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Check out the great stories below that your fellow Toastmasters have shared! Share your own by sending it to Bil Lewis! . Thank you to all who have contributed so far... June Submissions
May Submissions
President of Malden 'Masters Creating Malden ‘Masters Toastmasters Club I have been in management with Bank of America and its predecessor banks here in Massachusetts for the past ten years. As I move up the career ladder with the bank, I have noticed that I have to speak more and more in front of an audience. I had previously attended a couple of Toastmasters meeting at the Bank of America Toastmasters club in downtown Boston. However, a one hour meeting turns into three hours because of the commute from my office. I decided in July 2007 to approach one of the building site leaders to get her opinion on starting a Toastmasters club here in this building. She invited me to attend the monthly site leaders meeting and bring this topic up during the open discussion. The topic of my conversation that day talked about how a Toastmaster club will benefit all the associates in this site. I did not know much about the Toastmaster organization, but told them that I would bring representatives from the Bank of America Toastmaster club in Downtown Boston. My goal for this meeting was to get their buy-in that there was a need to develop their associate’s communications skills. I returned in August to the site leader’s monthly meeting with two representatives from Talk BAC. They brought all kinds of hands outs and spoke about Toastmasters. They talked about the components of a typical Toastmasters meeting. They stressed that almost everybody will have the opportunity to speak in one capacity or another. They talked about the various officer roles and responsibilities to keep the club active. They of course mentioned the ten speeches that are required to become a competent Toastmaster. By the end of the meeting, all the site leaders gave their support and were 100% behind the forming of a Toastmasters club in our building. Team Bank of America is made up of five different internal clubs within Bank of America nationwide. The Speaking Network sponsors the Toastmasters club. On September 26th Team Bank of America was having a diversity fair in our building where the various clubs would try to recruit new members. I along with another associate who was interested in forming a Toastmasters club represented the Speaking Network. We sat at a table handing out Toastmaster flyers and talked to interested Bank of America associates about the opportunity to develop their communication skills. We attended two diversity fairs that day for both the first and second shift. We had quite a number of interested individuals sign up. After the Diversity fair, I hung up numerous flyers around the building and in every department letting associates know about a Toastmasters information session. The Information Sessions were held on October 25th. The two Toastmasters from the Boston club spoke to the audience about Toastmasters, what goes on during a typical meeting and were available to answer any questions that were asked. We closed the Information Session by letting potential members know that we were going to have a mock meeting in November. On November 29th Toastmasters from the Boston and the newly formed Dorchester Speaking Network came to Malden to put on a Mock Toastmasters meeting. Our guests volunteered to take on the various meeting roles. After a couple rounds of table topics, the table topics master had decided to choose some of the potential members from the Malden site. During my closing remarks, I mentioned that if there was enough interest in forming a Toastmaster club we would need volunteers to become club officers. I had exactly six associates from various departments within the building who were interested in filling an officer role. I had appointed them immediately in whichever position they wanted to fill. Since there was no interest in anyone being the club president I took on that role. I now had the buy-in and support from the senior leaders from Bank of America and I had enough interest from associates who were interested in developing their communication skills. It was now time to contact someone at Toastmasters. I called Sherri Raftery who is the Lt. Governor of Marketing for District 31. I told her who I was; where I worked and that I was interested in forming a Toastmaster Club. Sherri emailed me the link to the Toastmaster website along with all the paper work that I needed in order to charter a new club. December is the most popular month for associates to take their vacations as well as it being the busiest time of the year in the banking world. I knew that we were not going to accomplish much that month. I did hold a couple of meetings with the club officers. By this time we had received our starter kits from Toastmasters. During our first meeting we went over what our individual roles were. We had also decided to use the banks email system as a means of communication with all potential club members. Our VP of Education Maud Toledo came up with the idea of using the voting buttons in Outlook to vote on the best days and times for our new club to meet. We also use the voting buttons to decide on the name of our club. By the beginning of the New Year, we finally came up with the name Malden ‘Masters. We also came up with what would be the best time for most people to meet. Our club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 2:30pm-3:30pm during work hours. The club officers actually meet on the opposite Wednesday to critique the prior meeting. We also invite the Toastmaster for the next meeting to help him or her plan the agenda. Malden ‘Masters had their