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Toastmasters can help you gain confidence when speaking in public.

If you have ever put your foot in your mouth, felt jitters at the thought of speaking in public, were at a loss for words at a pivotal moment or been in a social situation that felt awkward, I’ve got good news for you!

The Province of Manitoba has proclaimed January 2012 Toastmasters Month and your local Toastmasters group would love to have you pay a visit, with no charge to you.

Now, perhaps you’ve heard whisperings about Toastmasters. It’s got something to do with public speaking, right? Yes, but that’s just a part of the equation. Even if you have no intent to, speak publicly – you can still enjoy many of the benefit  of being a Toastmaster, such as improving your communication, listening, leadership, organizational, goal-setting, networking and social skills – to name some of the many benefits.

If you are anything like me, when I first heard about it, I thought it sounded a little ‘odd,’ – even a bit nerdy (forgive me). After I went to my first meeting about seven years ago, I found I was dead wrong.

Although people are given peculiar-sounding roles, such as grunt-counter and grammarian and stuffy titles like parliamentarian, Toastmasters teaches important and relevant skills in a friendly and safe environment.

People who join Toastmasters are generally a positive and motivated bunch interested not only in their own personal growth but in helping you grow, too.  

Every club, while having many similarities, has its own character. Some are very professional, some are more fun, some are at a very high level, some more for beginners, and most are filled with people at various levels. There is a club to suit every schedule, too. Morning people, come to mine— Peak Performers at 156 Marion St. on Thursdays  — we start at 6:59 a.m.

If that’s not for you, there are afternoon, evening or lunch-hour clubs, there are clubs that meet weekly and some that meet less often.

What’s superb about the organization is that the pace at which you progress is totally up to you. You can take your time and coast or your accelerate your learning and blast forward. Either one is fine, it gets to be your call.

Aside from being one of the most cost-effective forms of personal growth that I can recommend, I am confidentin saying that Toastmasters will enable you to develop in more ways than you can imagine.

To find a club near you visit www.toastmasters.org

Stephanie Staples is a St. Vital writer.

Neighbourhood Forum is a readers’ column. If you live in The Lance area and would like to contribute to this column, contact jim.timlick@canstarnews.com