Halifax and Huddersfield Speakers Club

About The ASC

The Association of Speakers Clubs is a non-profit making self help organisation formed to help people develop and improve their communication skills.

The ASC has 145 clubs in 8 districts across the United Kingdom, and a membership of about 2000 people. It is committed to teaching the art of effective speaking through practice and evaluation rather than classroom lecturing.

It does not employ professional lecturers or speakers but draws upon the experience of its membership (who have all suffered the fears and lack of confidence themselves) to help evaluate and encourage newer members.

Within the atmosphere of friendly and congenial club gatherings the ASC offers a well proven approach to learning and improving effective speaking - both prepared and impromptu.

Origins

The ASC has its origins in Toastmasters International, an American organisation formed by Ralph C. Smedley in 1904. The movement spread across the Atlantic in 1935, with the first British branch being formed in Southport. Development followed quickly throughout Scotland and England until 1971, when the British Clubs decided to form a separate organisation, and the Association of Speakers Clubs was formed. Since that date the ASC has grown into a national organisation of nearly 200 Clubs throughout the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is divided into 8 Districts which are in turn divided into Areas. Each Area contains between 3 and 9 clubs. The affairs of ASC are governed by decisions of the General Council which meets annually to determine the management and development strategy of the Association.

The Council is comprised of delegates from every chartered ASC Club in the country. The annual conference is part business and part social. At the the A.G.M. itself, members hear their officers report on the business of the Association and all delegates can express their views (and often do!).

At the same event, a National Speech Contest, a National Evaluation Contest and a National Topics Contest are held, at which members demonstrate the skills they have developed through the educational programmes conducted within the Clubs.

The Association is administered by the National Executive Committee, which consists of the National President, the National Secretary, Treasurer, Development Officer and Education Director, together with certain other appointed officers and, most importantly, the President and Vice-President of each District.

Each District, Area and Club has its own management organisation to ensure that Clubs and members receive information, help and the opportunity to develop expertise in preparing speeches, gaining confidence and speaking in public to the best of their personal ability.

About The Clubs

Clubs may choose to be of mixed membership, men only or ladies only, according to their local needs and membership preferences. There is also provision for affiliated membership for other Clubs who have empathy with the aims of the Association, but for some reasons are not able or do not wish to seek full membership.

The Speakers Guide

The Association publishes a Guide to provide a framework for the educational development of members. The Guide is issued to every member upon joining the Association, and gives advice on how to improve one's skills in public speaking from the earliest stage through to advanced performance.

The first sections give general advice on how to prepare and deliver a speech. Then the ten main assignments are explained. Each is designed to improve a particular aspect of speaking, from speech construction to the use of the voice, culminating in the tenth assignment when the speaker demonstrates that confidence and practical tools of speaking have been developed sufficiently to deliver the 'masterpiece'.

The advanced section gives a further range of opportunities, and the book concludes with a number of invaluable sections giving practical advice on specific issues. The book also gives advice on Evaluation, or the art of providing helpful and constructive criticisms to a speaker, which is the hallmark of all Clubs within the Association.

www.the-asc.org.uk