Please join us at our next meeting at 1 Mill Street Batavia NY.

Next meeting is February  28, 2012

We meet at 7:00 pm and end by 8:45 pm.

Learn to enjoy public speaking in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere.  We promise you will learn something.

We meet at 7:00 pm and end by 8:45 pm.

Learn to enjoy public speaking in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere.  We promise you will learn something.

We meet at 1 Mill Street, Batavia, NY. When  you enter the building it is the first office on the left.

For more information visit our website at www.speakuptoastmasters.org or call Linda at 585-343-2640.

Harlem Road Community Center
 4255 Harlem Road
 Amherst, NY  14226.
7:00pm to 8:30pm

Would you like to improve your Speaking and listening skills?  Please visit Grand Pioneer Toastmasters Club which has served Western New York since 1947.  We are located at the Harlem Road Community Center at 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY 14226.  We meet the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of every month at 7:00pm.  We love having guests.

1 Mill Street, Batavia, NY You can arrive at 7:00 pm and we begin promptly at 7:15 pm.  The meeting ends at 8:45 pm.

 Never in a million years would I have thought I would have been President of a Toastmaster’s Club.   

 A long time ago, I was asked by a co-worker to attend a meeting with Mohawk Valley Toastmasters. I was very interested yet scared to death to become a member – I was afraid I would have to stand up in front of everyone and give a speech. When I was in high school, I actually begged my mother to let me stay home from school on the day I was scheduled to give a speech and she let me. I was so grateful at the time, but now regret that my mother didn’t encourage me to go to school and give the speech even though I was very nervous & scared. It took me a very long time before being able to speak in front of a crowd.

 After six months of attending Mohawk Valley Toastmasters meetings, I became a member; however it took me another six months before giving my first speech – the ice breaker!  My mentor, a fellow club member, was the one who made it possible for me to start my journey in Toastmasters. She was also my evaluator for my first speech and told me that I “blew it out of the water!” Mentors are very important to new members because they help make them as comfortable as possible and are a good go-to person in regards to any questions new members may have. 

 I, in the meantime as a guest, was encouraged and did volunteer to take on minor roles which helped me become more comfortable with the other members. I actually took on the role of Toastmaster at the meeting before I officially became one! It was with Mohawk Valley Toastmasters that I became an officer taking on the role of Treasurer then VP of Membership.

 Due to other obligations, I had to leave the club but as fate would have it, my employer Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare started a club and it was here where I became VP of Education and eventually was elected into my current role as President of Caring Communicators in Utica, New York.   

 I truly believe that Toastmasters has helped me to be more comfortable in speaking in front of a group and will continue to help me improve my skills. If anyone is fearful of speaking this is the place to start.

CNYBizTalkers presented the 36 members of Leadership Mohawk Valley (LMV) a demonstration Toastmasters meeting October 6, 2010. BizTalkers held the meeting during a segment of LMV’s Media & Promotion Day at the offices of Gilroy, Kernan, & Gilroy.

Ann Rushlo, LMV Director and BizTalkers member, thought it would be a great way to introduce this year’s group to a local program that makes it easy to improve skills in public speaking. BizTalkers’John Matthews, (LMV Class 08) served as toastmaster.

After introductions by Sergeant at Arms Noelle Richer (LMV Class 08) and opening remarks by BizTalkers president Lauren Mattia (LMV Class 03), John explained his role as toastmaster. He then enlightened the group of the benefits of toastmasters with his own story about joining BizTalkers and his newfound confidence in public speaking.

Scott Leonard, Eastern Division Governor, then spoke from Competent Communicator #10: Inspire Your Audience. And inspire he did with a rousing speech entitled, “Toastmasters—What Is It Good For?”

Nick Burns led a Table Topics session, with one brave LMV member volunteering for the final topic. The topic prompt was to pick an item out of a box of office supplies. Nick would then ask what daily life was like as that object. Wendy Ellis delighted the group with her description of life as a roll of packing tape.

Tricia Sticca (LMV Class 01) evaluated Scott, which was difficult because his speaking expertise left little room for criticism. Then Claudette Ferrone (LMV Class 08) counted the Ahs and offered some tips on grammar. Her word of the day was “mojo”…just right for the day’s theme, Media & Promotion.

Linda Juteau, visiting from Mohawk Valley Toastmasters (the oldest club in the area), topped off the meeting with a general evaluation. Linda thought the meeting a success. And, if the breakout session where the group practiced Table Topics is any indication, Toastmasters should add some talented new members to its ranks here in Central New York.