Testimonials
Foothills Toastmasters
There aren't many occasions in my life that had as profound and long reaching consequences as getting involved with Toastmasters. Being a member has helped me to discover my voice. Before being a member, my thoughts were often bound within the confines of my mind.
The Toastmasters learning program is self paced; allowing each member to progress at a rate that benefits them. With the incredible support given by other members, every person that joins can't help but become a better listener, a better speaker, a better leader and a better all round communicator. I certainly did.
I find that going to a toastmaster meeting always inspires me and I always go home with more knowledge than I had before the meeting. I have improved social contacts within and outside of the organisation, I have improved my job and my salary just by applying principles learnt in the comprehensive manuals.
I have been a member for around seven years now and I look forward to maintaining my membership and continuing the benefits meetings give for a long time to come. If you are thinking of finding out more about toastmasters, let me advise you not to hesitate to find the club which suits you best (location and time wise) and go along to the very next meeting scheduled - just to visit. I can guarantee that it will be a decision you'll never regret.
Lynda t'Hart
Foothills Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
When my friend Janet said 'Come along to a toastmasters meeting, you will LOVE it', I thought - me - talking in front of a whole group of people I don't even know, I don't think so.
Six years later I have learnt so much. I have learnt a new self confidence I didn't have, how to talk off the cuff, leadership skills, meeting new people, being on committees. One of the most rewarding aspects of toasties is getting to know people, you hear about their lives and experiences, new ideas and places to visit, there is no other place that I know of where you can do all that.
Like all things in life, you get out of it what you put into it, with Toastmasters it is all there and more. Find out for yourself. Look forward to seeing YOU at our next meeting.
Lynn Peirce
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Northern Lights Toastmasters
I joined Toastmasters 4 years ago as I was starting my own business. My daughter had told me about TM and the benefits that she had gained from learning to overcome the fear of public speaking.
Well it has been more than improved public speaking skills that I have gained. I have learned the importance of giving and receiving effective feedback. I can confidently stand up in meetings and share my opinions succinctly and clearly. I have met some wonderful people and I have had the chance to mentor and help other people, gain skills in speaking confidently and clearly.
Toastmasters helps in your business and your personal life. Why not have a go.
Louise Hancock
Northern Lights Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Toastmasters has meant a great deal to me. Throughout my past life I had difficulty with public speaking. I felt I lacked the skills to speak persuasively and authoritatively to an audience and hence my confidence tended to be low. I therefore looked forward with trepidation to those occasions on which I was obliged to speak in public. There are a number of features of the Toastmasters experience which have reinforced significantly my speaking skills, hence my confidence and also, in my opinion at least, my performance as a public speaker.
First, Toastmasters provides an incredibly supportive audience of great people who help one acquire the basic skills for improving one’s public speaking without the trauma. Friends and colleagues within Toastmasters provide a team which actively support one’s development as a public speaker.
Secondly, within Toastmasters essentially one learns by doing. While there are manuals and workshop presentations by experienced speakers one learns most from being called upon to give a variety of different types of speeches, from receiving feedback from one’s peers, and from listening to feedback given to others. The approach is very practical.
Thirdly the opportunity to participate in a variety of roles within a meeting and also to become eligible for various awards reinforces one’s motivation to participate in Toastmasters.
Finally, a Toastmasters meeting is just so interesting. People from a great variety of backgrounds take part and just listening to their presentations is both fascinating and enjoyable.
Bruce McCallum
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Talkabout Toastmasers
When I joined Toastmasters I was no stranger to public speaking. As a School Principal I frequently addressed Governors, Parents etc. etc.
I had never been evaluated , timing was pretty much up to me and nobody ever made a recommendation.! I welcomed the discipline, having my speeches strictly timed, considered evaluations given and my every gestured noted ! It was what I needed - I had been a free agent for far too long. So Toastmasters has been a valuable benefit to me.
Jane Coley
Talkabout Toastmasers
St Georges Toastmasters
I read about Toastmasters in a book by a US author and entrepreneur I admired. She couldn't speak highly enough of the value of Toastmasters in helping her become a successful business woman and even better mother. I jumped on the web and was immediately impressed at the breadth of information provided by Toastmasters at international, country, state and even club levels - they had so much to offer and all seemed so welcoming!
I took their advice and visited several different clubs before deciding that St George's had the right mix of people, rofessionalism and fun that I was looking for - no pressure from any club to join. Even now, four years later, I love visiting other clubs to see new delivery techniques, hear new ideas and feel the energy from a different group of people. Even better is that my husband joined a different club at the same time and we now enjoy a wonderful shared 'passion' that benefits our relationships with each other, our children, and our workplaces.
