What we’re about
Come join our FUN & SUPPORTIVE club to see how you can develop your skills currently online over Zoom. Prior to the current pandemic we met face-to-face in Ferndown and cover the broad remits of Christchurch, Broadstone, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Verwood, and Ringwood We are part of global Toastmasters, a non-profit international organisation with a network of local clubs "Where Leaders Are Made"
Why would you want to come and visit? If you were feeling frustrated about your future, lacking direction. If you were feeling despondent about your own ability? Maybe having to give a talk or presentation, fills you with fear - you are afraid you will freeze. Your nerves get the better of you. Come and see for yourself those of us who, like you, also felt that way once. Like you, we have been there too. There is a little difference - No, not our ability. The difference is we stepped up to the plate and visited the Club - so will you be visiting us soon?
We are a warm friendly Club, believing that when there is FUN IN LEARNING, we learn BETTER.
Whether you are training to be an Accountant or taking exams, be it finance , or teaching, or wanting a career change - this journey will teach you about how to ...
How to CONNECT with people not only in your delivery of a Speech, for you will find that you also gain confidence when interacting with other people.
If you are drawn to data collection or IT, or leading a more solitary working life completing Reports, or Documentation, then coming to the Club Meetings and participating is where you will equip yourself with INTERPERSONAL skills, that will help your relationships whether at home with the family, friends or colleagues.
When working with colleagues or at home with members of your family, or friends, you will find having interpersonal skills that are built on a better understanding of your emotional intelligence means that you are be able to ATTRACT people to you rather than having to seek people out. This works in all types of RELATIONSHIPS.
You will enjoy the social aspect mixing with varied age groups & interests in the Club. This will help you gain skills in NETWORKING. Meeting new people no longer holds you back - now you are the one initiating conversation.
How do you do a JOB INTERVIEW? What is going to make you stand out from all the others? Being part of Toastmasters teaches you the skills that go with responsibility accountability consistency and commitment. Any employer finding that you belong to a Toastmasters Club would be impressed.
Why? Because you will be showing dedication to learning new skills and also greater self-awareness. Learning at Toastmasters means that everyone gets feedback so they can do even better. Being able to take feedback, learn from it to implement changes shows an individual who wants to grow and that will impress any employer.
All members take different roles on Club nights that are part of organising, assisting, running and participating in the Club Meeting. You learn TEAMWORK working effectively as part of a team with purpose. Sometimes you may need to swap roles or encourage a Member to progress, you learn NEGOTIATION
Not only that, you also learn the skills to lead in roles that act as tasters, and gain CONFIDENCE in yourself. Members with more practice are now managing the whole evening. You learn the skills of LEADERSHIP. People notice and you begin to make your goals even bigger, set your sights even higher.
Perhaps you are interested or employed in CHARITY work - you want to do more, yet you may be anxious about giving talks and presentation - there is opportunity for you to hone skills in promoting such work, providing talks that ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE towards a CALL TO ACTION. You learn further how to be of service and make a difference.
You will learn how to deliver and craft speeches using the concept of stage space whether online or at a physical venue. There is opportunity for you to choose to learn more about MEDIA platforms, Zoom, social media, blogs, podcasts, webinars etc where online platforms are now becoming part of our career and personal lives.
Perhaps you are already delivering Speeches, you give it your all, yet you wonder why nobody it would seem gets your message. Maybe you feel the frustration of all that dissipated energy. Learn how to deliver an impactful message, where your audience is drawn towards you and your purpose. Whether it’s a provision of a Service or a Business product you will be honing skills in PERSUASION.
You may be having to give a Special Speech - at a Wedding or perhaps putting together an eulogy - or giving that Speech to accept an award. There you are feeling emotional and having to present in front of lots of people. When what you say matters so much, it can sometimes be overwhelming. Pop over to our Club Meeting & start to enjoy the process of CRAFTING that SPEECH.
Toastmasters have an Education Programme formulated with consultation with the Harvard Business School.
Within core elements such as Speech craft and Presentation, there are also quizzes geared towards you personally, to learn about your individual styles of leadership and communication based around the DISC profile. There is also mentorship and guidance at the Club to enable you to progress.
Google such profiling and costs online, you will find it can be upward of a three figure sum. Having a mentor to guide you through any education out there can easily be upward of a four figure sum.
With global Toastmasters of which Ferndown is an associated Club, an Education Package is all of two figures - £20 and joining fees for membership of Ferndown Club is £14 a month, that includes payment of our dues to Toastmasters International.
Members who mentor give of their time freely, all members embrace the Toastmaster values of integrity, respect, service and excellence.
Is it all serous - No! There is impromptu speaking and entertainment - fun and laughter. Every Club Meeting there are Awards recognising the progress and achievement of Members.
One Club Member describes it as “If you come in feeling lack lustre you leave feeling uplifted” - what better can you say in current times?
We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, currently on a Zoom online platform. You are very welcome to join us.
The greatest investment you can ever make is to invest in yourself - the greatest value you can ever spend is your time - therefore make time for YOU. STEP UP - it’s TIME - to visit us!
