Membership Information Page

The best way to learn about our club is to visit a meeting. Our meetings are free and open to the public. You are invited!!!

We normally meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at 6:30PM in the Library Center. Check the Club Calendar to verify the meeting date, time, and location. The Library Center's address is 4653 S. Campbell, Springfield, MO. For most meetings, you will find us in the Story Room, which is inside the library next to the children's section. Hope to see you at a meeting soon!

The following is general information about our club:

Toastmasters is all about improving communications skills. We work on delivering prepared speeches where the speaker is evaluated in front of the group by another member. We strive to keep evaluations positive while at the same time point out ways to improve. In addition to this verbal evaluation, every member fills out a short written evaluation that the speaker can review later. Providing a venue to practice along with lots of feedback is the reason Toastmasters is effective. We also work on impromptu speaking skills at every meeting.
Toastmasters is great place to develop leadership skills. All members take turns leading parts of the meeting. Then there are leadership opportunities in holding a club office (President, Vice President, etc.).
Our club has a wide range of skill levels ranging from beginners thru professional speakers so everyone will fit in. Our advanced speakers provide excellent feedback.
We have 35 members right now with ~30 being "active" members. [Some people stay members of the club just to get the Toastmasters magazine.] Ages range from right out of college to retired. At a typical meeting we will have 20 to 25 attend plus some visitors.
Dues are currently $45 every 6-months. On top of the dues, there is a one-time $26 fee to pay for a manual and other literature.
New members receive the Toastmasters’ Communication and Leadership Program manual that covers 10 speeches. These are NOT prewritten speeches. Speakers choose their own topics and speech material, but the manual provides objectives and tips for giving each speech. All speeches are fairly short at 5-7 minutes, which is plenty of time to practice skills, but still allows time for approximately 4 prepared speeches in a meeting.
The Springfield club is over 50-years old so we have a long and honored heritage. Our club has achieved a number of yearly awards to include the Toastmasters International's Presidential Distinguished Club. Only a small percentage of Toastmaster clubs achieve this rating.
Since speaking before a group is hard enough, we try to make meetings fun with lots of enthusiasm.
We know everyone is busy these days, so while we encourage active particpation in club meetings, each member chooses the level of participation that meets their indvidual needs and goals.
To join, we require that you visit at least one meeting. Visit as many times as you want to visit. Ask all the questions you want. Then if it sounds like a good fit for you, talk to a club officer about joining. It's a simple process.
There is much more information at Toastmasters International's website: www.toastmasters.org .