Maree Pickens
St Georges Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
When I first joined Toastmasters in 2001, little did I know what a significant effect it would have on my life? I joined with the aim of improving my communication skills in front of an audience but it has delivered much more than that to me. It has improved my listening skills through the evaluations we give, my leadership skills with the responsibilities you get with different roles in your club, the division and district.
I certainly wouldn’t have thought that I would be speaking to hundreds of people now without those butterflies and leading 17 clubs in my division to be the best they can be.
I think Toastmasters is the best-kept secret in town when it comes to communication and leadership training and I would recommend it to anyone who wants these skills in their life and work. Join a club NOW, it will be the best move you have ever made.
Mark Richards
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
I remember feeling welcomed from the very first night when I stepped in the door and I was immediately greeted and introduced to others. I received a great deal of benefit from the range of evaluations, observing a variety of speeches and learning from everyone who participated to build on and improve my public speaking skills. The highlight for my time in membership was feeling supported by a culture that focusses on 'positive learning' experiences.
Wendy
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Northern Lights Toastmasters
I joined Northern Lights Toastmasters in 2003. As a recovering stutterer and a graduate of the McGuire Speech programme I was keen to expand my comfort zone and put some ‘polish’ on my speech. As a Deputy Principal in a Primary School, I was often faced with challenging speaking situations and wanted to be able to speak confidently, both in rehearsed and impromptu speaking situations.
I completed my Competent Communicator Award in 2004, my Advanced Toastmaster Award (Bronze) in 2005 and my Competent Leader Award in 2006. During this time I also held the club roles of Sergeant at Arms and President. During my time in Toastmasters I have particularly enjoyed participating in speech competitions. I have competed at Area Level in the International Speech Competition, Division Level in the Table Topics (Impromptu Speaking) Competition and at District Level in the Speech Evaluation Competition. I recently won both the Humorous and Table Topics Categories in an Area Level competition and am looking forward to representing Northern Lights Toastmasters’ Club at the Division Level contest to be held in November this year.
My advice to anyone contemplating the art of public speaking is to adopt a ‘sports mentality’ towards speaking. Just as individual skills in sport need to be practised in context, so speaking skills need to be practised and refined in authentic speaking situations. Toastmasters offers an excellent skills-based training programme, beginning with such basic advice on how to organise your speech, through to how to inspire your audience and more. Remember that we all experience some nervousness in speaking situations. The skill is to get ‘all your butterflies flying in formation’.
Frank Cook ATM (Bronze)
Northern Lights Toastmasters
Frank Cook
Northern Lights Toastmasters
Tientsin Toastmasters
Toastmasters can be an Enchanting Phenomenon
It can be a portal, a horcrux, a Platform 9.75, or a wart on an elephant's bottom (expurgated version).
I am sure that the founder, Smedley (poor man) like Moses, didn't fully comprehend what he had in his hands.
'It's what you do with what you've got'.
I have had the pleasure of starting to learn how to be a well-treated old anachronism in a kind, polite, hardworking Toastmasters club in Tainjin (Tientsin), a Platform 9.75 if ever there was.
So what happens? People learn to stand up and take their time ... and some don't.
They learn to systematically prepare, out of respect for their own development and transformation, and for the time and the goodwill of their patient and supportive fellow club members.
They learn their particular club's attitude to English - 'the language' having escaped from the class-defining sensibilities of Anglo-US colonial ancestry, and now increasingly shaped and simplified (thank goodness) by, soon the majority, second-language speakers, into an international, momentarily quasi-universal, second language, and index of the quality of one's education and capacity to function transnationally. Whew!
... or they work in the effective and maybe timewarped local version, looking out for their clensions, reflecting, as the saying goes, whatever 'school they went to'.
To be fair some folk just enjoy a night out, being entertained, and space from their spice; in some cases it's like bingo or church attendance ... it's a free country.
For others, it's like a Firefox feathered wand add-on, at 7am, a convivial if quick warm-up of their professional voices before the working day fires up.
Like any example of reality, Toastmasters is what we make of it, a curates egg, good in parts, and perhaps transforming for some folk.
It all depends upon how we search, what we are looking for, and whether we can notice 9.75 when we see it, find our Hogwarts, gird our loins, and deal with our personal Riddle.
