Lidia S. - President

"I find the Toastmasters educational program to be extremely effective and enlightening. There are so many aspects to communication that you may not consciously notice them all on a daily basis. Yet these important skills affect how we interact with others - family, friends, employers or employees. By improving our communication skills, we are better prepared to get our messages across. To understand what others are trying to tell us we must also step back and truly listen. Communication is a skill that must be practiced and honed. It can not be taken for granted.

Phoenix-Toronto Toastmasters is a friendly and supportive club. Our members help each other improve their communication skills while having fun at the same time. We have experienced members that help meetings run smoothly, as well as new and enthusiastic members. It is this mix of ideas that brings energy and life to the club. I joined Phoenix Toronto Toastmasters in February of 2003. I've enjoyed being a member every since!"

Priti - VP Of Education

"I am very impressed with the way the Phoenix Toronto Club conducts its meetings to ensure that we get the most out of the art of public speaking. As a member since 1996, for me, it has been the perfect environment to experiment with audio/visual aids, humour, rhetoric, and other elements key for my development into a more effective and more inspiring public speaker.

Public speaking is an invaluable life skill for anyone at any level. Phoenix Toronto provides a relaxed and friendly environment for this challenging yet empowering mastery.
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I joined Toastmasters in August of 2006, after becoming re-acquainted with the organization through a colleague. The Phoenix Club offers me a supportive and welcoming environment. I have felt completely at ease ever since my very first meeting.

The weekly "Table Topics" sessions are a fabulous way to improve my impromptu speaking skills. But I have found that there are opportunities to improve more than just verbal skills. As a member of Toastmasters I am also given the chance to develop my listening skills.

Toastmaster's provides me with many resources and powerful tools to aid effective communication. You are encouraged to learn at your own individual pace. All in a fun environment that is conducive to learning.

I am proud to be a member of this fantastic club. Since becoming a member, I have found that my confidence has increased substantially. I now seek out speaking opportunities both personally and professionally. I invite you to attend one of our Tuesday night meetings to discover for yourself what Toastmasters is all about. I have no doubt that you will leave the meeting feeling positive and motivated to learn.
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James B. - VP Public Relations

"You just can't avoid talking to people! Especially if you own and run a computer services company like I do. I often have to wear many hats. On some days I have to go on-site for a sales call. On other days I may be helping a client fix a problem over the phone. I joined toastmasters to become less nervous when speaking to my clients. I've been a member of Phoenix-Toronto since December 2003.

I have always hated doing "sales". And I truly despise the pushy sales approach. I guess that's why my sales approach is very simplistic. First I listen to your needs. Then I ask questions. Lots of questions! I've discovered that the more questions I ask the easier it is to find an option that fits your needs. Next, I try to give the customer enough information to make an informed decision. They like to know that a solution will fit like a glove. The tricky part is to clearly ask the right questions and then explain the pros and cons of each option. This is where Toastmasters has been a great help.

Toastmasters has been a great learning experience for me. Every meeting I get a chance to deliver a short impromptu "table topics" speech. For two minutes I'm in the spotlight! Thinking on me feet! Oh the horror! Fortunately, it gets a lot easier with practice.

Come down and visit us on a Tuesday night. Ask me how Toastmasters helps me get my ideas across clearly and confidently.
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Jorge R. - Treasurer

"For the past ten years I've worked as an Engineering manager. This meant I was a lot less involved with technical presentations than when I was a Junior Engineer. As a result, I saw my public speaking skills degrade with time.

When I joined Toastmasters in February 2007 I was pleasantly surprised. The members of the Phoenix Toronto Toastmasters club are outstanding people. Good communication skills are critical to be effective in today's business world. Their supportive atmosphere was just what I needed to upgrade my public speaking and listening skills.

Since joining Toastmasters I have seen my communication skills improving. If you visit our club you'll know why I leave every Tuesday night feeling energized and inspired."

Greg T. - Sergeant-at-Arms

"Having recently changed careers I suddenly discovered that I was required to lead meetings and give presentations. This was more than I had bargained for as I had somehow managed to avoid public speaking for most of my life. My enjoyment of public speaking ranked somewhere between having a root canal performed and listening to fingernails scratching against a chalk board. Fortunately, through Toastmasters I've learned that it doesn't need to be a painful or frightening experience at all!

I joined Toastmasters in September 2006 in the hope of improving my public speaking. Since then I've learned many new skills. I'm proud to say that I now feel comfortable speaking in public. I've discovered that the best way to improve is to practice in front of an audience. Being a Toastmaster provides me with a relaxed environment to practice my public speaking skills. Toastmasters is a very positive influence in my life. I am now much more confident and practiced at making impromptu speeches, chairing meetings and making effective presentations. It has helped me make dramatic improvements professionally. "

"Any new challenge is a journey that must be taken one step at a time. Joining Phoenix-Toronto Toastmasters was the start of a great journey for me."

Sai E. - Secretary

"Communication is a major attribute in developing a career or establishing a new business. Toastmaster provides a training platform for me to practice and hone these skills. It helps me practice getting my ideas across clearly. In my engineering and project management services company, this is a key role in meeting the client's needs.

In my role as secretary, I am given the chance to practice my communication skills in both spoken and written form. Come and meet us to enjoy the fun and camaraderie of being a communicator in our impromptu speeches, then site back and enjoy our prepared verbal presentations of ideas.
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Fred B. - Past President

"I own a business helping franchise companies select the best franchise candidates. I've been a member of Phoenix-Toronto since November 2003. Although this isn't my first experience with Toastmasters, it is by far the best club for my needs.

I love the fact that I can get slotted in to do a formal speech every month in addition to the weekly "Table Topics" sessions which allows me to practice my impromptu speechmaking. It's really come in handy in my business.

"You have to do it yourself but you can't do it alone" is a saying I decided to join Toastmasters because I found that I was having a difficult time coping with making formal presentations to groups of 10 or more. What I have learned since joining Phoenix-Toastmasters is that, for me, the very best way to prepare, is to not over-prepare. If you'd like to learn what I mean, join us in a meeting. I'd love to talk to you."