In phobia surveys it usually comes in first, and it’s not flying, mice, or heights.
It’s public speaking. And it knows no ethnic, socioeconomic, or cultural bounds.
Mastering it can lead to a life of confidence, fulfillment, and maybe personal or professional prosperity.
At least that’s what the multitude of those involved with Toastmasters International will tell you. And in New Jersey, there are legions of followers.
Ask Margarita Estrada, public relations officer of Toastmasters District 83, which counts members in 12 northern and central New Jersey counties, including Hudson. Estrada, who was born in Jersey City and grew up in West New York, says the group has more than 300,000 members in nearly 15,000 clubs worldwide. In New Jersey there are more than 150 clubs, including nearly 20 in Hudson County.
“The club not only builds speakers, but also managers and leaders,” said Estrada, who started out in the Toastmasters En Espanol in Union City.
Toastmasters has chapters in schools, churches, libraries, and Fortune 500 Companies, and its members come from all walks of life; they include scientists, corporate presidents, blue collar workers, teachers, and entrepreneurs.
“I consider it exercise for your brain,” said Kieran White of the Bayonne chapter. “The writing and how to say things are the most challenging. It’s as if it’s a mental challenge and a mental exercise.”
White went from never speaking in a public place to addressing a school meeting of 500-plus. He can be seen at his local city council and Board of Education meetings giving an opinion when he has one.
He credits Toastmasters with giving him this newfound skill — and after only a year with the group.
White has also used his acquired skills professionally, giving speeches on safety at work. But it didn’t stop there.
“It’s given me more confidence in reaching out and doing other things in life that involve social mixing,” he said.
Toastmasters has had similar results for Oomadai Rampersaud of Jersey City. Working in an administrative position for a redevelopment company in downtown Jersey City, she deals with hundreds of people from inside and outside her company, speaking with most of them.
“The skill wasn’t there before, but now it is,” she said. “I’m getting more and more confident giving speeches, or explaining things to other people.”
Rampersaud feels the skills learned at Toastmasters have helped her in other, more important ways.
“I’m really able to take command of things, things that need to be done,” she said.
Rampersaud enjoys Toastmasters so much she’s an area governor and a member of two groups, New Heights Toastmasters and Jersey Toastmasters, both of which meet at Bergen Avenue sites in Jersey City.
In two languages
Julian Hernandez of Union City founded Toastmaster units in his hometown in 2003 and ’04, one for English speaking people and the other for Spanish speaking.
“I had heard about Spanish Toastmasters in other parts of the country,” Hernandez said. “I was inspired by them, and felt we could start them as well.”
His Spanish-speaking club is larger than his English one, with members hailing from as far as New Brunswick, Staten Island, and Westchester County.
“They want to keep their skills sharp,” Hernandez said. “Everyone wants to keep their communications skills.”
How to join
Toastmasters has a $75 annual fee, with a free subscription to the organization’s monthly magazine and benefits from its toastmasters.org website.
For more information about Toastmaster clubs in Hudson County, contact Laura Healy Santo, District 83, Division G, which covers most of the county, at lmvhs@yahoo.com. Clubs for specific areas can also be found on the Toastmaster site.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.