site at www.toastmasters.org and clicking on “Find a Club” (top left). Once you find a listing of clubs in your area, simply select one most convenient for you, attend a meeting and then apply for membership. If there is no club in your area, you can form one with permission and assistance from Toastmasters International.
“Your potential is limited only by you”

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors elected by the membership. The first Toastmasters club was established on October 22, 1924, in Santa Ana, California, by Ralph C. Smedley, who conceived and developed the idea of helping others to speak more effectively. More clubs were formed, and Toastmasters International was incorporated under California law on December 19, 1932. The organization now has 211,000 members in 10,500 clubs in 90 countries. Toastmasters International’s World Headquarters is located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Its 70-member staff provides support services, educational materials, a monthly magazine.

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