Frequently Asked Questions

What is Toastmasters?
What can I gain from joining?
Can I attend your meeting as a guest?
What is a typical meeting like?
How do I become a member?
How much does it cost to join?
What kinds of speeches can I do?


What is Toastmasters?
Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping individuals improve their communication and leadership skills. Headquartered in California, there are now thousands of clubs all over the world.

top

What can I gain from joining?
There are many benefits you can gain from being a member. Besides learning valuable presentation and communication skills, you will also get a chance to develop your leadership skill and think on your feet. In addition, you will learn how to evaluate other speakers and run meetings. To find out more about our educational program, click here.

top

Can I attend your meeting as a guest?
Yes, our meetings are open to all guests. You do not need to make an appointment. Just show up. You can attend as many meetings as you would like. Most people attend at least a couple of meetings before they decide to join.

top

What is a typical meeting like?
A meeting lasts 2 hours and consists of a number of speaking roles. The Chair oversees the entire meeting to make sure it runs smoothly. Each meeting is broken into 2 halves.

The first half is mainly dedicated to table topics, which are short speeches given without preparation. A Table Topic Master comes up with a list of questions and either asks for a volunteer or picks a member to answer a question. Guests are never picked but can volunteer to answer a table topic.

The second half is when members do their prepared speeches. One of the reasons behind the success of Toastmasters is evaluation, which is a speech itself. Every speech (table topic speech, prepared speech, etc) is evaluated by a fellow member. Even the evaluations are evaluated. During an evaluation, the evaluator will point out what the speaker did well and how they could improve for their next speech.

For more information on meeting roles, please go here.

top

How do I become a member?
To become a member, you will need to fill out a membership application form and pay the membership fee. For more information on joining, please go here.

top

How much does it cost to join?
The membership fee is $125 every 6 months. For brand new members, there is an additional one-time fee of $30. For more information on the fee, please go here.

top

What kinds of speeches can I do?
When you join Toastmasters, you will choose which Pathways program to work on. Each path contains several projects which involve delivering speeches. Each speech has a couple of objectives you are trying to achieve. For example, one speech may require you to use a prop. The actual speech topics will be up to you and you can take as much time as you need to prepare your speech. There is no deadline to complete the speeches but members who make the most improvements are the ones who work through the manual the fastest. To see a list of actual speeches given by members, please go here.

top