Welcome to Strictly Speaking Harrogate Toastmasters!
Toastmasters International (TMI) started as a single club founded by Ralph C Smedley on 22nd October 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ara, California,USA. TMI originated as a set of classes with the aim of improving the leadership and communication skills of young men. From 1973, women were admitted as members of Toastmasters International and membership numbers doubled. Today, Toastmasters International has over 280,000 members in 15,800 clubs, in 149 countries.
One of the greatest fears that most people have is the fear of speaking in public, whether that be at a social gathering or at a meeting/event at work. Toastmaster clubs provide a safe, encouraging environment where people can develop and grow their communication and leadership skills.
At Strictly Speaking Harrogate club, we are a warm and friendly bunch of members, who want to see you overcome your fears of public speaking and also grow to become an accomplished speaker. We want you to also have fun in the process.
I agree with our Immediate Past President, Kevin Lee, that each Toastmasters club is like a welcoming campfire – it draws people to sit around. Like every campfire, each club depends on members to keep the fire burning. While the campfire burns, all those around it can share in its warmth and light.
Toastmasters meetings consist of two halves. In the first half, we have our Sergeant at Arms, who opens the meeting and explains the Toastmasters protocol. The Toastmaster hosting the meeting briefly explains the theme of the meeting. Several members deliver pre-prepared speeches, via projects from the interactive online educational Toastmasters Pathways programme. We also have educational sessions regarding how to improve our public speaking and leadership skills.
In the second half of the meeting, we can take part, if we so wish, in practicing improvisational speaking in the 'Table Topics' session. We also have an evaluation session of the speeches we have heard in the first part of the meeting. It is through feedback, that we improve and grow.
Join us for a taster...
We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday. In February, the meetings will at The Cairn Hotel on Ripon Road, Harrogate. Please note: From March 2024, our meetings will be at St Robert's Club, Harrogate. HG1 1HP (upstairs). Please arrive at 6.45 p.m. for a 7pm start so you can meet our members and settle in before the meeting starts.
Join our club...
Toastmasters International is a non-profit organisation. Membership dues are collected to cover the costs of our room hire and subscription to Toastmasters International, which includes:
- monthly online magazine;
- ongoing access to Pathways (our learning program);
There is a one-off joining fee of £49 (includes your first online educational Pathway) plus a monthly subscription of £16. We believe this is outstanding value for your personal development in communication and leadership skills.
We love to see you at an upcoming meeting. Please get in touch for more information via hello@strictlyspeakingharrogate.org.uk
Or check out our club website: strictlyspeakingharrogate.org.uk
I hope to see you at our upcoming club meeting.
Best wishes
Jeremy Fennings
President 2023-2024 |