Become a certified Toastmaster

I attended Toastmaster’s Club for about a year back in 2004-2005. I only completed one speech (out of ten for the Competent Toastmaster certificate), mostly because I met my now-ex-boyfriend there early on and never got around to doing another speech (though I did do a lot of 1-minute impromptu speeches during meetings). I intend to attend meetings again starting May and finish my speeches. I’d like to get comfortable being in front of people, being the center of attention, and talking to people in general. I would love to teach spiritual workshops someday (one of my other goals), so public speaking skills would be valuable.

I dropped out of Toastmasters this morning because I’m just way too cray cray to feel like I have any energy at all to devote to this at the moment. I feel bad about it though cause I still want to do this. I’m giving up for now with the thought that maybe once the world calms down a little bit I can start my own Toastmaster group.

On an almost impulse decision, I attended my first Toastmaster meeting as a guest. I enjoyed it very much and can definitely see the benefits of attending, so I will probably be joining the group and pursuing this goal further.

I’ve been slacking at my Toastmastering the last month or so, because it’s that thing that I’m always just a little too crazed out to attend. I’m getting back on the wagon and running tomorrow’s meeting though. The theme is living space, and I think I’m going to talk about… well I have the rest of the day to figure it out.

I used to go to meetings with my friend Phil and I really enjoyed it! It was great! however I haven’t been to a meeting since we moved from DeepRiver. Now we are in Ottawa and I want to find a group to attend. I haven’t really tried very hard though. I think when I get back to Ottawa at the end of the month I’m gonna do a thorough search to find a group that would be suitable for me :D and since I still live with Phil maybe I can attempt to coax him into continuing his toastmasters meetings/training.

is going to be on January 17th. My company is kind enough to sponsor part of the membership fee. I’m looking forward to it!

i received my ctm a few years ago, and right before i left texas i finished up my atm. twenty speeches? a lifetime!

Toastmasters International is a great organization. The confidence you will build finishing this goal will reward you in all areas of your life. And the education opportunities at TI never end.

well spent.

I did my second speech today and I think it went well. It was on the topic of living a funeral-worthy life… based on an anecdote that Todd told about the Landmark Forum that asks, “What is the single biggest factor in determining how many people will come to your funeral?” It was a nice frame for talking about the difference between big ambitious goals, a wild and adventurous life full of scandal, and what I eventually settled on: living life to your aesthetic while also discovering the aesthetic as you go along. I’ve found that my aesthetic is most easily expressed by maintaining a continuously evolving list of goals that range from silly (gamble $100 on a Rock, Paper, Scissors match) to the ambitious (be a guest on Oprah) to the edifying (convert to green energy) to the novel (try a new restaurant every week). And I also know that as long as my funeral takes place on a sunny day, I can expect at least one straggler off the street to kick some dirt onto my casket maybe.