How does Toastmasters work?
At each meeting of Virginia Beach Toastmasters, members learn to speak, think, and listen more effectively. Members also gain experience in conducting meetings and in the techniques of leadership. Members improve their speaking through the Communication and Leadership and Advanced Manual programs. When a member joins, he or she receives a New Member Kit in the mail, which contains the Communication and Leadership manual as well as educational manuals. The Communication and Leadership manual contains ten speech projects, beginning with a simple project, “The Icebreaker”, and works through such subjects as vocal variety, organization, use of visual aids, gestures, and word choice. Each speech project contains guidelines for speaking, but the topic and actual speech preparation and delivery are left up to the member. When a member completes the Communication and Leadership manual, he or she may continue on through the Advanced Manual program, a series of twelve manuals on such subjects as
