Tri-County Toastmasters #5682

The Tri-County Toastmasters club held it’s first official meeting back on Thursday April 3, 1997 at the Virden Area Community Center. Six men started the local educational club, which is an affiliate of Toastmasters International, a decade ago. All original members were from the towns of Girard, Palmyra and Virden.

“We chose the name ‘Tri-County Toastmasters’ back in 1997 because our clubs’ initial vision was to help improve the communication and leadership skills of Macoupin, Montgomery and Sangamon county residents.” states Dr. Todd Austin of Virden. Austin was elected that night in April 1997 to be the clubs first president. Ten years later, he now serves as the clubs’ public relations officer. The club thought it realistic that they could attract members living within 25 miles of Virden.

Over the years the club has seen many members come and go, and has helped approximately 35 people in all. Austin states that “Some members join the Toastmasters club for anywhere from 6 months to a couple years until they feel that they have mastered their communication and leadership skills. Then they leave the club. Other members stay long term and others have since moved away. At just $35 every six months, club dues are quite a bargain.”

The club is now more balanced, as we currently have several women who are also members. And the current list of club members come from not three Illinois counties as the club name indicates, but rather a total of five counties. These include members from the following towns or cities: Auburn (Liz Mollett), Carlinville, Girard, Morrisonville, New Berlin (Jim Blankenship),
Nokomis, Ohlman, Quincy and Virden.

The Tri-County club will be hosting their 10th anniversary open house at their next meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday April 5, 2007 at the Virden Area Community Center which is located as 105 W. Jackson St. “The meeting will start at 6:30 pm.” states current club president and Area 1 Governor Les Apps from Girard. “We are expecting some visitors from two of the Springfield clubs to join us for an exciting evening. Cake and refreshments will be served and the anniversary meeting is free and is open to the public. This will be a great way for people to discover what Toastmasters is all about”. Apps is the only other member that has also been with the club since that first meeting 10 years ago. For more information on the special 10th anniversary open house or about Toastmasters in general, please call (217) 965-3100.