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Why I Joined Toastmasters International


I joined Toastmasters International after having several discussions with my client at work. He continually urged me to join the job?s local Toastmasters club. He gave me all the positive points for joining our local branch of Toastmasters International. I was very hesitant at the time because


from my workload.



My First Faith Step into Toastmasters International


After multiple attempts, I finally took my client up on his suggestion after speaking with my supervisor who had at one point been a member as well. She added an additional benefit which caused the light bulb to turn on in my head. This organization could help me enhance my leadership skills and allow me to set myself up for a possible promotion in the future. At that time, leadership skills are exactly what I needed to improve. I was being groomed in church to take a leadership position and I wanted to develop skills for work inside and outside of my job. I attend my first club meeting and I observed. I really was drawn to the structure of the meeting. The roles fellow members signed up for ahead of time and the overall meeting structure demonstrated a sense of order. I was not forced to participate in the Table Topics portion of the meeting which was a big plus for me. I really felt like I could give a 2-minute impromptu speech without two much apprehension because I?ve had to deliver that type of speech before in various settings in my personal life. I made up my mind at that meeting when I attended the next time, I would participate in Table Topics. When the time arrived for the next meeting, I was nervous! Those butterflies began creeping up, but I quickly turned on some skills that I had learned over the years that helped me in the past when I was placed in awkward last minute speaking situations. I breathed and found that inner peace space. I instantly went into HOST mode. I surveyed the crowd and did my 7 second countdown in my head. I took a deep breath and began to speak. Unknown to me at that time, some of the skills that I automatically used from hosting a talk show would be some of the same skills that were reinforced, reintroduced and enhanced by taking the Competent Communicator and Competent Leadership tracks in Toastmasters International which is now known as Pathways track.

 

I joined the local club, signed up for a mentor and was on my way! My mentor is great at storytelling and a natural at drawing people?s attention when he speaks. When I heard him speak for the first time during the local meeting, I was blown away. I decided I wanted to be just like him when I grew up! My mentor gave me great tips and prepped me for my icebreaker speech and began coaching me afterward for the Toastmasters Area and District level Table Topics competitions. As a result, I had the opportunity to compete and make it to first place in a division contest. I acted as the Vice President of Education (VPE) for the club, and I developed mentoring relationships with other members.  


Why Host a Television Program?

I had a love for acting as a teenager and began my work in this area throughout Junior and High School. While in college, I majored in Television and Radio and enjoyed the production work as well. I attended a required speech core class where I had to give a speech in front of my fellow students. I was so nervous and fumbled, but I made it through the speech! I was determined to avoid showing nervousness or fear even when I felt it. I put my best effort forward to appear ?cool as a cucumber? while my emotions are fluttering around like a butterfly. After graduating from college, working a 9 to 5 job and working with a few of my college colleagues for several years on various productions and fund raising events, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  

I became a Community Producer in 1997 producing, directing, and assisting other community-based productions at Brooklyn Free Speech TV.  I began hosting my own community-based program in that same year because I could not find a suitable host to take the vision and concept I had for the show to the next level. Sometimes when God gives you the vision, you may have to be the one who is the face in front and behind the scenes. I have interviewed many people in faith-based organizations, politicians, artists, thespians, and well-known recording artists. I learned through training in the production arena, how to effectively execute a studio and remote production.


The Rewards and Awards

I took my skills even further outside of the local Toastmasters International club area. In 2016, I was nominated for the Internet TV Station/Show of the Year award from the Independent Gospel Artists Radio Alliance Awards (IGARAA) and was the Award Presenter during the LIVE televised event in Jacksonville, FL. The most astonishing event was winning an award at the 2016 B-Free Awards ceremony in Brooklyn, NY. I had to get up on stage and deliver a speech within a 1-minuted 30 second time frame. Like televised award shows, I knew my time was up once the music began to play and the microphone volume lowered. I?ve gained more confidence, and skills to think on my feet and outside of the box. I now teach the skills I?ve learned to others as a consultant.  



Why Not Give Toastmasters International a Try?

 

What is YOUR hesitation in attending a local meeting in your area of the world? I urge you to take a step of faith and try attending a Toastmasters International meeting. Are you looking to?



You may be well on your way to becoming the next high profile public speaker or orator in your community, city, town or nation. Check out the Toastmasters International to find your local club in your area of the world.



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Denise Sutton 

Video Presence Consultant 

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