GUEST BOOKLET

WEBSITE: TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ

EMAIL: INFO@TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ

TOASTMASTERS

NEW ZEALAND

WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE

Speaking Tips

To ensure you can do perform to your best, learn to manage and control nervousness. Here’s some tips to help:

KNOW THE ROOM Become familiar with the venue in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area, stand at the lectern, speak into the microphone. If you’ll be using visual aids, practice with them. Walk around the area where the audience will be seated. Walk from where you’ll be seated to the lectern, as you will when you’re introduced. KNOW THE AUDIENCE If possible, greet audience members as they arrive and chat with them. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers. KNOW YOUR MATERIAL Become familiar with your material. Practice your speech and revise it until you can present it with ease. RELAX Doing exercises eases tension. Sit comfortably and breathe in slowly, hold your breath for 4 - 5 seconds, then slowly exhale. Repeat 10 - 20 times. Or do physical exercises. Stand straight, arms extended over your head. Then bend and touch your toes. Repeat 10 times. Stand with feet apart. Extend your arms out at your sides, then turn your head and torso to the left. Return to centre, then turn to the right. Repeat 10 times. To relax facial muscles, open your mouth and eyes wide, then close them tightly. Repeat five times.

VISUALISE GIVING YOUR SPEECH Imagine yourself walking confidently to the lectern as the audience applauds. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. Picture the audience applauding as you finish and return to your seat. When you visualise yourself as successful, you will be successful. REALISE PEOPLE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED Audiences want speakers to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. Everyone wants you to succeed. This is especially true in your Toastmasters club. Your audience will always be supportive. DON’T APOLOGISE Most of the time, mistakes and nervousness do not show. If you don’t say anything about it, nobody will notice. Deliver your speech as if nothing is wrong and you won’t be drawing the audience’s attention to it. CONCENTRATE ON THE MESSAGE NOT ON HOW YOU ARE FEELING If you are feeling anxious, focus your attention away from what’s inside to what’s outside - your message and your audience. GAIN EXPERIENCE Experience builds confidence, which is a key to effective speaking. The more you speak, likely the less nervous you will feel.

“I am more capable then I realised” K-J Jones, Toastmaster

WEBSITE: TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ EMAIL: INFO@TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ

Welcome to Toastmasters

Thank you for being our guest at a Toastmasters meeting. Congratulations on taking the first step to becoming a better you.

Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members can develop greater self-confidence and personal growth. We achieve this through:

IMPROVED COMMUNICATION Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in

any situation. Whether you are a mature manager, student, young professional, career advancer or looking to make an impact in your community, Toastmasters is the most efficient, supportive,

enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. You’ll improve your interpersonal communication and be more persuasive and confident when giving speeches.

BETTER LEADERSHIP SKILLS While some are born confident, charismatic leaders, others must work to develop their leadership skills. Through Toastmasters, you’ll gain the practice to become the leader and speaker you want to be. You will also sharpen your management skills, become a better negotiator, gain trust and

inspire your team. Learn to be decisive!

About Toastmasters Since 1924, Toastmasters International has been recognised as the leading organisation dedicated to communication and leadership skill development. Through its worldwide network of clubs, each week Toastmasters helps men and women of every ethnicity, education level and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. Toastmasters International is non-profit and over 4,000,000 can testify it works.

358,000

members

16,800

clubs

143

countries

Benefits of Membership Communication and leadership skills cannot be learnt in a day. However, by attending meetings

regularly, accepting speaking and leadership roles, delivering prepared speeches, constructive

evaluations, impromptu speeches and working through the Pathways Learning Experience, you

can benefit in many ways. Some of the benefits of membership include:

Benefits as a Speaker 1. Feel confident and comfortable giving a speech 2. Organise speeches so they effectively convey your message 3. Create speech openings that capture interest and attention 4. Write string and memorable conclusions 5. Speak without using filler words 6. Choose precise and vivid words that carry your message 7. Think quickly and clearly on your feet 8. Not depend on notes when giving a speech

Benefits as a Leader

1. Plan and conduct effective meetings 2. Improve listening skills 3. Learn to delegate and motivate others 4. Give better sales presentations 5. Hone team-building and management skills 6. Work better with fellow employees 7. Effectively develop and present ideas 8. Offer and accept constructive criticism more objectively

How Toastmasters Works Members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of approximately 15 – 20 people who meet anywhere from once a week to once a month for one to two hours. Each meeting gives members several opportunities:

