Toastmasters 90th celebration a success
On Wednesday evening, Toastmasters International Refined Raconteurs hosted their 90th birthday celebration at the Human Resource Department Conference Centre in Springs.
Toastmasters is a global communication and leadership training organisation which started in a basement in California in 1924 by Ralph Smedley.
Smedley began the organisation after he observed that many youngsters needed training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings and decided the training format would be something similar to social clubs.
Why Toastmasters?
In the early 1900s the word “toastmaster” referred to a person who proposed toasts and introduced speakers at a banquet.
The training manual has expanded since then to include materials to help members develop skills in listening, giving feedback, decision-making, delegating and mentoring.
Refined Raconteurs chartered in May 2007 and has since been blossoming.
There are 10 Competent Communicator levels which each member goes through until they reach the Advanced Manuals.
Audelia Kgarea delivered her Competent Communicator level seven prepared speech on “Our Greatest Fear”.
A fantastic speech of how people hold themselves back, not believing in what they are capable of.
Judy Smit did a speech on “Who Am I?” at level eight of Competent Communicator.
Her speech drew amazing attention of the crowd as she talked about how we as people define ourselves.
International speaker and author, Carl Schultz, raised goosebumps with his inspiring speech on “Helping you find your edge”, touching on both the previous speakers’ speeches.
He was the Johannesburg president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa in 2012 and 2013.
Click here for more photos of the event.