Jeff Oliver
Tientsin Toastmasters
St Georges Toastmasters
A long time ago in a distant memory I heard of a group of people who learnt and practiced public speaking. They were called Toastmasters
It sounded like a lot of fun BUT, do they really have impromptu speaking? How can one talk on a subject to which the subject is totally foreign? I had a very busy work schedule at the time and although had an interest, the questions, the impromtu speaking, and the time I thought I needed put me right off. I had better things to do with my life, so I thought.
From the moment I sat in my first meeting many years later, I felt the enthusiasm, I experienced the energy, the excitement, the positive supportive learning environment, and watched enthralled at the speakers. It was obvious this was a hobby I had to attack with my usual gusto. Then I find out everyone is commended on what they did well and offered some points for growth to be used at a later time. What is this, supportive, positive, non judgemental feed back? Now, if not before, I was hooked.
1 year later I was entrenched in the leadership group. I had the opportunity to learn membership growth strategies, meeting program skills, emcee skills. I accepted the challenge of club officer roles then Area Governor which meant assisting 5 other clubs to achieve their goals, I was encouraged and supported to be the Chairman of the District Convention.
Just when I thought I could sit and rest, along comes an opportunity to start my own club or mentor a club in trouble,
I am excited by the opportunities for personal growth and skill development attending Toastmasters. I am proud of my Toastmaster achievements, I look forward enthusiastically to future challenges and opportunities.
Ian Pickens
St Georges Toastmasters
Stirling Toastmasters
In Toastmasters I have learned to structure my thought process better. This becomes possible as we construct speeches. I now make better sense, not only with speeches but also in everyday interacting. The second thing that I now try to correct, has to do with voice technique.
Again Toastmasters provides the perfect environment to improve on any additional skills as we become more and more comfortable with speaking. Finally I have found that Toastmasters have the most updated program to offer and also the most pleasant meetings for anyone to practice and achieve their goals.
Cybele Katavatis
Stirling Toastmasters
Gateway Toastmasters
New to a country town in Qld in 1999 I was invited along to a 'speechcraft course' by a work colleague. I said yes, as I saw it as a way to expand my social network. It was great fun! I remember for my second speech singing Helen Reddy's 'I am woman' as the introduction.
Then, after the speechcraft session I would be thinking of ideas for my next project speech, which, I based on the book 'why men don't listen and women can't read maps'. Unfortunately, Toastmasters hasn't made it any easier for me to read maps or improved my singing ability, but the supportative and friendly environment I felt at Toastmasters has encouraged me to further develop my communication and leadership skills. Eight years on in my journey and I have had many opportunities to learn and practice the wonderful art of public speaking, meet great friends, participate in competitions, take on leadership roles and even facilitate a speechcraft course.
The communication and leadership skills you will learn through Toastmasters will enhance your personal and professional life. You achieve at your own pace, there is no pressure, just fun, enthusiasm and encouragement. The beauty of Toastmasters is that it sets you up for success in every area of your life and its worldwide! I went into Toastmasters to expand my social network, and got so much more, you will too. So come along, and have some fun and check out your local Toastmaster Club.
Raye McNally
Gateway Toastmasters
Stirling Toastmasters
In the past 34 years, I have watched Toastmasters in Western Australia grow from only one club to now over 34 clubs and into two separate divisions. I personally have also grown alongside it.
How this organisation has helped me develop over the years been a wonderful lifetime experience. As a teenager I suffered a severe head injury which left me with permanent brain damage and limited vision.
From the time I joined Toastmasters, I have developed many skills, that have helped me through life. I think that, anyone who considers joining this organisation, will benefit in many ways from the experience. For me personally, the greatest single benefit has been being able to think clearly and quickly, in an impromptu basis, to many situations, not only when public speaking, but in everyday life circumstances.
Toastmasters has also supplied me with a great opportunity to assist and watch others grow and develop through it's very comprehensive self help/education program. The Evaluation, Judging and Chairmanship skills I have developed through my Toastmasters experience have also proved to be invaluable to me, and I am also sure that others would benefit greatly from participation.
Peter McDonnell
Stirling Toastmasters
Mandjar Speakers Toastmasters
14 years ago, I met a very confident lady who spoke exceptionally well. I was shy and lacking confidence. When she told me that Toastmasters was the key, I vowed to attend one day and become *just like her*
It took me 7 years to muster up the courage to go along to my first meeting, but I have never looked back ..
The friends I have gained along the way, the strengths I’ve discovered in myself and the skills I have learned, have made joining Toastmasters one of the best decisions I have ever made. In all areas of my life, Toastmasters has made a very positive difference.
