The Sea to Sky Toastmasters club is looking to bolster its membership with those interested in learning public speaking skills.
Toastmasters is an international organization that helps members gain confidence in skills like public speaking, leadership and communication. The 撸奶社区branch was founded in 2015 and is hoping to add new members to its current group of 14.
The club is aiming to surpass at least 20 members, with no real limit to the number it can take on.
“You're building skills in Toastmasters that are really transferable into your career, your relationships, parenting, and just helping you overall just build that self-confidence,” said Spero Moukas, the treasurer and vice-president of membership for the club.
The cost for a new membership is $150 for six months, but those who are just looking to try out the club can attend a couple of sessions for free at the start to get a sense of what the group is all about. The club typically meets a couple of times per month on Mondays from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the 撸奶社区Public Library.
The will be located at 撸奶社区Savings.
A newer member of the club and the vice-president of public relations, Aleyah Williams, said she joined in part to help with a new role in her career and to work on her anxiety.
“I did get to the point in my job where I was managing people for the first time and managing meetings both virtually and in person,” she said. “And it just came to a head where I had to deal with my anxiety and I had to learn to become a better communicator.”
After attending a couple of meetings, Williams said one of the biggest reasons why she kept wanting to come back was the support from the group.
“Everyone is very kind to one another,” she said. “When you get up to give a speech, everyone applauds as you walk to the front of the room.”
Tom Leson, the vice president of education for the club, added that it can also be an excellent group to practice giving and receiving feedback.
“It can be tough to give criticism to somebody. It's probably one of the hardest things you'll do in communication across the board,” he said. “Toastmasters gives you a place to work on that very skill.”
Moukas said Toastmasters has about 270,000 members across 148 countries. He said there are numerous clubs in Vancouver and at least one in Pemberton that is working on its charter.
For more information about the club, visit or .
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