Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that operates local clubs worldwide for the purpose of promoting communication, public speaking and leadership. Toastmaster’s headquarters are located in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado.
The organization was founded by Ralph C. Smedley on October 22, 1924, at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California. It began as a set of classes with the aim of improving the communication skills of young men.
- Toastmasters International was incorporated under California law on December 19, 1932.
- The first international chapter was established in Vancouver, Canada in 1932.
- The organization began admitting women in 1973.
Throughout its history, Toastmasters has served over four million people, and today the organization serves over 358,000 members in 141 countries, through its 16,400 member clubs. Toastmasters membership increased rapidly around the turn of the century, nearing 16,000 clubs worldwide by 2016.
Toastmasters Club Structure
Toastmasters International uses a local club-based structure, each having around 20–40 members. Meetings are often held weekly or every other week. The clubs themselves determine when and where they have meetings.
Each club operates as a separate entity with a set of requirements leading to chartered status for them to be recognized as official Toastmasters clubs. The chartered status allows for clubs to use the names, promotional material and program of Toastmasters International.
Every meeting is based around a set of organized speeches. Speakers are given feedback, often by a more experienced member who then gives an impromptu speech with constructive feedback based on their performance.
Part of these meetings is devoted to “Table Topics,” which are off-the-cuff speeches that are assigned on the spot by a Topics master. The goal of this is to accustom participants to thinking on their feet with minimal preparation. In some clubs, attendees are then asked to vote on who they thought gave the best speech.
Public Speaking Championship
Toastmaster International runs a global public speaking championship program formally known as the Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking, with the final competition held annually at its International Convention each August. It started in 1938 and involves over 33,000 participants in 141 countries making it the world’s largest speech contest.
There is a six-month process of elimination to reach the semifinals, which may include over 100 semi-finalists (out of tens of thousands of global participants). There are ten places in the final contest and speeches are judged on content, gestures, organization and style.
Lance Miller is a past winner of the Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking (see video above). He’s a long-time member of the Renaissance Speakers Toastmasters Club.
The Renaissance Speakers
The Renaissance Speakers is an enthusiastic and fun Toastmasters speaking club with the purpose of training members in the skills of leadership and public speaking. Members are from all walks of life and share a desire of learning and helping others by way of bettering communications. The club prides itself on welcoming guests, informative (and often entertaining) speeches, excellent speaker coaching and having fun.
Renaissance Speakers Has Gone Virtual
The Renaissance Speakers, located in Pasadena, CA, also have live, online meetings for anyone to participate from the comfort of their own home or office, regardless of geographical location. Join us from any where in the world!
For details and more information on joining the Renaissance Speakers online as a free guest via video conferencing, visit the following link: