It’s a fact of life that along with root canals and tax audits, many people despise the thought of speaking in front of a crowd.
Public speaking tends to dredge up fears and insecurities that folks would just as soon let lie.
Toastmasters International, a Mission Valejo, Calif.-based organization that runs seminars aiming to help people overcome their fear of public speaking and improve their speech, came to Union City last week in what was the second meeting of the newly-formed Union City chapter.
According to the Toastmasters web site (www.toastmaster.org), “At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice.”
And while attendance was sparse last week, the members who were present attacked the tasks given to them with gusto.
Headed by five-year Toastmasters International veteran Julian Hernandez, the meeting opened up with a section called “table topics.” This involves the audience asking the various speakers three to five questions, to which the respondents give one to two-minute responses. It gets everyone warmed up.
All sections of a speech are evaluated, analyzed and discussed. “Ums,” “ahs” and pauses are totaled up. Incorrect grammar is noted. The speaker’s movement (hands, body swaying, eye contact) is looked at and at the end of the speech, all of this is relayed back to the speaker. While it sounds tough, the sense of camaraderie is evident. No one is hurt by the evaluations.
According to club head Julian Hernandez, people come to find out about Toastmasters in different ways. “Personally, I heard about it through a workshop at work,” he said. “That workshop was really good. I wanted to find out more, so I called.”
Most of the assembled folks at last week’s meeting were people who were already involved in a career. They seemed to understand that beyond being properly “networked” or in “the right place at the right time,” an important aspect of creating a good impression and getting ahead is the ability to communicate in a professional, concise manner. Consequently, those involved with Toastmasters take it seriously.
Helps with work, and outside of it
According to Hoboken Toastmasters Chapter member Jose Juri who was present at last week’s meeting and is a sales executive for a large company, “Professionally, it’s helped me immensely in sales. I notice an absolute difference. You learn how to critique not only other people but yourself, which in my field is so important. You become more analytical and less of an ‘observer.’
It evidently has an effect in social circles as well. Union City’s Jane Casares described Toastmasters’ effect outside of work. “I notice myself speaking to people different even socially,” explains Casares. “People get bored easily, and you need to get your point across effectively.”
The Union City chapter of Toastmasters International is in its infancy. In order to become a “chartered” (official) club, it must have 20 members. Last weeks meeting showed that the Union City club is about halfway there. Club leader Hernandez seemed confident that the club will reach its required membership size.
Said Hernandez, “Toastmasters has really given me confidence in all areas of my life. I would never be able to stand up in front of an audience without Toastmasters.”
Union City may, at first blush, seem like a strange place to have a public speaking club, since it’s predominantly Spanish-speaking. But this didn’t one member at last week’s meeting from attending. Despite the fact that he is still learning English, Union City’s Jairo Sandoval nevertheless stood up in front of the group and did the best he could. This is the essence of Toastmasters.
“People ask me ‘Why Union City?’ ” said Julian Hernandez in his opening speech. “I say, ‘Why not Union City?’ ”
Anyone interested in joining Toastmasters can call Julian Hernandez at 201-865-6622 or email him at uctoast@yahoo.com. The club is open to anyone but they must be able to attend the meetings in Union City.