Maricopa Toastmasters learn by doing

More than the fear of snakes or even death, public speaking, according to national surveys, has been a cause of anxiety and deeply rooted phobias for many people, although, ironically, humans are hardwired to be social and communicative creatures.

Toastmasters International not only provides public speaking experience; it’s a learn-by-doing workshop. This non-profit organization began in 1924 at a YMCA in Santa Ana, Calif., and has grown to 250,000 members in 106 different countries. It has become a world leader in helping people become more confident and competent in front of an audience. Along the way, members learn and sharpen their interpersonal communication skills and develop leadership skills.

Maricopa has its very own chapter of Toastmasters International, Harrah’s Club 777. It was initiated 11 years ago by Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort Casino, beginning as a program for their employees. It has since been opened up to the public.

Her fellow members recently elected Sue Jones, a Maricopa chapter member for nine months, as vice president of public relations. Jones is one of two Toastmaster members not currently employed by Harrah’s.

“I joined my first Toastmasters club in Washington State in the 70s, and I have continued my membership over the past 30 years,” said Jones. “I believe Toastmasters has been the smartest thing I’ve ever done to develop my communication and leadership skills, and my self-confidence. No college speech class can compare to Toastmasters. I also enjoy the intellectual challenge, and that prompted me, in my retirement, to join here in Maricopa.”

“One of the side-bars of giving a speech is researching and writing a speech. This became serendipity for me! I was inspired to return to college and develop a career in writing. I spent the last ten years of my professional career writing both under the thumb of a corporation and as a freelance writer,” Jones explained.

Toastmasters is unique because there is no instructor. According to the Toastmasters Web site, “Each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.”

Jones added, “Each person is assigned an evaluator to give oral feedback. Additionally a paper evaluation form is passed out for all attendees to fill out for feedback, then it is given to the speaker to take home.”

According to Jones, a typical meeting consists of “two scheduled speeches, a table topic segment, and also time is allotted for evaluations of the speakers and a general evaluation of the whole meeting.”

Currently there are 22 Toastmasters members, and usually 10 to 15 participate weekly. Anyone is welcome to come and observe the meetings, “They can visit as often as they like, but they will not be allowed to participate in all the functions until they become a member,” Jones said.

Harrah’s Club 777 Toastmasters meets each Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Maricopa Room in the lobby at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort, 15406 Maricopa Rd.

For more information, contact Sue Jones at 480-580-7745 or Jane Stimmel at 480-802-5078 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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