Hacienda Toastmaster Anniversary

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Hacienda Park Toastmasters Celebrate Tenth Anniversary This Month

A milestone passes for one of Hacienda's employee groups as the Hacienda Park Toastmasters, the local chapter of Toastmasters International, celebrates its tenth anniversary at their meeting on April 23.

Toastmasters members participate in a variety of activities related to public speaking, including making presentations and evaluating their peers.

"The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth," reads the group's mission statement.

They meet every Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at Golden Grain, 4576 Willow Road.

A Global Organization

Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization with over 6,000 chapters. Overall, more than 3 million people have participated as members in various Toastmasters events. Currently, the Hacienda chapter has over 25 members.

A typical meeting involves presentations by a number of members, each of whom are assigned an evaluator from the group. Evaluators give comments on the overall presentation as well as the individual components that make a presentation effective, such as eye contact, pacing, organization, the use of humor, and more.

The idea is to help each speaker become less self-conscious. In recognizing the strengths of a presentation, speakers can be motivated to work hard and improve their communication skills.

Toastmasters who demonstrate their skills through their participation in the organization are recognized with a series of titles, beginning with Competent Toastmaster (CTM), Accomplished Toastmaster (ATM), and finally Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). Many also report advancement in their careers as a result of Toastmasters.

More Information

For more information on the Hacienda Park Toastmasters, contact Jimmie Townsend at (925) 224-4143 or send him an e-mail.

Photo: Hacienda Park Toastmasters officers, left to right: Ed Keiser, treasurer; Elain Young-Igie, vice president, membership; Charlotte Machi, secretary; Marston Watson, president; Jamie Renton, vice president, education; and Jimmie Townsend, vice president, public relations.

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