Known as a professional organization that coaches and supports public speaking, Toastmasters International also helps members become leaders, with the motto “Where leaders are made.”
Known as a professional organization that coaches and supports public speaking, Toastmasters International also helps members become leaders, with the motto “Where leaders are made.”
Recently, officers and members of Toastmasters from throughout the Big Island gathered at a Toastmasters Leadership Institute in West Hawaii. Designed to enhance their communication and leadership skills, 36 members from five clubs discussed best practices and learned informative techniques in a variety of topics.
Traditionally, training for District 49, which includes all the Hawaiian Islands, has been conducted on Oahu. However, some island clubs have grown big enough to conduct training locally. Through the initiative and dedication of Area 12 director Mary J. Park and her committee, training for Big Island Toastmasters stayed home.
Park organized the event to give Big Island members a chance to meet and learn from each other. Club officers sat together and shared different situations and solutions to difficult problems. Speakers from island clubs also gave presentations on making best use of club websites, tips on impromptu speaking, how to prepare for a speech contest, closing a speech with a memorable ending, use of body language and effective speech evaluations.
Presenters included Keith Olson, Carla Steverson and Linda Carroll from Kona; Kyle Combes and Gavin Sebastian of Waimea; and Sharon Justice, Joann McCabe and NJ Moses of the Hilo. The Hilo Club, founded in 1952, is the oldest on the island.
The islandwide Area 12 contest for Table Topics (impromptu) and International Speeches will be from 1-3 p.m. March 5 at W.M. Keck Observatory, Hualalai Conference Room, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea. The public is welcome to attend this lively event.
For information about the closest Toastmasters Club on the island, visit www.bigislandtoastmasters.com.