A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants one their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. A Toastmaster is also known as Master of Ceremonies (MC). Florida Toastmasters meet twice a month, on a Tuesday, at No 23 Oosthuizen Street Floracliff. A typical meeting lasts 90 minutes. There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to time management; grammar and meeting procedure. Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instil a basic foundation in public speaking. Members also learn leadership skills by taking on various meeting roles and working in the Competent Leadership manual. In our learn-by-doing approach, we don't lecture members about leadership skills; we give them responsibilities and mentoring to help. Then we ask them to lead. The President of the club is Tim Knights, who can be contacted on 082 894 7542 or timknights@telkomsa.net or The VP Public Relations, Gavin de Kock 083 309 8328 or gavin.dekock@mweb.co.za
