Most people, including professionals, are shy or nervous about speaking in public. Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization that offers the best and the most inexpensive personal improvement program that can help these people. Anybody who follows the program ends up a better speaker and builds self-confidence. There are 117 toastmasters clubs in South Carolina, known as District 58 Toastmasters. District 58 toastmasters will meet and hobnob with each other during their Spring Conference to be held April 24-26 at the Radisson Hotel in Columbia, SC.
Spring Conference at Radisson Hotel in Columbia is promising to be super-duper in that Jim Key, the World Champion of Public Speaking 2003 will be our featured guest from whom the toastmasters will gain tips on effective speaking. The evening of Friday, April 24 will witness a keynote address by Jim Key followed by Table Topics Contest, where contestants representing the six divisions of the District 58 from areas in South Carolina will compete. This contest emphasizes the ability to spontaneously speak on any topic given to a person, which is part of toastmasters training.
Saturday, April 25 will have a breakfast session for the newcomers, followed by educational sessions and a lunch session. We shall have District 58 Election in the afternoon of April 25, followed by a banquet, the District 58 International Speech contest followed by dance.
During the International Speech contest, the cream of the crop from all divisions in the District from all cities of South Carolina will vie with each other to win the champion speaker award for the district. The winner will proceed to compete in the Region 8 contest consisting of 8 different states. The winner from Region 8 contest will compete in the World International contest. Two years back South Carolina had the distinction of having Douglas Wilson, DTM, a previous District Governor, win second place as World Champion of Public Speaking.
April 26 breakfast time is a post-conference Breakfast with Champion with Jim Key.
Under the current economic strait, Toastmasters program is a cost-effective way of developing confidence in public speaking, communication and leadership skills. Skills learned during the Table Topics session can additionally be used to give excellent interviews during a job hunt. For further information about Toastmasters, please contact Subbi P. Mathur, DTM, The District 58 Public Relations Officer at mathurs@musc.edu.
Note: Governor Mark Sanford and Mayor Coble of Columbia have awarded proclamations declaring the month of April to be District 58 Toastmasters month. Hurray. Visit us on http://www.toastmasters-d58.org
Organizations interested in having key note speakers speak to their groups, are welcome to seek the help of the Speakers' bureau of District 58 toastmasters. Please contact mathurs@musc.edu for further information.