OVERVIEW
Who ?
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Open to all
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What ?
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Chartered Toastmasters International Club, that does all of the activities of a traditional Toastmasters Club (has a two-track programme of communication and leadership), and has a focus on debate
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When ?
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2nd & 4th Monday of the month, year-round ~ 5:45-8:00 pm
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Where ?
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The Faculty Club ~ University of Toronto
(Location and directions)
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Why ?
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Become a better communicator, leader and debater
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How ?
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Activities: debate, debate evaluation, prepared speech, speech evaluation, Table Topics, etc. -- at every meeting + speech marathons + Area, Division & District activities + social activities -- serious, as well as fun and light-hearted, so some require preparation & some do not, to engage all present
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Co$t ?
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New members: $110/first 6 months - gets you the new members' kit with 2 manuals and 3 pamphlets
Dual/Renewing members: $65 for each additional 6-month period
Guests may attend a meeting FREE of charge but RSVP requested
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MEMBERSHIP
The Toronto Debate Toastmasters Club has a lot going for
it. We are a chartered
Toastmasters International club with a focus on debate. We hold debates in every meeting plus
we do all of the traditional Toastmasters activities. This is why our club is different from any club in the
world. Here are some of the
reasons you will enjoy the Toronto Debate Toastmasters Club:
- We
provide you with a SAFE and COMFORTABLE environment to practice your
speaking skills in both debates and speech – prepared and impromptu.
Our members and mentors will help you with your fear of public speaking
and allow you to progress at your own pace through a programme that's helped millions of people like you.
- Toronto
Debate Toastmasters Club has been a PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED club since
2004 -- the highest rating given to a club. This means we meet or exceed 9
of the 10 club goals set by Toastmasters International, including
membership growth, officer training, and individual members' achievements.
- We are
a club with a 50-50 mix of members: graduates and post-graduates from the
University of Toronto community, and employed professionals, executives
and entrepreneurs. Our members are from all over the world, which makes
for very dynamic and fun meetings.
Not only are our meetings/debates fun; we invite members and guest
to meet with us after the meeting, for some R & R. We hold several events and social
gatherings throughout the year. So ours is a busy and engaging club that
has a lot of fun while learning and growing.
MEMBERSHIP FAQ (frequently asked questions)
- What
do I get when I join? Once you have been registered with Toastmasters
International you will receive a Membership Kit and once a month receive the Toastmaster
magazine. In the membership kit you will
receive 2 manuals to work from:
Competent Communicator (CC)
and Competent Leader
(CL). You will also
receive 3 booklets; a) Effective Speech Evaluation; b) Gestures: Your Body Speaks; and c) Your Speaking Voice. These manuals will help you get acquainted
with the various meeting roles as well as build on your speaking and
presentation skills. Your
name will be added to the member roster. The Education Officer will ask you how you would like
to begin participating in the meetings. Usually, you will start out performing easy, less
demanding roles for a meeting, and then work your way to giving your first
speech, the icebreaker (when
you feel you are ready).
- What
does it cost? The membership fee is $110.00 for the first 6
months - gets you the new members' kit with 2 manuals and 3 pamphlets - and once a member; you pay $65.00 thereafter, for each additional
6-month period. The fees are payable twice a year in March and
October. Fee payment may be made by on-line banking, cheque, cash or money order, payable to Toronto Debate Toastmasters Club
- What
do I get for my investment? You will receive a Membership Kit from
Toastmasters International as well as a monthly subscription to Toastmaster
magazine. Once inducted into the Club you
will receive a membership certificate, speaking tips and you will be able
to attend Toastmasters education and training seminars that are provided
throughout the year. You will be able to attend the Toastmaster
Conferences twice a year in the Fall and Spring as a member and enter the
speech contests held twice a year. The Competent Communicator manual
contains a description of the 10 speeches that you complete at your own
pace and earn your CC (Competent Communicator) award. In the Competent
Leader manual there are 10 projects to complete at your own pace and earn
your CL (Competent Leader)
award.
Because we also hold debates at our
meetings, you will be given the opportunity to test your debating and speaking
skills. Debate teaches and tests you in speaking. There is constructive speech
in which you prepare to build your case and the rebuttal portion in which you
rebut or argue against the other team.
We also evaluate the debate as all of our activities. We debate serious
and fun, light-hearted topics. This gives you the opportunity to work on debate
skills with or without having to do some research in advance. Debate helps to
sharpen your
listening skills, thinking skills,
and speaking skills – some of the fundamental skills Toastmasters helps
you work on.
- If
I attend a meeting as a guest, do I have to make up my mind about joining
that night? No. We recommend you come
back and visit us. A guest is welcome to attend up to 3 meetings free of
charge. This way you can get to know our members and club. You might even
want to visit other clubs in the area and find one that best fits your
needs.
- If
I join, do I have to attend every meeting? While there is no
requirement to attend every meeting, a Toastmaster's commitment is to
attend the meetings regularly.
- How
long does it take to get on the agenda if I want to give a speech? We
meet twice a month, every 2nd and 4th Monday of the
month and our meetings are two-and-a-quarter hours long. The first portion
of the meeting is for the debate and the remainder of the meeting is for
speeches. We usually have about 4 speeches per meeting. We do hold speech marathons
several times thorough out the year.
There is seldom any wait to get on the agenda. Just contact the VP
of Education who manages the duty roster.
- What
growth opportunities does Toastmasters offer? Toastmasters offers you almost unlimited opportunities for growth. You can improve your
public speaking skills and your interpersonal communication skills. You
can learn how to work with and be a leader to people from all walks of
life. You can even learn how to run for office and hold high profile
positions. You can hone your skills as a professional speaker, competing
for the coveted title of "World Champion of Public Speaking."
- Where
can I find more information about the club and Toastmasters? Please
feel free to check out our club website: www.torontodebate.org
. You may contact the VP of Membership or any other executive whenever you
wish to be our guest. We are happy to help you and look forward to working
with you.
What did I get from Toastmasters? For
me, the biggest boost was the courage to speak in front of an audience. I am
now able to do presentations and seminars without the fear of sounding "silly".
Toastmasters has provided me the environment to perfect my speaking and
leadership skills. Toastmasters has taught me to think on my feet and to have a
better command of the language and has given me a great setting to practice
speaking in public. The bonds you build with your fellow Toastmasters
definitely give you the support and encouragement to keep pushing yourself to
break the barriers of fear in public speaking.
If you had asked me five years ago to enter a speech
contest or do a presentation I would have headed for the hills. Today I am a
coordinator for Toastmasters' Youth Leadership Programme at the North York
Library. I have been doing this now for four years and teach high school
students in public speaking. I usually have between 15 and 20 students. I have
now competed in 3 speech contests and hope one day to make it to the "Worlds". I have completed my CTM, CL, ATM-B and
I am now working on my ATM-S (Advanced Toastmaster-Silver). This is what
Toastmasters did for me and can also do for you!
M. Szatcker
VP Membership
mwolf-talla@hotmail.com
