What I Love About Toastmasters

I am a member of Skyline Speakers Toastmasters (SST) which is a lively Toastmaster’s group based in Randwick, NSW. The vibe in the room is invigorating. There are so many reasons why you should join Toastmasters. You can arrive exhausted after a long day at work, convinced that watching the TV is all the energy you have left and yet, when you enter the room and sit down you know that you are somewhere very special. You are going to hear some amazing stories. People you hardly know are going to share stories that will expand your understand of people and the world around you.

Everyone is there to stretch and challenge themselves. To do something frightening and yet safe. To push their own boundaries and know that they could fly or crash and they will feel supported because we have all been there. All of us know that you must start somewhere.

That’s why the Toastmaster's Icebreaker Speech is usually voted as the most memorable at the end of each meeting. It is where the newest members of the club introduce themselves through a prepared speech that can be terrifying for them. It is their first step on the path to becoming a confident public speaker.

Our Toastmaster's club is like a river that is constantly changing. People stay for a while - it can be months or years and like with most things, commitments change over time. One thing stays the same, we are always uplifted, informed, and inspired by the stories that we hear at each meeting. We hear stories of love and loss, of pain and of joy. People get to rant about things that get up their nose, they tell stories that make you laugh and make you think.

We hear about different cultures, countries and ways of being. We have Trump supporters, anti-royalists, environmentalists, surfers, scientists, people banned from countries, vegetarians, and out and out carnivores. There is a wonderful cross section of our society represented in one room. Everyone has a story to tell even if they only made it up on their way to the front of the room.

When people ask me how long I’ve been a member, I think that its only been a year or two. But to my surprise, I recently realised that I have been a member since July 2020. Does time really fly that fast?

Another thing that I love about Skyline Speakers Toastmasters is how supportive and caring everyone is. How kind and positive the feedback always is and how well-run the club is. For that we have to thank Margrit Fisher our guide, our Swiss watch, our support who always makes sure that there is a role for each of the members. She makes sure that everyone feels welcome and an integral part of each evening.

Why have I been going to Skyline Speakers Toastmasters twice a month for over 4 years? Its because I really enjoy hearing so many differing points of view. I love being entertained, being touched by vulnerability, laughing out loud at crazy misadventures and having a history lesson told by a nervous yet passionate storyteller. And of course, I love and hate the challenge of having to stretch myself. To have to touch you the listener, my friend, my audience, my support, you who give me a knowing nod or a smile to keep me going till my story ends.