Do you want to be a more effective communicator?
Do you draw a blank when someone turns to you and asks your opinion?
Does the thought of giving a talk in front of people make your palms sweat?
Do you have problems taking constructive criticism?

If you answered YES to any of those questions Toastmasters may be for you!

We invite you to a meeting of Afterburners Toastmasters, a member club of Toastmasters International

Most people would rather die than give a speech, according to a survey reported in The Book of Lists. Fear of public speaking outranked the fear of death by a two-to-one margin!

Unrealistic as this may seem, the fact remains that while many people lack the training and stamina to effectively deliver a clear thought, today’s fast-paced, technological world is in desperate need of good communicators and leaders. The person with strong communication skills has a clear advantage over tongue-tied colleagues – especially in a competitive job market.

Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization, has been working for more than 75 years to provide for this need and help people conquer their pre-speech jitters. From one club started at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters has grown to become the world’s largest organization devoted to developing people’s public and interpersonal communication skills.

A Toastmasters club is a "learn-by-doing" workshop in which men and women hone their skills in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. A typical club has 20 to 40 members, who meet weekly or biweekly to learn and practice public speaking techniques. The average club meeting lasts approximately one hour.

There is no instructor in a Toastmasters club. Instead, members evaluate one another’s oral presentations. This evaluation process is an integral component of the overall educational program. Besides taking turns delivering prepared speeches and evaluating those of other members, Toastmasters give impromptu talks on assigned topics, usually related to current events. They also develop listening skills, conduct meetings, and learn parliamentary procedure.

The effectiveness of this simple learning formula is evidenced by the thousands of corporations that sponsor in-house Toastmasters clubs. These clubs serve as communication training workshops for employees. Every year, more and more business and government organizations are discovering that Toastmasters is the most effective, cost-efficient means of satisfying their communication training needs.