Toastmasters helps to improve its members’ public speaking abilities while providing opportunities to learn leadership skills.
Part of the Toastmasters International organisation, Toastmasters Clubs meet every second week and members learn by delivering speeches from manuals that focus on the development of different speaking skill and styles. Members also can make impromptu speeches. They learn leadership skills by organising and conducting meetings and by motivating others, as a different person heads the meeting each week.
Toastmasters International serves over 292 000 members in 122 countries. It was started in 1924 by an American, Ralph Smedly. Initially it only catered to males. In 1973 it officially began admitting women and the first female president was appointed 12 years later in 1985.
There are three clubs in the Roodepoort area.
The West Rand Toastmasters meet on the first and third Thursday of the month at 7pm. Find them at the Florida Park Tennis Club at the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Jan Hofmeyr Ave. Contact Mra Nyo at vpm@westrandtoastmasters.org.za.
The Florida Toastmasters meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:15pm for 7:30pm. Find them at the Huguenot Restaurant in Flora Centre, at the corner of Conrad Street and Ontdekkers Road. Contact Dawn Hemming at gailh@telkomsa.net.
The Bacon and Egg Toastmasters meet on the first and third Saturday of the month at 8:30am. Find them at the Meet and Eat Family Restaurant at the Village @ Horizon at the corner of Sonop Street and Ontdekkers Road. Contact Glen Campbell on 011 472 3043.
