How It Works

Within the club, we learn by participation, observation and evaluation. Basically, members work through a series of speaking assignments, are evaluated and learn by doing in a supportive environment. If you attend our meetings with diligence, no matter how talented you were when you joined, you will complete your first manual with a new, richer understanding of others and of yourself, and, you will be more skilled. We build on the skills you already have and help you to add to them to improve your communications skills.

Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:

• Conducting meetings. Our meetings start/end on time, have specific roles assigned in advance, and have a prepared, printed agenda. The role of “Toastmaster” (person who runs the meeting) rotates each meeting so that each member can learn and practice these skills.
  
  
• Giving impromptu speeches. Several members are asked questions (from serious to hilarious) and asked to present one-to-two minute impromptu speeches in answer to the question.
  
  
• Presenting prepared speeches. Three or more members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program manuals. Projects cover such topics as speech organization, voice, language, gestures, and persuasion.
  
  
• Offering constructive evaluation. Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

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"I was most impressed by the level of experience and Toastmasters knowledge in the club. The evaluations were very comprehensive with no 'whitewashing'. I got excellent directions to follow to improve my speaking performance. When I joined Fast Forward, it felt like I had "graduated" into an elite Toastmasters Club." – Judith Rinehart, ATMS, CL; District 50 Area 61 Governor 2005-2006

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When you join our club you receive a variety of manuals and resources on speaking. You also have access to other books as well as audio and video cassettes on speaking and leading. You also receive the award-winning The Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques.

Beyond just speaking our club offers numerous opportunities to practice and hone leadership and motivation skills. The skills are started through active participation in our club meetings. They can be nurtured through taking on the challenge of being a mentor for a new member or by becoming a club officer. There are numerous leadership opportunities within the hierarchy of Toastmasters International that are reached by joining a great club such as Fast Forward Communicators.