Public Speaking? No Problem

On Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Toastmasters join for a 60 minute session. Club members develop speaking and leadership skills by replicating a formula of activities and member roles each meeting. This week, I had the opportunity to be “a most welcomed guest,” a saying of Toastmaster politesse, to a group of seven members gathered in a friendly atmosphere in Grand Valley State University’s DeVos Center.

Kim is the “ah counter,” counting “verbal cues such as ah, um, like. . .  so, you know.” Everyone laughs at her own error, “that kind of stuff.”

“I will be recording grammar misuse, counting the number of times misused and adjusting grammar for improvement,” member Mark says, later suggesting “wrote the book” rather than “wrote the book called,” a nuance usually missed without someone on the look out. 

Though the basics are the same, like Kim and Mark’s roles, each club has a distinct personality.

Lilybeth, a member of Grand Valley’s club for six months, steps to the front of the room and states the title of her speech: “How to Transform a T-Shirt into a Halter Top.” Spending the full seven minutes allotted for her speech she speaks quietly at first and then grows louder, while cutting, twisting and pinning a baggy T-shirt into a fitted halter-top on her model Kim, all while noting the timer-keeper’s flashing color cards to signal her pace.

Free to offer suggestions, members give valuable input. “While cutting the T-shirt, you could keep speaking, maybe talk about compliments you’ve gotten or where you’ve worn the halter top,” to eliminate a few moments of silence.

Asante’s speech incorporates visual aid, connecting his computer to a projector. A reference coordinator at Grand Rapids Public Library, his title is “Floccinaucinihilipilification.” Come again? Definition: the estimation of something as valueless. “Every library has value,” he says and assures us libraries are not floccinaucinihilipilificacious. He guides us through library databases like Chilton Library and Novelist, explaining each with clear excitement about what they have to offer. He distributes a pamphlet as an added effect.

Each of us writes down a question on a piece of paper and places it into a mix. Four impromtu speakers are chosen randomly and one by one, strive to speak for one minute. I struggled to reach it.

As I walked to the front of the room and drew my question, I immediately blurted “Um. . . Whoops, I wasn’t supposed to say that!”

The meeting concludes with final evaluations from the Evaluation Team and everyone claps. The formality dissolves and members linger to chat.

“During the school year, the club is a little different because more people can attend the sessions and it feels more like you are giving a formal speech to an audience rather than to a small group of friends,” Kim Keyunghee states.

“I initially joined Toastmasters as a way to meet professionals and other singles, and to improve my speaking and leadership skills. I learn a lot here,” member Judy explains.

This vibrant group clearly enjoys their professional development in the close-knit community they have formed.