Toastmasters Club

Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable, and affordable way of gaining great leadership and communication skills. You'll learn to:

  • Formulate and express your ideas effectively
  • Be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations
  • Improve your one-on-one dealings with others

microphone-(TM).jpgBecome the speaker and leader you want to be - confident and charismatic.  As you progress in Toastmasters, you'll practice your skills by organizing and conducting meetings and motivating others. Become a better negotiator. Gain trust. Inspire your team.

The Fort Worth Project Management Toastmasters club (#1378170) was created to help chapter members improve their leadership and communication skills in a fun and supportive environment.  This club is part of Toastmasters International; however, each club creates its own identity and purpose. Every club has its own dynamics. Our purpose is to improve our leadership and communications skills AND earn PDU's by organizing each club meeting around a project management topic or theme. This club is open to all members of the Fort Worth PMI and Dallas PMI chapters as a benefit of membership.

Club Meetings - Schedule

The club meets twice monthly - the first and third Tuesdays of the month.  Meetings start at 7:00 pm and end at 8:00 pm.  To see more information about an upcoming meeting and to register for that event, please visit the chapter calendar of events.  The schedule format for the meeting is as follows:

  • Planned Speeches: Club members and attendees deliver prepared speeches to meet their Toastmasters objectives.
  • Table Topics: Consist of impromptu or unplanned speeches which provide attendees with the opportunity to practice skills required to hone their message without preparation.Evaluations:  critical to improving skills is receiving constructive feedback on your performance. 
  • Evaluations:  Critical to improving skills is receiving constructive feedback on your performance.  Evaluations are given by attendees following an established format, and they give evaluators a chance to improve their leadership skills too.
 
Members and guests are encouraged to participate, but you'll never feel pressured to participate before you're ready. Beginners as well as more experienced speakers grow and develop at their own pace. Everyone learns from one another.
Club Membership

Visit a meeting to learn more about Toastmasters.  You're encouraged to visit a time or two, and if you wish to continue, we'll welcome you as a club member.  To be a member, you must first be a Fort Worth PMI or a Dallas PMI chapter member in good standing.  Membership dues are collected annually and may be prorated based on when you join.  Dues include membership in Toastmasters International and all its benefits.  There is no cost to attend a meeting. You can fill out a membership application and take it with you to the next scheduled meeting. Membership questions can be answered by contacting the club's VP Membership. This club is part of District 25. To learn more about district or regional events, click here.

Toastmasters International

ToastmastersLogoColor.jpgSince 1924, Toastmasters International has helped more than 4 million people just like you become more confident speakers and leaders.  It's a world leader in communication and leadership development, with more than 270,000 members in over 13,000 clubs in 116 countries.  This network of clubs and their learn-by-doing program are sure to help you improve.  Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to express yourself in any situation.

Every Toastmasters club shares the same mission:

The mission of Toastmasters clubs are to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning ennvironment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

Toastmaster Certifications

The Toastmasters education program focuses on 5 core competencies, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communications, Strategic Leadership, Management and Confidence, that help people earn certifications through projects with transferable competencies. Each certification track has projects that are required and some that can be chosen based on skills that are of interest to develop.

The club's VP of Education can answer your questions regarding these and other Toastmaster certifications.

Earning PDUs

Attending and participating in Toastmaster club meetings will earn you two (2) Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward your PMI credential re-certification requirements.  These are Category A PDUs.  You'll receive documentation of your attendance at the meeting as your proof in the event of an audit.  Report these PDUs as "1-2 PDU activity".

Meeting Roles

Every club meeting is led by specific roles that attendees volunteer to fulfill.  Rotating roles allows you to meet some of your Competent Leader track goals.  You may request specific roles at contacting the meeting's Toastmaster.  Roles include:

  • Toastmaster - leads the meeting; introduces speakers
  • Ah Counter - listens for "fillers" during speeches
  • Grammarian - responsible for word of the day and uses of grammar
  • Table Topics Master - prepares and leads table topics
  • General Evaluator - leads the evaluation portion of meeting
  • Timer - verifies that all speeches qualify based on established timing requirements

Club members can request a speech or sign up for a role through the club's easy-speak site.

Club Leadership

Each club has its own leadership team and is responsible for club organization and operations in accordance with Toastmaster International bylaws and governance. The current club officers are:

 

  • President - Renee Sferra
  • VP Education -  Emily Baillie
  • VP Public Relations - Charlie Bowles
  • VP Membership -  Rahmana Warren
  • VP Finance -  Bob Beideck
  • Secretary -  Bob Beideck
  • Sergeant at Arms - Janet Scott