Toast Masters aims for ‘Better Speaking, Listening’ skills of members …

An organisation fully interested in developing the oral skills of its members is finally here and it’s called the St Vincent and the Grenadines Achievers Toast Masters Club.

Launched at Roy’s Inn in early July, under the theme, “Better Speaking, Better Listening”, President of the group Monica Woodley noted that effective communication is essential for life.{{more}}

She also pointed out that when people can communicate better, they are able to co-exist more peacefully and have better relations.

Woodley remarked: “So often when things go wrong it’s because there has been a breakdown in communication. So the organisation is geared to develop communication with skills. While many organisations focus on what they can do outside for others, Toast Masters concentrates on what the organisation can do for its members.”

Reflecting on the history of the group, Woodley informed the gathering that Toast Masters was an international organisation which started in 1924 in Santa Anna, California, after the founding father, Ralph Keith Ledley saw the need for people to be improve their speeches when they were called upon to make toasts at public functions.

Now in over 90 countries with approximately 211,000 members in some 10,500 clubs, President Woodley noted that this was a prime example of one person making a difference.

The St.Vincent and the Grenadines Achievers Toast Masters President stated, “So many of us tremble when we have to speak publicly, but after 3-4 weeks in this organisation we see our members more confident after taking their courses in the club. No form of communication can replace that spoken word, and that face to face contact in public speaking is critical for success. One of the first goals is to reach out especially to the youth to develop their discipline and decorum that goes with the Toast Masters Club.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Non-Governmental Groups Organisations, NGO’s Mike Browne commended the organisation for to helping to establish better communication skills in the country.

He pledged that his ministry will support the objectives of St.Vincent and the Grenadines Achievers Toast Masters, and noted that this was particularly necessary for young people who often times do not know how to express themselves.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines Achievers Toast Master Club has a membership of 20 and became fully chartered to Toast Masters International on August 5.

The organisation would be celebrating its special official charter with an educational & motivational weekend from the September 22-24 at the Beachcombers hotel.

The feature speaker would be D’Arcy J. Lopes, who is the Caribbean Master Toastmaster Trainer; Certified Facilitator for Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Interested persons are being urged to sign up for courses throughout the weekend in Youth Empowerment through Communication and Speechcraft among other things.

For more information contact Monica Woodley 456-1196.