Learn About the Benefits of Toastmasters: Open House Saturday, Feb. 7

Do you want to improve your communication skills? If you’re involved in a non-profit, most likely you will have opportunities to speak to groups of people, communicate your vision to donors, and share your experiences with the community. Toastmasters—the internationally renowned speaking club—provides an opportunity for you to practice and learn how to be a more effective communicator, listener, and leader.

Want to learn more? Then come to a special meeting called “How Can Toastmasters Benefit You?” to be held at the Columbia Center Toastmasters Club in Northeast Portland. There will be an opportunity to mingle afterwards, and refreshments will be provided. Be sure to mark your calendar and come! You won't be disappointed!

When: Saturday, February 7, 2009

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Where: Rose City Park United Methodist Church (auxiliary building), 5830 NE Alameda St., Portland (off of Sandy and 60th)

Go in left-hand door on Alameda and follow signs upstairs.

For more information, contact Dick Moser: 503-288-8806 or e-mail [email protected].

Join us every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. for a friendly and fun meeting! Columbia Center Toastmasters club has been meeting for 15 years and currently has 22 active members. The club has earned the President’s Distinguished Award for many years, including last year. This is the highest award a club can receive. The members of our club have experienced that the best way to learn how to share our thoughts effectively is to practice. The best place to practice and receive feedback is at a Toastmasters club!

To find other Toastmasters clubs near you, go to www.toastmasters.org and click on “Find a Club.”

ABOUT TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL (www.toastmasters.org)

Through club activities and conferences, Toastmasters helps its members improve their communication and leadership skills while fostering self-confidence and personal growth.

From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries, offering a proven – and enjoyable! – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.