Click here for a short video (windows media file format only) created as a Public Service Announcement (PSA) running on Burlington Cable Access TV.

We asked several members the following question:

What did you expect to get out of Toastmasters when you joined and what have you gotten out of Toastmasters?

Here's what they said:
 
"I expected to gain confidence in speaking in front of people. I have improved and I have made a lot of new friends."
 
"I joined TM to help get rid of my fear of public speaking. I am encouraged by others who had the courage to face their fear."
 
"I expected to improve my public speaking skills. I feel I have improved my speaking skills but it also helped me grow in my leadership skills. I improved upon my evaluation skills utilizing the Toastmasters way of evaluating and also worked with some of my fellow managers to put time allotments on agenda items presented at meetings. These are just a few of the ways it has helped."
 
"I needed a night out and I needed to meet people. No one would listen to me when I talked so I thought if I learned to speak well they would. We have such a good time at our meetings that I find it lightens your attitude toward life."
 
"I expected to get over my nervousness in front of groups. I have achieved this and have gained increased self confidence."
 
"I joined Toastmasters, with hope I could overcome 2 things: 1) "Freezing" during my speech or presentation, rehearsed or impromptu. 2) Perpetual nerves and full flush/blush. The 1st I am learning is much easier than the 2nd, which I may never overcome. So far I've learned that I do just fine when I'm having fun. And what's not fun about speaking to and with The Last Word Toastmasters?"
 
"When I joined Toastmasters my goal was to be able to improve my public speaking abilities but what I found that I got from Toastmasters was "SELF CONFIDENCE" and a "CAN DO" attitude. This attitude helped me get better paying jobs, start my own business and try other things such as run three marathons."
 
"I expected by joining Toastmasters that I would gain invaluable experience and advice about public speaking in order to allow me to progress to a new level of professionalism in this arena. So far I have "gotten" out of Toastmasters exactly what I have "put" into it... Let me explain: In the short time that I have been a member of Toastmasters, I have noticed the level of speaking in our club has gone up! When I gave my first speech several members asked me why I bothered to join (apparently they thought that I was already proficient with public speaking), however, since then I have noticed (not only in myself, but in others) a new "level" of proficiency. The "bar has been raised" (as the saying goes). I am excited about the possibilities of achieving even "loftier heights" for all of our members. The better each one us gets, the harder each person tries to reach that new level, the better our club gets. It is a win-win for everyone! I try to "put" on a good performance whenever I speak, and I have "gotten" much satisfaction (and have learned a lot) in listening to our other members when they perform. That's my (story) short answer and I'm sticking to it!"
 
"I wanted to be able to speak in front of a relatively large audience without intense fear, and so far, even though I haven't been in Toastmasters for very long, I have at least gotten friendship and support in my very challenging endeavor."
 
"I'm trying to make a go of it as an independent consultant and I see speaking at seminars and conferences as important marketing tools. I'm looking for toastmasters to give me greater stage presence, a higher level of comfort and the stage time to home my skills. Also, given the bent of the Last Word, I hope that I can become more comfortable with the use of humor. I'm not funny when I'm nervous. Since I am new to Toastmasters, I haven't yet achieved any of the above. But I have found a comfortable place and some nice people to practice with."
 
"I hoped to improve my public speaking skills. What I have gotten out Toastmasters so far is an awareness of the areas I need to improve while gaining a whole lot of very nice friends."