CONDUCT MEETINGS

Learning how to plan and conduct meetings

PATHWAYS LEARNING EXPERIENCE An exciting, interactive and flexible education programme with

11 paths to choose from

PREPARED SPEECHES

Present speeches on a variety of topics based on Pathways projects

CONSTRUCTIVE EVALUATIONS

Recognise speech strengths and offers suggestions for

improvement

IMPROMPTU SPEECHES

Present one- to two-minute impromptu

speeches on randomly-assigned topics

CLUB MEETING ROLES

Toastmasters Clubs mission is to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. There are almost 300 clubs in New Zealand and over 5500 members. Club meetings provide an opportunity for members to learn and practice communication and leadership skills by assuming a variety of roles. Each meeting role has a unique set of responsibilities and skills for you to explore. A mentor, will help you perform these roles. Some roles may vary depending on the club.

TOASTMASTERS CLUBS

ARE UNIQUE

It’s okay to visit a few before joining on. With

almost 300 clubs in New Zealand, you’re sure to find the right one to suit

you nearby.

TOASTMASTER The main duties of the Toastmaster are to coordinate and conduct the entire meeting, introduce participants, and act as a genial host. This task is generally reserved for members who are quite familiar with the club and its procedures. GRAMMARIAN The responsibilities of the grammarian are to introduce new words to members, comment on the language used during the course of the meeting, and to provide examples of good grammar and word usage. Report the use of creative language and announce who used the word of the day (or a form of it) correctly. GENERAL EVALUATOR The General Evaluator is the member who

evaluates everything that take place throughout the meeting except prepared speeches. This taks is generally reserved for members who are quite familiar with the club and its procedures. TIMER A hallmark of effective speakers is the ability to express themselves within a specific amount fo time. Members rely on the timer to pace speeches and practice adhering to a time frame. INTRODUCER Introductions are often performed by the Evaluator or Toastmaster. A good introduction paves the way for a positive experience for the speaker and the audience.

“Walking into a Toastmasters meeting has been

one of my major highlights” T Chong, Toastmaster

SPEAKER A major part of every Toastmasters meeting revolves around one to four scheduled speakers. Members prepare their speeches based on projects in Toastmasters Pathways learning experience. EVALUATOR The most important benefit of Toastmasters for members is the honest, fair, and supportive evaluation of their presentations and leadership accomplishments.

TABLE TOPICS® MASTER The table topics master is responsible for preparing and issuing an original, creative topic or topics. The Table Topics® sessions is the portion of the meeting designed to give every member and guest of the club an opportunity to speak extemporaneously for a minute or two. TABLE TOPICS® SPEAKERS Members are called upon to respond to random questions or topics. Guests may use this opportunity to introduce themselves instead.

“They may forget what you said - but they will never forget how you made

them feel” Carl W. Beuchner, Author

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and

looks like work.” Thomas Edison, Inventor

Pathways is designed to help you build skills to communicate and lead. Listed below are the 11 paths that teach more than 300 unique competencies. Pathways is online, so you can learn anytime, anywhere and develop real-world, transferable skills. Content is available in English Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP Builds skills as a strategic leader with projects focusing on understanding leadership and communication styles, the effect of conflict on a group and the skills needed to defuse and direct conflict. EFFECTIVE COACHING Builds skills as a positive communicator and leader with projects focusing on understanding and building consensus, contributing to the development of others by coaching and establishing strong public speaking skills. ENGAGING HUMOUR Builds skills as a humorous and engaging public speaker with projects focusing on understanding your sense of humour and how that sense of humour translates to engaging audience members. INNOVATIVE PLANNING Builds skills as a public speaker and leader with projects focusing on developing a strong connection with audience members when you present, speech writing and speech delivery. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Builds skills as an effective communicator and leader with projects focusing on learning how to manage time, as well as how to develop and implement a plan.

MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES Build your skills as a powerful and effective communicator with projects focusing on learning strategies for building connections with the people around you, understanding motivation and successfully leading small groups to accomplish tasks. PERSUASIVE INFLUENCE Build your skills as an innovative communicator and leader with projects focusing on how to negotiate a positive outcome together with building strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. PRESENTATION MASTERY Build your skills as an accomplished public speaker with projects focusing on learning how an audience responds to you and improving your connection with audience members. STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS Build your skills as a leader in communication with projects focusing on understanding diversity, building personal and/or professional connections with a variety of people and developing a public relations strategy. TEAM COLLABORATION Build your skills as a collaborative leader with projects focusing on active listening, motivating others and collaborating with a team. VISIONARY COMMUNICATION Build your skills as a strategic communicator and leader with projects focusing on developing your skills for sharing information with a group, planning communications and creating innovative solutions. Visit https://www.toastmasters.org/pathways-overview/ice-breaker to see the first project, the Icebreaker.

