Talkative: Toastmasters Geelong members Jeff Kenny, Ravi Raveendrampillai, Veronica Kratzmann, Jim Gilmer and Elwynne Dunstan.
By John Van Klaveren
THEY can be heard at weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, sometimes even business events.
“I’m not much of a speaker,” they begin hesitantly before proceeding to do their best to cope with the podium limelight thrust upon them.
The art of spoken communication comes naturally to only a few, as City of Greater Geelong Toastmasters club members readily admit.
And even for the naturals, quite a bit of preparation goes into making a speech.
Fear of public speaking is still rated in surveys as a fate worse than death, so Toastmasters members see it is a lifesaver.
The 88-year-old organisation claims it has helped more than four million people worldwide overcome the speaking yips.
Geelong club president Veronica Kratzmann called Toastmasters a “proven way of building speaking and leadership skills”.
“Our club has helped many people in a fun and friendly environment – and at minimal cost.”
Veronica said the skills acquired through Toastmasters could be used in a variety of situations such as work presentations, functions, job interviews or even one-on-one.
“Our members come from all walks of life, including professionals, students, stay-at-home parents and retirees.
“There’s also a mix of levels in speaking skill, from some who are very accomplished to some who are complete novices.
“Once you experience greater speaking confidence it spreads to other areas of life as well.”
Veronica said the club provided basic materials to get started.
“It’s a friendly, supportive environment where you can practice while receiving constructive evaluation.”
Toastmasters even has a competitive edge, with an international speech contest run through each district.
But the emphasis was on praise and improvement, Veronica said.
“Not everyone wants to compete but for some it’s a progression from what they’ve learned.
“In fact, many professional speakers on the circuit these days point to their humble beginnings at Toastmasters.
“It’s wonderful to see people come out of their shell and see the growth in their confidence.”
Veronica said Toastmasters International had a standard meeting format so travelling members could always feel at home in any club.
Guests were always welcome at Toastmasters meetings, she said.
Veronica said anyone interested in joining one of Geelong’s two Toastmasters clubs should phone David Parr on 5250 5984 or visit d73.toastmasters.org.au.
