Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted in making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through its member clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind.

By joining Collins Communicators Toastmasters club, you are embarking on an opportunity. The members of the club are committed to improving our communications and leadership skills . New members are guided into the Toastmasters program by experienced individuals who can answer questions as they develop. We understand the hesitation and even fear that people have when making a presentation. We offer an encouraging and friendly atmosphere for people to become comfortable in their communications.

Collins Communicators meet weekly on Mondays at 12 noon for a one hour meeting. We generally meet in the Monticello conference room in building 137 of the Main Plant on 35th Street NE. We are open to all Rockwell Collins employees as well as company retirees and people of the the community. Non-employees will be escorted to the meeting room.

Membership dues consist of that required by Toastmasters International; $27 paid semi-annually to cover periods of October 1 - March 31 and April 1 - September 30. There is a one time new member charge of $20 which covers the cost of materials sent to the joining individual. Collins Communicators is Club 3154 in Area 33, Division B, District 19 of Toastmasters International. All members receive the monthly Toastmaster magazine which is filled with interesting articles and helpful information.

Here are some of the benefits of joining Collins Communicators Toastmasters Club;

improve your speaking skills
become better listeners
develop better presentations
think on your feet to offer a quick response
obtain constructive comments for improvements
gain confidence when speaking
prepare speeches for all occasions
control nervousness
organize your content
capture the attention of the audience
adhere to an agenda
hold effective meetings
identify and correct distracting habits
enjoy hearing interesting speeches
associate with people having similar goals
obtain encouragement from others
participate in a positive, friendly environment
have FUN!

The heart of the Toastmasters experience is the meeting. This is the setting through which members gain experience in the following;

·        Conducting meetings: Meetings usually begin with a short business session which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.

·       Presenting prepared speeches: One to three members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program manuals. Projects cover topics such as speech organization, voice, language, gestures, and persuasion.

·       Giving impromptu speeches: Members present one-to two-minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.

·       Offering constructive evaluation: Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

Additional roles provide opportunities for facilitating a meeting, leading a discussion, and attentive listening.

You can learn more about Toastmasters by visiting www.toastmasters.org