Then you may be  interested joining the SJRLC Chapter of Toastmasters International. 

Since March, 2004, SJRLC has been hosting a new chapter of Toastmasters, a non-profit organization that develops public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback.  Our new group has been meeting monthly for 90 minutes, 2:30-4:00 at the SJRLC office.  Toastmasters is a great way to improve your communication and presentation skills, and manage your fears of public speaking. 

Membership is free and open to anyone affiliated with an SJRLC member library, and SJRLC is picking up the tab for member fees, which cover the useful manuals each new member receives. (NOTE: If you are not affiliated with a South Jersey Library, but would like to find a local Toastmasters chapter, please click here.)

At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment.  Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice:

• Conducting meetings. Meetings usually begin with a short business session, which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.
   

• Giving impromptu speeches. Members present one to two-minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.
   

• Presenting prepared speeches.  Three or more members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program manuals. Projects cover such topics as speech organization, voice, language, gestures, and persuasion.
   

• Offering constructive evaluation. Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who offers feedback.

SJRLC has always offered a variety of one-time programs on speaking and/or self-promotion, and we offer a substantial "train-the-trainer" program. The Toastmasters Chapter is a new model of continuing education for us.  This model allows us to offer continuing support and practice in public speaking and presentation skills - skills that have become so integral to our jobs as librarians.

Contact Peter Bromberg or Karen Hyman at 856-346-1222 for more information on joining the SJRLC Toastmasters Chapter.

For more information on Toastmasters International, click here.