The Athlone branch has won the Toastmasters Distinguished Club Award for the first time in its 30-year history.
This achievement is marked by Toastmasters International, the global non-profit educational organisation that helps members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.
“We are very proud to have reached this point with the club as it requires a lot of dedication from members, and also highlights the level of new members we are attracting - proving lots of people enjoy spending a few hours a month improving their public speaking and confidence,” said Sébastien Rolland, Athlone’s club president.
To achieve this award clubs must attain nine of 10 goals set out at the start of the club year, which this season ran from September 2013 to June 2014.
Athlone Toastmasters were very clear about their ambitions to grow membership and in this area they were very successful.
Another element of the award is to get members to complete the first 10 speeches of the competent communicator manual, and others projects on the advanced communicator, or advanced leader manuals.
“Toastmasters is all about listening, learning, and leading in a supportive environment. If you are interested in joining to improve your public speaking or simply to improve your confidence, feel free to drop into a meeting and see what you think. You do not need to be a member to attend and see what it is all about,” said Sébastien Rolland.
Their next meetings will be on Tuesday December 10, and Tuesday January 14 at 8.15pm in The Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone.
Visit www.athlonetoastmasters.org or find them on Facebook for more information.
