Toastmasters celebrates milestone with reception

This year Toastmasters International celebrates 85 years, and the local chapter held a reception to celebrate before their regular meeting on Oct. 26. Both mayoral candidates were also invited though only Pam Sansbury attended.

October is also Toastmasters month in the city of Hartsville, so Ray Schnell, current president of the Hartsville chapter, said he thought this was a fitting time to celebrate.

The Hartsville chapter began about four years ago. A group of transplants from Pennsylvania were key in getting this group started, and a number of members work at Tally Metals.

The group is open to all age groups, and many people drive from other clubs to attend the Hartsville meetings.

“We learn so much from each other,” Penny Anthony, vice president of public relations, said.

The group’s mission is “to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills.”

During each regular meeting, members have ample opportunity to practice their public speaking skills. There are nine to 10 roles that members can play at each meeting. Members sign up for roles ahead of time.

The Toastmaster acts as the emcee of the meeting. The grammarian listens for proper grammar and counts the pause words used during speeches such as “ah” and “um.” A timer and vote counter keeps track of how long speeches run as well as tallying the votes. The joke master practices telling a joke during the meeting.

During another segment of the meeting, table topics, one member’s role is to call on others to give impromptu speeches about any topic. For each speech, there is an evaluator who reports his or her opinions during the meeting including strengths and ways to improve.

Everyone votes for the best speeches, most improved speakers, table topics and the evaluators and gives written, constructive feedback to the speakers.

Toastmasters International also has a book about giving speeches that details proper speech inflection, hand movement and more.

Periodically the group has competitions against other clubs.

The group meets from 7 to 8:40 p.m. at the Black Creek Arts Center on College Avenue on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

For information about the group or how to join, call (843) 332-6151, e-mail or visit the group online at hartsville.freetoasthost.ws.