first meeting on January 23rd. The club officers and I had decided that each one of us would prepare a speech that talked about how we were going to fill our new officer role. We had decided that our VP of Education would review the content of the new membership kit. Malden ‘Masters was officially charted by Toastmasters as of February 1st. We chartered with just fewer than thirty members. Our charter ceremony was held on April 23rd. District Governor Cherylle Garnes, along with Lt Governor Sherri Raftery, past District Governor Victor Carbone and our area Governor Dale Averill hosted the event. They installed the club officers gave each charter member a certificate and presented us with our club banner. All of the site leaders for Bank of America in the Malden site were also in attendance. April Submissions  Past District Governor, Victor Carbone, DTMPresident of Leading Speakers Club #7572, Back Talk Club # 9906 My Toastmasters Story; Well as many of you may know I am a former Postal Manager this was during the time when “going postal “entered the dictionary. The post office was not only suffering the usual complaints about service and the price of a stamp, but also now a terrifying scene of a mailman gone berserk with a gun shooting up a building full of people. I was very fortunate at the time to be working for a very forward thing Postmaster by the name of Tom Ranft. I say very forward because he understood the power of the spoken word. He also came to realize that the majority of managers and supervisors at that time had the communication skills unbefitting their positions. He began a series of training programs for these people. He even had a series of Dale Carnegie programs in an attempt to improve the communication skills of this group. I was one of those people. It was 1991 and a notice had been sent out to all managers and supervisors that a new club was a new Toastmasters Post Office Club being formed and we should sign-up. I of course ignored this notice. However, the next day I received a phone call from the Postmaster asking why I had not been there and reminding me of the next meeting. I was there for that meeting. My first Toastmasters meeting was a keeper. I was astounded they said the meeting began and ended on time. Well being a postal employee I thought that was impossible. It wasn’t. I was so amazed that by the time I left I not only had signed-up for a role for the next meeting but I also became a club officer. This was the beginning of a Toastmasters adventure that has taken me across the country and on to the airwaves. I have been fortunate to not only rise to District Governor 2000-2001 but also to serve as an Area and Division Governor on eight different occasions. The District TV Show is a by product of my Toastmasters experience. I have met many executives in the business community while chartering a dozen or so clubs. Toastmasters has not only developed my communications skills but it also empowered me with the tools to become a more effective leader. I can honestly say that once you become a member it will change you forever. March Submissions
I told this story to the leadership team. Much to my happiness, the IBM Rational leadership team fully supported me. They offered to reimburse every employee for their membership cost after attending 80% of the meetings in their membership year. Much to my joy, my leadership team also agreed to award each member $2,500 for attaining their CC! That's a lot of money, but it's even more impressive when one takes into account that there are 500+ employees at the Lexington campus! This could potentially be a $1.25m dollar expense for my division! Being in the jewelry business for so many years I never had a problem speaking to one or two customers at a time. However, on several occasions I was required to address a group and I became numb. I knew my material cold, but the cold went to my feet. One of my closest friends, a cousin who was ten years older than me said I should look up toastmasters. "It will help you overcome your fear of public speaking" Phyllis told me. I said, "No, I'm too old for that." I won't repeat what she answered but a year later I joined Toastmasters. After my first three speeches I was presented with an opportunity to speak to over 100 people.....I delivered a eulogy at my cousin's funeral. Each time I speak I remember my dear cousin.
January Submissions Ann Nahabedian - “My Toastmaster Experience”, Talk of the Town Toastmasters
Several years later, I left elementary teaching and was working with adults presenting business workshops before teaching community college. I felt I needed an adult audience to test the waters if I could teach adults. Toastmasters was the best way. I joined a club in Raleigh after doing some telephone inquiries of various clubs. The club I chose ironically met on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. I drove 45 minutes to get there but the coffee was on at 6:45 sharp. People had to go on to their offices and places of business close to 8:10. Things moved briskly at that club. Capital City Toastmasters was the best thing that happened to me. I loved the people, so friendly, so supportive and great fun. I learned to communicate better and had an added benefit I never dreamed --the friends I made and the socializing we did. Later I joined 2 other NC clubs...one of which was the Chapel Hill Club. It was worth getting up early on a Saturday morning. That club soared to heights and I learned so much there. The last club I joined was in my home city. Durham. They met in the function room of a small restaurant/deli on the next street from my home. They were great people, too. They wooed me for 2 years to join and I finally agreed. Just had a ball being involved in Toastmasters in NC. December Submissions David Cohen - “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT”President of Back Talk Club – Peabody, MA
