Toastmasters International facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | TI, TM |
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| Formation | October 22, 1924 |
| Type | INGO |
| Legal status | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | Educational |
| Headquarters | 9127 South Jamaica Street, Englewood, Colorado, US |
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Region
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Worldwide |
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Membership (2020)
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364,000 |
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International President
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Matt Kinsey |
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Revenue (2016)
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$34,255,739 |
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Staff (2016)
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198 |
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Volunteers (2016)
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117,789 |
Toastmasters International (often called TI) is a group that helps people around the world. It is a non-profit educational organization based in the United States. Its main goal is to help people get better at communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.
Contents
How Toastmasters Started
On March 24, 1905, a man named Dr. Ralph C. Smedley started a club. He was an educational director at the YMCA in Bloomington, Illinois. He wanted to help young men learn to speak in front of others. He also wanted them to share their ideas clearly.
Dr. Smedley imagined a weekly club with training. Members would give short speeches and practice leading meetings. Older members would give helpful feedback on their speeches. George Sutton, a YMCA leader, named it "a Toastmasters Club."
Smedley saw that his members got much better at speaking and leading. When he moved to Freeport, Illinois, he decided to start a similar club there.
The organization officially began on October 22, 1924. This was at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, USA. Toastmasters International became a legal organization in California on December 19, 1932.
The first club outside the US opened in Vancouver, Canada, in 1932. For many years, only men could join. But in 1973, women were allowed to become members too.
By 1999, Toastmasters International had 170,000 members in 68 countries. By 2016, there were 16,000 clubs all over the world.
How a Toastmasters Club Works
Toastmasters International uses a system of local clubs. Most clubs have about 22 members. Meetings usually happen every week or every other week. They often take place in the evening, but some clubs meet in the morning or afternoon.
Each club runs on its own. To be an official Toastmasters club, they must meet certain rules. This official status lets them use the Toastmasters International name and programs.
Every meeting has a plan for speeches. Members give prepared speeches. Then, an experienced member gives them feedback. This feedback helps speakers improve. There are also "impromptu" speeches.
A fun part of meetings is called Table Topics. Here, a Topicsmaster gives members a topic on the spot. Members then give a short, unplanned speech. This helps them think quickly and speak without much preparation. In some clubs, members vote for the best Table Topics speaker.
Learning Programs
Toastmasters International really focuses on building members' speaking and leadership skills. Their main learning system is called Pathways. It has eleven different paths. These paths help members learn about Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Management, Strategic Leadership, and Confidence.
Each path has 14 projects. The learning materials are available online and in print. This was the first time the organization used modern technology for its programs. The materials are in English and are also translated into 10 other languages.
Speechcraft is a special program for non-members. It lasts 4 to 8 weeks and is taught by experienced Toastmasters. To help members become leaders, they can lead at their club or in bigger groups. They also work on creating content and join speech contests.
Public Speaking Contest
Toastmasters holds a big international public speaking contest. It is officially called the Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking. This contest happens every August at their International Convention. It started in 1938 and is the world's largest speaking competition. More than 33,000 people from 141 countries take part.
It takes six months of smaller contests to reach the semifinals. In 2018, 106 people made it to this stage. Only ten people make it to the final round. Speeches are judged on how good the content is, how speakers use gestures, how well the speech is organized, and their speaking style.
See also
- Association of Speakers Clubs
- Communications training
- Dale Carnegie
- Australian Rostrum
- List of recreational organizations
- Public speaking
- Speakers Bureau
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