Grace Weltman has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from USC and is President of Communities in Motion, a public policy consulting firm for nonprofit and public agencies. She presented the benefits of Toastmasters membership in improving speaking skills and confidence, in a supportive Club environment. Toastmasters Alisa Manjarrez & Ana Razo also spoke briefly.
Toastmasters’ members learn by speaking to their group of about 20 who meet once a week. They learn how to plan & conduct meetings, give 1 to 2 minute impromptu speeches, present prepared speeches, and offer constructive evaluation of each other’s performance. Grace asked some of our Rotary Club members to speak momentarily, to demonstrate how we can learn to speak briefly and effectively.
Members can begin building their public speaking and communication skills with the Competent Communication manual, which has 10 speech projects to help develop speaking skills, and become eligible for the Competent Communicator award. Then more advanced speaking and communication skills are available through a choice of 15 Advanced Communication Series manuals, each containing 5 speech projects, many of them career-oriented.