Toastmasters International is like a giant elephant. It depends on what, where and how you may have experienced. Chances are, you may not have touched or being touched by the complete Toastmaster spirit, yet.
The organization has a critical mass of international community of eager learners who are interested in self development. Majority of the members also understand the principle of helping yourself by helping others. The educational materials have been proven and revised through the years.
Established in 1924 by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Renown members have included Napoleon Hill and Mrs. Fields; from politicians to professional speakers; from authors to astronauts. Toastmaster members are truly diverse and International. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has more than 313,000 memberships in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries.
Watch history of Toastmasters video (5:30)
Here are some resources for Toastmaster Members or Toastmasters-Members-To-Be. Best way to learn more about this is to visit a few clubs. You can search the location that you are interested, http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub/
More resources, Toastmasters International
District 30
If you are in the Chicago area, here is the local website, District 30 Toastmasters
Click here to download D30 Ambassador Form
Below are the clubs that I am most familiar with. Click the link or logo for more information. Come as a guest and see for yourself. Shop around and visit other clubs before you decide which one that you like to join. Once you are a member of one club, you have the “passport” to visit all the open clubs worldwide and enjoyed all the benefits and bonus educational sessions.
New Member Orientation Extreme ToastmastersViewmasters Toastmasters ClubWindy City Professional Speakers
Watch this video “Taste of Toastmasters” when more than 60 guests from 19 clubs in Chicago area attended an open house event in Chinatown.