Toastmasters

Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending meetings.

A Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.

There is no instructor in a Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators 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 timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure.

Meetings at Tikvat Israel are at 8:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month in the Flax Library.

More information about Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators can be found on their website or by contacting the current president, Mike Onzay.

In December 2014 the Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators club, known as Hopeful Talkers for short, that meets at Tikvat Israel celebrated their tenth year anniversary.

Accomplishments over the past 10 years include:

• More than 50 educational achievement awards were distributed, whereby members gave at least 10 speeches of five to seven minutes in length, for each one of the four achievement levels. The speeches were evaluated by colleagues.

• Organized five educational programs for Bar and Bat Mitzvah age youths.

• Organized one evening program and two storytelling afternoons.

Parents of children who expect to have a bar or bat mitzvah in the coming year may want to sign up their youngsters for a six-session public speaking workshop.

The workshop is designed to help these children feel more comfortable and less afraid about speaking in front of the congregation on their big day. The most important part of this educational opportunity will be to help them prepare and deliver a better d’var torah.

To participate in the workshop or join Toastmasters International Hopeful Communicators, contact Aaron Mannes.