With such great feedback & with the support and assistance from other Toastmasters, anything is possible! I now derive great pleasure helping other new members grow their confidence and tackle their own demons. The journey for me has been educational, informative, enlightening and such great fun .. who would have thought it? ..
Don’t let your fears hold you back any longer …. Toastmasters may be just what you need too!
Liz Sheridan
Mandjar Speakers Toastmasters
Sandgropers Toastmasters
I am not a ‘natural’ at public speaking. In fact, a couple of bad experiences while presenting papers at conferences should have put me off getting up in front of an audience ever again! A colleague suggested I try Toastmasters. So glad I did.
The people at our club are very warm, welcoming, enthusiastic and encouraging. The format of the meetings provides members with opportunities to learn and practice all types of speeches; impromptu or ‘off the cuff’ type speeches, in addition to more formal speech presentations, both short and long, with or without notes. I appreciated being able to go at my own pace, and draw on the advice and experience of other members. Everyone at Toastmasters is genuinely keen to help each other develop their skills; an important aspect of the Toastmasters program is the opportunity to receive (and provide to others) positive and constructive evaluations or feedback on every speech, so you get to hear what you have done well, but also receive some valuable suggestions on how you can improve for next time.
From time to time the more experienced members of our club present ‘educationals’ on various topics to provide useful tips on different aspects of preparing and delivering speeches. I have found these sessions on techniques such as voice projection, effective speech introductions and conclusions, how to tackle impromptu questions (also very useful for job interviews, cocktail parties or participating in work meetings!) extremely helpful, for my Toastmasters life, and my personal and work life.
Participating in Toastmasters meetings has definitely improved my confidence and ability to present research papers at conferences and give presentations at work meetings (my original purpose for joining). Toastmasters has also helped me develop my speaking skills in a range of work and social situations.
Please don’t just think about joining Toastmasters, just do it. You will be very glad you did.
Debbie Falck
Sandgropers Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
For many years I have been a member of two Toastmasters clubs. During that period I have visited many affiliated clubs, especially in various states of the USA. while on holidays.
My final membership years were spent with the Victoria Quay club. On reflection I have come to the conclusion that this association with the Victoria Quay club has considerably increased my fellowship skills. Through the many workshops given as part of a brilliant conceived training cycle, I have not only learned to speak with ease, but also to structure my way of speaking to make it of interest to an audience. An important part of this process was evaluating other speakers, thereby learning from their mistakes, but at the same time making friends with positive criticism. All this proved to be of great value in later life while dealing with other people. The way Victoria Quay is managed has shaped this club into a top club with an enthusiastic membership
Gerard Woerlee
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
I was invited to join toastmasters by a discerning friend who felt that I would find it both interesting and enjoyable. It was more than that and I am eternally grateful to her.
Although I had been exposed to public speaking for many years, I had never had to give a speech and bring it to a conclusion within a really short time span. I am talking of minutes, even seconds.. That is an art in itself. Toastmasters also teach you how to ad lib, on demand, again for a limited length of time. These disciplines are not always easy to master, especially as they include many more skills on the art of speaking itself. They are vitally useful tools.
However Toastmasters is more than learning how to improve your speaking ability. It introduced me to a whole new group of people , all with the same goal in mind, who meet weekly in a friendly and social way. This alone added another dimension to my life.
For these reasons I recommend anyone keen to improve their skills in the use of the English language, should join the Toastmasters. They would be amazed at the difference it makes in their ability to express themselves, and all in a friendly congenial atmosphere. No wonder members join for years and years. They climb a ladder of harder and harder tasks and compete with other clubs all over the world.
Nicky Quekett
Victoria Quay Toastmasters
Gateway Toastmasters
In April, 2003 I had just relocated from Newman to Perth and wanted to improve my impromptu speaking skills in direct relation to my career path. I found it really difficult to articulate my points of view, be succinct and also to clearly define business plans etc. especially, when in meetings or under pressure.
So I joined Gateway Toastmasters in Fremantle. Well, Toastmasters has given me the tools, practice and confidence to speak publicly, to speak clearly and to learn all the techniques which enhance our speaking abilities. Mind you I still find Table Topics daunting but Toastmasters have taught me so much. I love Toastmasters and am passionate about Toastmasters!
Who would have thought back in 2003, that I could have spoken to an audience of one hundred or more persons this year on Project Management and Successful Leadership skills? Toastmasters have given me this confidence and wonderful opportunity to learn and be a successful communicator.
