Speech Cleveland Toastmasters 50th Anniversary

I gave this speech, for the 50^th anniversary celebration of Cleveland Toastmasters 351. Keynote speaker was Les Brown, a 1992 winner of Toastmasters "America's Top Five Speakers" award.

Fellow Toastmasters, our many honored guests and Mr. Brown ...

In a Tower City store window, there is a poster, showing a Cleveland Indians player sliding into base, with the saying, "All opportunity requires some risk. You can't steal second base, if you keep your foot on first." In a way, this is what Toastmasters is all about! Toastmasters will help you turn the risk of public speaking into an opportunity.

When I say I belong to Toastmasters, people ask me questions ... What is Toastmasters? What do you do at meetings? Do you have to give a speech?" And the biggest questions, "Aren't you nervous? Could I learn to speak in public?" To this last question, "Could you learn to do it?" ...

I answer a resounding yes!

Let me tell you a little bit about our club, Cleveland Toastmasters #351. We meet once a week in downtown Cleveland ... When you visit us, if you expect to hear a serious, stuffy speaking program ... you will be disappointed. You will meet a warm and friendly group of people, people just like you. You will hear a lot of laughter. Of course, we do work on our speaking skills. If I told you everything we do, we might never get to hear Mr. Brown ... which is why you came! (spoken as an "aside", casually, then pause ... ) I will concentrate on one of my favorite parts of a Toastmasters meeting, Table Topics!

Table Topics help us practice the informal, spontaneous speaking we do all day long ... with families, co-workers and friends ... at everyday activities. Have you ever been asked an unexpected question and found yourself at a loss for words? Then, Table Topics is for you! Instead of trying to tell you how we do Table Topics, I will show you! Here's how ... "Dave Riede ... You just found a $1000 bill on the sidewalk. Please tell me what you will do with it. ... Dave Riede."

(Here, Dave "twists" this to be a talk about why we do Table Topics, reinforcing some of my points and adding to it. Then back to me. This "twisting" of a Table Topic into what you really want to talk about is a time-honored "trick" in our club!)

So now you know!

When you visit us, you will learn about our many other activities ... such as Word of the Day, the Icebreaker speech, debates, evaluations, contests and a lot more. You will learn about the many resources provided by Toastmasters International, for example, the monthly magazine which is included in your dues. You will see how a group of friends can help you turn the risk of public speaking into a wonderful opportunity.

When I attended my first Toastmasters meeting, 6 1/2 years ago, to say I was nervous would be an understatement! The truth is, I was terrified. I found a group of friends, nonjudgmental and supportive, people just like me. Before I knew it, I was giving Table Topics and not long after that, I gave my first formal speech. A few speeches later, I was surprised to notice that I actually looked forward to my planned speeches. If I could do it, you can too! Please visit Toastmasters -- you will be glad you did!