Success on the menu for Toastmasters

By Paul Franks

JAKARTA (JP): When thinking about the communication skills of medical practitioners, the first thing that comes to mind is the undecipherable scribble that appears on most doctor's prescriptions.

Unfortunately for the majority of pharmacists and patients the priority of Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, founder of Toastmasters International, was on improving verbal communication.

In 1924 in California, U.S. Dr. Smedley conceived and developed the idea of helping others to speak more effectively. From this idea, Toastmasters International was born.

The first club was established on Oct. 22, 1924 in Santa Ana, California. Toastmasters has since grown into a global organization with more than 8,000 clubs worldwide and in excess of 200,000 members.

Toastmasters first popped up in Indonesia 17 years ago and now boasts 11 clubs, 10 in Jakarta and one in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, with a combined membership of about 200 people.

There are three mixed (open to both the public and corporate staff) clubs in Jakarta -- The Metropolitan, The Jakarta, and Innovators -- while the other eight are sponsored by major corporations.

Innovations Toastmasters Club President, Sita Djaka, said the club provides people with the opportunity for self education and improvement.

She said the club aims to help people improve their communication skills and to encourage them to become successful leaders.

The organization of Toastmasters is both formally structured and businesslike. Executive officers are elected to positions of president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, secretary, treasurer, and sergeant of arms.

The term of office, in keeping with the corporate spirit, spans the financial year (July 1 to June 30).

Depending on the individual club, meetings are held either weekly, fortnightly or monthly and generally adhere to a pre- organized schedule.

The sergeant of arms arrives at the meeting venue about 30 minutes prior to the official starting time and ensures the room is in order for the evening's proceedings.

The toastmaster of the evening, assigned the position at the conclusion of the previous meeting, has the task of organizing speakers and evaluators for the night. The evening's MC then gives the speakers a theme for the evening and a word of the day.

"The word of the day might be 'election' and people would have to talk on that," Sita said.

There are three types of speeches given during the evening. The table topic, a one to two minute impromptu speech; the prepared speech, a five to seven minute speech on a prepared topic; and the evaluation speech where preselected evaluators give their views on each individual speaker.

Toastmasters are big on evaluation. Each speaker has his or her own evaluator.

A general evaluator appraises the meeting from A to Z, including the appropriateness of the setting, whether or not the meeting runs on time, and other procedural aspects.

Language evaluators gauge how well people speak and comment on both good and bad aspects of a speakers' presentation.

"We try to highlight the good and recommend not criticize," Sita said.

One of the more unusual evaluators is the Ah Counter, someone who counts the number of times a speaker utters that hesitating sound which is so common in everyday speech.

Members of the audience also have the opportunity to comment on individual speakers' presentations. Ballot papers are distributed and collected at the conclusion of speeches by ballot counters who then tally the votes.

At the completion of the evening's speeches there is an evaluation session. Individual evaluators give their appraisal of each speaker, the counters then give their report and finally the general evaluator sums up the evening.

Awards are presented at the end of each meeting for best table topic speaker, best speaker (prepared speech), and best evaluator.

Although meetings are conducted in a businesslike fashion, Toastmasters is not all stuffed shirts and stiff upper lips. On the contrary, speech topics range from humorous recitals of personal experiences to informative and moving insights into life in the 20th century.

The Toastmasters program enables individuals to develop their communication skills in a mutually supportive and positive learning environment.

Individual status within the Toastmasters organization is ascribed according to the number of speeches presented.

On becoming a member, a person becomes a Toastmaster. After delivering 10 speeches the rank of Competent Toastmaster (CTM) is attained. A further five speeches elevates the person to the position of Able Toastmaster and subsequent increases of 15 enable the speaker to first reach the rank of Able Toastmaster silver and then bronze.

Raising club status within the international arena is also an important part of the Indonesian club's agenda.

Sita said when a club produces a CTM, introduces a new member, or trains an executive officer, it is allotted points.

"All clubs are ranked according to the number of achievement (points)," she said.

"The more points you build up means you come closer to becoming a distinguished club."

All clubs in Indonesia (Division I), as well as clubs from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, make up District 51, the Southeast Asia chapter of Toastmasters International.

At the recent Pan Southeast Asia Toastmasters Competition in Malaysia, Jakarta Toastmaster, Rene C. de Jesus, claimed victory with a moving speech titled "The Power of Unconditional Love".

That winning speech, delivered with conviction borne of the heart, has given Rene the opportunity to represent Jakarta, Indonesia and Southeast Asia at the International Regional Speech Competition in New Orleans, U.S. in August.

If Rene wins the regional competition he will compete in the World Championship Speech Finals a week later.

Although Rene has been a member of Toastmasters for only a year and a half, he believes Toastmasters International is the undisputed world leader in public speaking training.

The Toastmasters charter is "you learn by doing -- by actually speaking to groups".

A newcomer to the Innovators Toastmasters Club, Hetty Sutama, said she joined the club because the practical experience helps in her job as a translator with an international oil company.

"It's important for me to improve my communication skills," she said.

"It will also broaden my insights and help my English."

Membership to Toastmasters is not restricted. Sita Djaka said club's members come from a variety of occupations and backgrounds and include hotel staff, corporate executives, doctors, housewives and salespeople.

"The only criteria for becoming a member is that you must be over 18, have a basic knowledge of English, and must pay your monthly dues (fees)," she said.

A non-profit organization, Toastmasters charges its members Rp 45,000 membership and Rp 20,000 monthly dues.

People interested in finding out more about Innovators Toastmasters Club or a club in their area can contact Devi Moeloek on (021) 830 3653.