Jeanette Farrar
Gateway Toastmasters
Amity Toastmasters
I have been lucky enough to be a charter member of a new club on the south coast of WA. This is an added bonus as it is possible to take on leadership roles in conjunction with the highly successful Toastmaster communication program.
I had already been introduced to Public Speaking before I joined Toastmasters in early 2006 but nothing compares with what I have gained from my membership with Amity Toastmasters. Apart from improving my speaking skills I have gained in self confidence which has opened doors to a new career at the age of 63.
As well as my part-time bookkeeping position I am assisting in organising author promotional events, writing book reviews, assisting in promoting bookclubs in rural WA and am registered with Toastmasters Speakers Bureau.
None of this would have been possible without the educational program from this wonderful non-profit organisation –Toastmasters.
Pauline Saunier
Amity Toastmasters
Curtin Graduate School of Business
As a person who stutters, public speaking has always been my greatest fear. I would do everything possible to avoid speaking. Since joining Toastmasters I have gradually grown in confidence, overcome my fear and now I actually enjoy public speaking. My stutter has also improved.
Peter Dhu
Curtin Graduate School of Business
Sandgropers Toastmasters
Joining Toastmasters has given me a great deal of confidence with speaking in public and this has enhanced job opportunities, improved negotiating skills with employers and staff members.
In addition my confidence in speaking to customers face to face and on the phone has increased. Toastmasters has also taught me listening skills and how to react to impromptu questions. I owe a lot to this opportunity.
Andrew Dix
Sandgropers Toastmasters
St Georges Toastmasters
Toastmasters provides a wonderful opportunity to actually practice and develop public speaking skills. During the five years of my involvement with Toastmasters, I have gained confidence as well as ability in public speaking, presentations, and thinking on my feet. Toastmasters continues to assist in both my professional life (engineer in mining industry) and personal life. The development program has enough structure to keep things interesting, and flexibility for you to move at your own pace. If you're looking to improve your communication and leadership abilities, visit a Toastmasters club, and see what can change for you.
Richard Price
St Georges Toastmasters
Northern Lights Toastmasters
Before joining Toasmasters International (TMI), I prided myself on being a pretty hot-shot speaker, facilitator and trainer. Boy, did I have a lot to learn! Instead, to my pleasant surprise, TMI proved instrumental in honing my public speaking skills across the board. It has taught me how to:
say much more with far fewer words
capture and hold an audience's attention for 30 seconds or 12 minutes
develop speech topics that inspire, entice, engage
massage my natural speaking style to suit various moods and situations
provide constructive feedback that really does help the recipient grow and improve
If you are thinking about joining TMI, stop thinking about it .... do it! There will not be a wasted moment.
Bobbie Taylor
Northern Lights Toastmasters
Rising Stars Toastmasters
I joined Toastmasters in 2002. I had previously spoken in public on occasions, but avoided many opportunities when my input would have made a positive contribution. When I did speak up, I'm sure I didn't do a bad job. But every time I spoke, I had these nagging doubts ...was that OK? Did I sound like a dork?
Some of the great gifts Toastmasters has given me are the confidence to get up and speak in any situation, to use content and presentation styles more effectively, and to know that I have given an OK presentation.
I still get a buzz from every Toastmasters meeting because of the skills I continue to develop, mixing with great people, the positive and supportive feeling in our meetings, and the thrill of taking on new team challenges .... and succeeding.
Apart from a huge development of my speaking skills, I have better life skills which I have learned at Toastmasters meetings, such as learning to listen, doing things on time, giving feedback to people in a positive way, and managing meetings in a professional way.
I could never have foreseen the opportunities to develop and use my leadership skills ... as a club Vice President and President, an Area Governor responsible for the development of four clubs, an award winning Division Governor responsible for half the clubs in WA, and this year's District Governor responsible for about 140 clubs in four States. The latter position landed me a trip this year to the US for training and the international Toastmasters convention ... and the chance to work with Toastmasters international leadership.
In a word what can I say about Toastmasters? Just ... WOW!!!
Mike Helm
Rising Stars Toastmasters
Trackside Toastmasters
The wonderful thing about Toastmasters is that in addition to developing my speaking skills, I get to explore ideas - both other peoples' and my own. Each presentation is an opportunity to glimpse another world.
In this nurturing environment, new Toastmasters blossom into competent presenters through self paced learning and the support of experienced speakers. Meeting by meeting, skills and confidence grow as Toastmasters share their interests. I look forward to each session and wonder what will unfold.
Sue Voloczi
Trackside Toastmasters