I’ve been a member of Toastmasters International for more than nine years now. I’m convinced that it is one of the best (and indeed the cheapest) ways to improve one’s public speaking ability.
About two years ago I wanted to do something new: found a so-called Advanced Toastmasters Club that is geared entirely toward experienced speakers.
The first informal meeting took place in November 2016. A little less than a year ago, on 6 July 2017, eight other people and I created Professional Speakers Frankfurt as a registered association (“e.V.”), and I became the Club’s first President.
Since then, the Club has grown in members to 20 and meetings from one per month to four—two face-to-face meetings and two online meetings. In May we chartered, which means that we became an official Toastmasters Club.
I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. There’s still a lot of work to do to make our Club genuinely excellent, but we have a solid foundation with a growing and dedicated membership. We’ve come a long way!
July marks the beginning of a new Toastmasters year. Last week we elected a strong new Executive Committee, led by Michael G. Parker as President. It will steer our Club into its next phase.
I will remain on the Executive Committee for another year as the ex officio Immediate Past President. My primary focus, however, will be on my new role as Area Director of Toastmasters Area F3, which includes four Toastmasters Clubs: Professional Speakers, Esprit de Corps Toastmasters, Darmstadt Toastmasters, and Rhetorik-Club Bergstraße.