Skip to main content

Style Magazine

Toastmasters International: The Power of Public Speaking

It’s not a myth: People’s greatest fear—even worse than death—is public speaking. For nearly a century, Toastmasters International has strived to help its 360,000 members worldwide overcome that fear. Oftentimes, public perception of Toastmasters is members giving speeches to one another; its scope, however, is much broader. 

According to the nonprofit’s International President Lark Doley, Toastmasters coaches all aspects of verbal and written communication, including social media presentations, and offers hands-on leadership training. "Think about our world today," Doley says, "We don’t work cohesively as teams. Toastmasters helps us learn how to give our point of view, give it with clarity, and be able to listen to the other person’s viewpoint and respond effectively."


Groups meet weekly, biweekly, or monthly and follow similar agendas: prepared speeches, evaluations, and extemporaneous discussions. As part of their leadership practice, members take on varied responsibilities, including chairman, listening critic, "um/ah" counter, sergeant-at-arms, and many more. Most meetings schedule up to three prepared speeches on assigned themes followed by constructive feedback. A “Table Topics” period calls on members to speak without preparation on impromptu questions. In acknowledgment of the angst speaking can cause, new members work with mentors. 


And education isn’t overlooked either. A Pathways program builds skills in 10 areas, including effective coaching, persuasive influence, visionary communication, and innovative planning. “An effective communicator,” Doley says, “ends up really being able to talk about anything,” which includes, she emphasizes, conversing in social settings. 

As many as 20 Toastmasters clubs are active in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado Counties. A few restrict their membership, but most are open to everyone 18 or older. If you’re interested in observing a meeting, you’re welcome to visit one of these branches:


Hangtown Toastmasters: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesdays at 7 p.m.; Raley’s, 166 Placerville Drive, Placerville,
3416.toastmastersclubs.org

Statement Makers Toastmasters: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m.; Patra Corp, 1107 Investment Boulevard, Suite 200, El Dorado Hills, statementmakers.org

HDR Toastmasters: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at noon; HDR Inc., 2365 Iron Point Road, Suite 300, Folsom,
981104.toastmastersclubs.org

] CAISO Toastmasters: 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon; 250 Outcropping Way, Folsom, toastmasters.org/find-a-club/05668570-caiso-toastmasters-club

Prairie City Talkers: Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; Intel, FM7 Building, 1900 Prairie City Road, Folsom, prairiecitytalkers.toastmastersclubs.org

Folsom Intellects Club: Thursdays at noon; Intel, FM3 Building, 1900 Prairie City Road, Folsom, folsomintellects.toastmastersclubs.org

Old Town Talkers: 1st and 3rd Mondays at 6 p.m.; Landmark Baptist Church, 609 Figueroa Street, Folsom, oldtowntalkers.toastmastersclubs.org

] PowerSchool Toastmasters: Thursdays at noon; PowerSchool HQ, 150 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, powerschool.toastmastersclubs.org 

Kaiser Thrive Talkers: Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m.; Kaiser Hospital, 1600 Eureka Road, Roseville, kaiserthrivetalkers.org

Roseville Toasters Club: Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; Raley’s Community Room, 1915 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville,
589646.toastmastersclubs.org

Foothill Toastmasters: Tuesdays at 6:15 a.m.; Lyman Leak Community Center, 1203 Gabrielli Drive, Roseville,
1070.toastmastersclubs.org

PCAR/ROCKLIN Toastmasters: Tuesdays at 7 a.m.; Placer County Association of Realtors, 270 Technology Way, Suite 100, Rocklin, 4685.toastmastersclubs.org

Oracle Rocklin Toastmasters: Thursdays at 1 p.m.; Oracle, 1001 Sunset Boulevard, Rocklin, oraclerocklintm.toastmastersclubs.org

Roseville Communicators: Every other Thursday at noon; Warren G. Bender Co., 516 Gibson Drive, Suite 240, Roseville,
4045.toastmastersclubs.org

Roseville Rappers Club: Wednesdays at noon; Hewlett Packard, 8030 Foothills Boulevard, Roseville, rosevillerappers.toastmastersclubs.org

AH Toastmasters: Wednesdays at noon; Adventist Health, 1075 Creekside Ridge Drive, Suite 280, Roseville, toastmasters.org/find-a-club/03950889-03950889

] Leading With PRIDE: Wednesdays at noon; PRIDE Indsutries, 10030 Foothills Boulevard, Roseville, toastmasters.org/find-a-club/03475682-leading-with-pride

] Sutter Oracles: Every other Wednesday at 9 a.m.; Sutter Health Administrative Service Center, 9100 Foothills Boulevard, Roseville, toastmasters.org/find-a-club/01323242-sutter-oracles

] Contact for restrictions 

toastmasters.org