Toastmasters: Find your voice, increase your confidence

The Lindsay and District Toastmasters Club is all about helping others find their voice – and everyone’s voice is different.

The program – now 35 years old in Lindsay — has many different ‘pathways’ to follow depending on where you are in your life or where your career path is taking you. Do you need to improve your organizational skills, speaking, and presentation ability? Are you lacking confidence in your day to day interactions? Maybe you just need a night out with a positive fun group of people. Toastmasters can be the first step on the road to success.

Toastmasters is currently undergoing a change in format to a more online presence. Glossy manuals used to be the norm but now members fill out a series of questions online to determine their pathway. Your style might be motivational, humourous, or management. Your answers determine your path.

Some of the most noticeable benefits of Toastmasters is increased confidence when interacting socially, improved listening skills and of course better speaking skills. By working the program you can better yourself.

As with any club there are expectations, such as attending meetings and taking on roles. The more you engage the faster your growth. There is a big social side to this club with all members offering ways to improve the club and each other. An executive that meets once a month to chart the course of the club. Being on the executive provides another opportunity for members to develop their leadership skills.

Members are offered constructive, positive feedback at every meeting to help cultivate strengths and work on weaknesses.

Lindsay and District Toastmasters club 5299 meets at the Central Senior School library Tuesday evenings at 7 pm. Membership ranges in age as well as experience and there are a mix of new and veteran members. If you are interested in joining the club or finding out more about it, contact Steven Green at .