I thought it was organization composed of professional speakers, doctors and lawyers but I was pleasantly surprised how much I fit in with people just like me up-beat, and out-going and a burning desire to improve the quality of their lives. I was invited as a guest to a local Toastmaster Club in October 1999. I had never heard of this organization and thought it would be composed of professional speakers, doctors and lawyers. I was a diamond consultant and wanted to improve my confidence and salesmanship. Would I fit? Surprise! I found people just like me – up-beat, and out-going with a burning desire to improve the quality of their lives. – I belonged. I either volunteered or was volunteered to be the Sergeant-At-Arms, maintained all the literature and read everything about Toastmasters. After a few meetings when I became more knowledgeable about the educational program I made and wrote down several goals; 1) Do not procrastinate 2) Do not use notes. 3) Speak whenever I had the opportunity. 4) Actively pursuer the educational program 5) Become – someday a DTM 6) Give back what I have learned. I still procrastinate, a little, will be a DTM in the Spring and continue to receive the rewards of giving back what I have learned. There have been several turning points in my Toastmasters career and I remember them as if they happened yesterday. 1) A member for two months, I assisted Past District Governor Victor Carbone and Frank Pellitier conduct a Youth Leadership Program. This event showed me, without a doubt that the Toastmaster experience really works. 2) As the District Public Relations Officer, I had the honor of interviewing our District 31 2001 World Champion of Public Darren LaCroix on his winning speech “OUCH”, imagine how proud I was? 3) A former District Governor I was scheduled to give an important speech at my at my club about the Club Success Plan – and he was unable to attend – I decided to take a chance and use all of my Toastmasters skills and present the speech myself – I pulled it off, gained invaluable confidence and never looked back! My biggest accomplishment is a personal matter that I am now ready to share. Four years ago I had my own cable TV Show – “Well Spoken” I invited various guests and the subject matter was tips on how to improve your communication and leadership skills. At the time I was diagnosed with a disease usually reserved for children – I had Tourettes Syndrome. When I saw the results of this unwanted disease magnify on my TV Show and in my speeches, I was horrified and embarrassed but with medication I have been able to defeat this neurological disease. Today I have a renewed enthusiasm and thank my family and close Toastmaster friends for their support. My final message is that – YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE A TOASTMASTER November Submissions Right on the application I was asked if I was a member of Toastmasters, what level I had achieved and how many speeches I had done. While I had no experience with speaking I did have a lot of experience as a kidney patient and while applying for the job even got the call for a transplant. I am forever grateful for this gift having spent several years on dialysis and after coming home was even more set on being a speaker. I was passed over for the job and joined Toastmasters a few months later. I thought I would learn what I needed,apply again and move on. It was then I got the real surprise and benefit; I loved it! The club I chose was the Framingham/Natick club and I quickly started to learn new skills and apply them in my speeches. Belonging to this amazing group is a real gift and I had a great mentor to help me along the way. After six months I had the opportunity to apply for the position again and was chosen to become a PEPP speaker ( Patients Educating Patients and Professionals) This involved going to California and training with others patients from all over the country. While I was there I met Lori Hartwell the RSN's founder and asked her how I had come to be chosen. There had been a lot of applicants to chose from. "You're a Toastmaster" she replied. I guess that says it all! **************************************** George Manoogian AKA "Mr. Nice Guy"
My journey through Toastmasters started when a friend invited me to a meeting in May of 1983. Not knowing a thing about Toastmasters I went with a sharp eye as, 'what's in it for me'. I saw that I can be a better leader with Toastmasters that can help me on the outside. October Submissions Totally Toastmasters -- My story
From that young start -- and having a good reading voice -- I was drafted to be a lector at church starting in sixth through eighth grade. Now older, my family has adopted me as the eulogy giver (which is o.k. . . .) Anyway, I've developed a love for the spoken word. I can never remember being frightened by having to speak, for the most part. I did my Icebreaker at the Sales and Marketing Toastmasters Club, a club with great intensity and focus. A job as spokesperson took me away from Toastmasters for a while, then a club opened at work. Now I'm a member of First Class Speakers and am one speech away from getting my CTM. Even though I enjoy speaking, it has been a long process for me to go through the manual. In addition, I was President for one year and throroughly enjoyed that. So, beyond early speaking experiences, I also have a history to fall back on in Toastmasters. My dad was a president. My aunt was a president and one of the first woman Toastmasters in the organization (Lorraine Johnson, Oak Park, IL). A brother and sister belonged to Toastmasters. Certainly, Toastmasters has been a part of the family.