PRESIDENT

Serves as the club’s chief executive officer and

is responsible for general supervision and operation of the club and to ensure club officers adhere to their responsibilities. VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION Schedules club roles, promotes participation, tracks members progress, orientates new members onto Pathways, and assigns mentors. VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP Conducts club membership building activities, manages guests, distributes guest booklets, records members joining, and ensures members needs are being met. VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS Promotes the club and often maintains the club

website and social media pages. SECRETARY Maintains an accurate membership roster, keeps club officer details up-to-date, handles club correspondence, maintains club files and records minutes from Business meetings.

TREASURER Prepares the budget, records financial transactions, pays bills and prepares financial reports for business meetings.

SERGEANT AT ARMS Prepares the venue prior to each meeting and maintains club equipment and ensures adequate supplies are available.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Provides guidance and knowledge to club officers and members.

Club Committee Roles

Each club has an Executive Committee who make decisions that guide the club and support members. If you join, you may wish to challenge yourself with a Club Leadership role. All Club Officers attend leadership training twice a year. A Club Officer position is the first step on your leadership journey in Toastmasters.

Beyond the club, serving as a district leader is an exciting opportunity. You will receive full training, network with other club and district leaders, and get every opportunity to develop advanced communication and leadership skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Q: AM I GOOD ENOUGH TO JOIN? A: We all began our Toastmasters' journey at different times. Some members have been involved for over 40 years, while others are new. The one thing we all share is that we all started where you are now. Nobody is "not good enough" to join. Q: HOW MANY TIMES CAN I VISIT AS A GUEST? A: Most clubs allow guests to visit a club three times before deciding to join. Plus you can visit other clubs as each has a different culture. You can find a full list of clubs in your area by visiting www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club Q: WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CLAPPING AND HAND SHAKING? A: Applauding speakers is to acknowledge the person who has finished speaking and welcome the next speaker to the floor. Handshakes are a way to pass the stage to the next speaker so there is never an empty speaking area. Some cultures don't shake hands and that is perfectly okay. Q: ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE. WILL TOASTMASTERS HELP? A: Many people who have English as a second language join Toastmasters. Not only do these members get to practice English and receive feedback, but they also learn more about the NZ culture and we learn more about theirs. Diversity is celebrated in Toastmasters. Q: I MAY NEED EXTRA HELP. CAN I GET IT? A: Yes. All members may have a mentor, even experienced members. A mentor who can explain how to do a role, a project, help set goals of bounce ideas off.

How to Join So you’ve decided you want to practice public speaking, improve your communication and build leadership skills? Joining is easy! Complete the membership form, return to the club along with the one-off new member fee plus club subscription, and you’re good to go! When you join, you will learn how the club operates, and have a mentor assigned to answer any questions you have and help guide you on your journey to personal and professional growth. TOASTMASTERS MAGAZINE When you are a member, you can receive physical copies of the Toastmasters magazine. Digital copies are also available online from www.toastmasters.org/magazine. The magazine is a valuable resource of tips and tricks and will keep you abreast of the latest International news and developments throughout Toastmasters. SPEECHCRAFT COURSES In four-eight short sessions, you will learn through practice and by studying the materials provided to gain confidence in all aspects of communication, including written and impromptu speeches, body language and listening. To find out if there is a Speechcraft course near you, email info@toastmasters.org.nz CREATE A CLUB New clubs are created to serve businesses, groups, and various locations where people want to development their communication and leadership skills. Clubs can be public or private and you get to name it. If you have a minimum of 20 people who may be interested in becoming members of a new club, email info@toastmasters.org.nz for more information.

__________________

What people say about Toastmasters

“(meet) this fear of speaking in public head-on” T Morrell

“get through job interviews successfully” L Davy

“get my confidenceback” M Sears

“want to be a world class speaker.” C Marsh

“improve my presentation skills” K Crawford

“challenge myself!” N Jensen

“fun and fellowship” K Palmer

“become a better leader” C Aati

“become a TED speaker” B Johnson

“to grow myself” P Watson

Are you up for the challenge?

FIND A CLUB NEAR YOU www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club

WEBSITE: TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ

EMAIL: INFO@TOASTMASTERS.ORG.NZ