Speak and Lead Toastmasters, based in Rutherford, New Jersey, invites residents, professionals, and students to an open house on Thursday, March 5, for an evening designed to help attendees strengthen their communication and leadership skills.
“Plant Your Seed for Growth” aims to give participants renewed confidence as they hear from featured speakers and experience a full Toastmasters meeting. There will be prepared speeches, evaluations, and Table Topics™, the club’s signature impromptu speaking activity. During Table Topics™, participants are randomly selected to speak for one to two minutes — an energizing exercise that builds quick thinking, clarity, and confidence under pressure.
“Plant Your Seed for Growth” takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. at Sammartino Hall, Felician University, 257 Montross Ave., Rutherford, New Jersey. For more information, email Steven Drapkin at vppr.tm660313@gmail.com
Speak and Lead Toastmasters meets every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Sammartino Hall, Felician University in Rutherford. Guests are always welcome. For more information about this event and the club, see Speak and Lead Toastmasters.
About District 83
District 83 comprises more than 100 corporate and community clubs in Northern New Jersey and Rockland County. To learn more about District 83, please visit: tm83.org
Each meeting has three parts: formal speeches, extemporaneous speeches, and the educational portion. Formal speeches are prepared and delivered from a manual that outlines the speech objectives.
Extemporaneous speeches (or table topics) provide practice in quick, comprehensive thinking and speaking. The educational portion of the meeting allows us to learn what we did well, where we could improve, and to cover details such as timing and presentation.
When a person does well, they gain expertise and confidence. When fulfilling meeting roles, one learns teamwork and leadership skills.
When you attend a meeting, there is no obligation to join, and you’ll find a friendly, non-competitive group of people who are interested in you and your growth as a speaker and leader.
About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person. In a supportive community or corporate environment, members prepare and deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and give and receive constructive feedback.
Through this regular practice, members are empowered to meet personal and professional communication goals. Founded in 1924, the organization is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and has over 265,000 members in more than 13,800 clubs across nearly 150 countries. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit toastmasters.org.
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that helps individuals improve their public speaking, communication, and leadership skills in a supportive, learn-by-doing environment. Through structured meeting roles, prepared speeches, and peer evaluations, members build confidence, reduce speaking anxiety, and enhance personal and professional development.
Key purposes of Toastmasters include:
- Improving Public Speaking: Members practice delivering prepared speeches and impromptu responses (Table Topics) to gain confidence and competence.
- Developing Leadership Skills: By taking on various meeting roles and organizing club activities, members learn to manage teams, provide feedback, and lead, as explained on the Toastmasters official website.
- Providing Constructive Feedback: Meetings focus on peer-to-peer evaluations, enabling members to receive constructive feedback and learn from one another in a supportive environment.
- Fostering Personal Growth & Networking: It serves as a space to build self-confidence, network with other members, and develop practical skills like time management and listening.
- Structured Learning Path: Through the “Pathways” learning experience, members follow a curriculum tailored to their goals, advancing their skills at their own pace.
With thousands of clubs worldwide, Toastmasters offers a structured yet supportive environment for developing effective communication and leadership.