Communication – The River That Runs Through Our Lives

The river of Communications has widened and is overflowing the riverbed! More than ever our words are part of the constant current of typing, texting, calling, talking, reading, listening, viewing. Competition for the readers’ attention is heightened, challenging us to find interesting topics, the right words, the right mood, to interest and inform a world-wide audience.
The Toastmasters organization was first chartered by Illinois YMCA Education Director Ralph C. Smedley in 1905 because he saw the growing need for public speaking as a skill. Today Toastmasters continues as the Foundation for us to learn, observe, deliver, and test our communication techniques. Adding on your resume that you are a member of Toastmasters assures recruiters and employers that you are serious about your skills.
Our local Chapter is called the Outliers Toastmasters club and is a safe space to support learning and practicing both impromptu and prepared speaking, evaluation, and meeting management. In recent meetings:
Two new members each spoke to give their “Ice Breaker” – a 5-to-7-minute speech to introduce themselves to the rest of us.
Evaluators reviewed those speeches, commenting on the best of the techniques demonstrated and suggesting ways to improve.
Another member discussed the use of the Imperative, Indicative, and Subjunctive moods in the English language, and presented a variety of scenarios for members to speak, apply and test their understanding.
One speaker delivered a speech on “The Magic Formula for Longevity”.
Our Chapter President fulfilled an assignment talking about “Captain America” and how to think like that superhero.
Two other speakers spoke of their experiences running in marathons!
The Outliers Chapter recently established a collaboration with the Project Management Institute Los Angeles chapter. If you are a member of PMI-LA you will be rewarded with one Professional Development Unit (PDU) for every Outliers meeting that you attend – that is how supportive we are of members practicing their communication skills. After a recent meeting, guests were asked for their feedback, and they all said they enjoyed how friendly and supportive we are of each person’s work to improve their skills.
We laugh together, we listen to each other, we clap, and we support our members to bring success within reach of everyone, no matter the level of experience or confidence. Mentoring is available. Guests of all backgrounds are welcome to sit in on a Toastmasters meeting on Zoom. Please contact our VP of Education Tom Iland on 661-313-3323 or tom@thomasiland.com.