A Message from the President

Brian MacGavin

Over the years I have heard about Toastmasters and I often thought to myself that someday I would join in order to improve my public speaking skills.  This thought became a reality early in 2008 when the Community Health Agency started their own Toastmasters club called CHAT and I joined as one of its founding members.  I realized early on that this club offered me a unique and convenient opportunity for self improvement.   However, I never thought that one day I would become the CHAT President. 

As I continued to mature in my membership, I have learned that Toastmasters has much more to offer in self development than improving public speaking skills.  Under the guise of improving our public speaking skills many of us have enjoyed networking, camaraderie and learning new things from colleagues.  Initially while enjoying these things, there are two big benefits seemingly to go by unnoticed.  These are the opportunities for developing communications and leadership skills. 

Toastmasters provides us with the ability to improve upon our communication skills.  As we prepare and give our progressive speeches, the meetings provide us with the forum to practice better communications.  CHAT members participate in different roles and responsibilities each week providing an atmosphere of learning by doing, watching and evaluating.  We report feedback in a manor that encourages our fellow toastmasters to continue in their learning and development. 

The Competent Leadership portion of Toastmasters gives each member a chance to practice and get feedback on fundamental leaderships skills through a series of 10 projects.  Learning and refining critical leadership skills such as how to listen, think critically, plan, organize, manage time, facilitate, motivate, mentor and build teams helps us to become better leaders.

With all this to offer, Toastmasters gives us a great and convenient opportunity to enhance our lives!  If you are interested in joining our group, and an 85 year old organization consisting of 12,000 clubs and 250,000 members worldwide, don’t wait, act now!  Contact our Vice President of Membership Aaron Gardner, CC at 951-358-5557 (x85557),  agardner@co.riverside.ca.usor me at 951-358-5029 (x85167), bmacgavi@co.riverside.ca.us.