**************************************** September Submissions "MY TOASTMASTER STORY" (download the story: here )
I rose to the lectern, the last speaker of the evening, shaking as I clutched my carefully worded brief comments as the community representative and chair of the parent’s teacher’s organization. My worst nightmare had come true. Despite all my protestations to the contrary, I was forced into public speaking by the principal! For the next 5-10 minutes I read my speech to a restless audience of over 1500 people. At the end of the ceremony one of the parents of a graduating student said, "As one of the 10 people who listened to you I congratulate you on your comments". That did it! It was time for me to do something to overcome my fear of public speaking. As a social worker I had been frequently asked to guest speak for a number of community organizations. I always carefully recommended other people who would be more “suited” for their group, avoiding my acceptance of these invitations. Determined to face my fears, I gingerly approached my first meeting at Early Risers at Hanover. Instead of embarrassment and anxiety, I found a warm, intelligent and supportive environment where members accepted me on my own terms. Not only did they teach me a lot about speaking and help me conquer my fears, but they also made it a lot of fun in the process. As I progressed to get my CTM, I saw myself gaining in confidence and relying less on written notes. I participated 3 times in international speech contests, progressing from 3rd place in my club to first place in my area to second place in district E. A job opportunity at the social service department at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston led to my taking a hiatus from my group because of my long commute, but my toastmaster skills traveled with me. Whenever there were opportunities to speak I volunteered. My willingness to speak was seen as a real asset for my department. It led to my doing orientation training for residents and lecturing Harvard Medical Students about the impact of sensory loss on patients and families. A few years ago I gave a key note address about the journey of chronic illness to an international uveitis conference at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. I traveled a long distance from the shaky woman in 1991. My recent retirement brought me back to early risers. When asked to serve as president, I had to say yes. It is my way of giving back to toastmasters all it has given me. As each new member enters our meeting, I try to remember how frightened I was many years ago. I try to help them cross the threshold to discovering their unique gifts as speakers and leaders. Thank you Toastmasters for all you have given me. **************************************** Jacki Rose
**************************************** To Evaluate or Not to Evaluate by Robert Miller Several years I had attend a college graduations event my wife to see our stepdaughter receive her diploma.We heard the keynote speaker give her speech to the audience. After the speech my wife asked me for my evaluation of the Speaker and I managed to give an unfavoralble review of the speech. The Keynote Speaker was standing behind me and overheard my review. OOps ! I was embrassed for unkind words I said about the woman's speech. Five minutes later, the guest speaker asked me where I learned to evaluate a speech. I told the woman I am a member of Toastmasters International. Aha, she said. So thats how you were able to evaluate my speech. Thats right I said. I recommended she join a Toastmasters club in her hometown and I gave her the website address. Gee,I hope she found a Toastmasters club to join where she can improve her communication skills and learn to evaluate. Love & Peace, **************************************** Esther Paris
I was studying to become a sign language interpreter. A priest friend of mine was thrilled to learn I was studying to interpret. He asked if I would interpret Mass. I balked. How could I do that? My skills are no where near adequate. He said he'd give me the prayers, reading, and homily in advance, so I could research and practice. I was game. I figured it would be a great way to meet future clients, good experience, good networking. I remember very clearly getting on that altar for the first time to interpret. I thought I might lose my breakfast, faint, or just die. And I didn't know which would be the best choice! What happened: A friend at work told me about Toastmasters. I joined a company club, survived my Icebreaker speech, worked steadily to reach my Competent Toastmaster (CTM) award, and even started working on Advanced Manuals at that company club. Then I went on Leave of Absence from my Company when my first child was born. I missed Toastmasters so much that I started a new club! (That's the short story of the start of the Saturday Brunch Bunch club.) What I'm like now: With the nascency of the SBB club, a stint as Area Governor, a CTM accomplished, several Advanced Manuals accomplished, I was very close to achieving DTM. I coordinated a SpeechCraft and a Youth Leadership, gave speeches before non-Toastmasters groups, and achieved my DTM. (This was years ago. Older rules about DTM.) Nowadays I'm pretty confident in my speaking ability. I can address crowds of hundreds with tamed butterflies in my stomach. I even competed at the District level competition for the International Speech Contest. That was something I never even DREAMED of doing when I thought I'd faint on the altar at that first Mass I tried to interpret! I'm a DTM, an Area Governor for the second time, a club officer, an Immediate Past Club President, and involved in Toastmasters as much as my schedule and stamina will permit. I love Toastmasters. It has given me a set of skills I didn't even know I needed! Every meeting, every service opportunity, every event I learn something new and meet new people. I love Toastmasters. Esther Paris, DTM - Area G2 Governor, 2007-08 **************************************** Your story could be here! Share it by sending it to Bil Lewis!
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My Toastmasters Story
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