Tri-County Toastmasters #5682

A handful of Area 1 Toastmaster members from five different clubs recently finished up a 4-session Speechcraft ‘Public Speaking 101’ workshop for the general public in Springfield. Todd Austin, the public relations officer of the Tri-County Toastmasters Club served as the coordinator for the workshop series.

All attendees who graduated the course fulfilled the following requirements: introduced another speaker three times, participated in an impromptu speaking exercise on four occasions, gave three prepared speeches and evaluated another participant’s speech once.

The fourth and final session was held on 4-23-09. At Speechcraft session # 4, Austin served as the evening’s master of ceremonies. New Berlin's Jim Blankenship, a member of both the Tri-County and the American General Clubs gave a motivational speech about “Why You Should Join Toastmasters”. Incoming Area 1 Governor Joann York from Springfield’s Noontime Club addressed participants about all of the Area 1 clubs that are open to the public. York also served as the General Evaluator. Kelly Anderson from Springfield’s American General Company Club led the impromptu speaking portion of the evening by serving as the Tabletopicmaster.

Other Area 1 Toastmaster members who helped out with the first 3 Speechcraft sessions were: Jackie Rakers from the Montgomery County Club, Division C Governor Margaret Walker from the Noontime Club, and Dan Filla from Springfield’s McBrian Lincoln-Douglas Club.

The Tri-County Toastmasters club will next meet on Thursday May 7, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Virden Area Community Center located at 105 West Jackson Street. For more information about how the affordable Toastmasters program can help you to become either a better leader or communicator, or for information about attending a meeting or scheduling a Speechcraft program for your organization or community, please call (217) 965-3100 or e-mail draustin@royell.net.