Hobby Community: Be a Better "Toaster", Toastmaster International.

     If you are interested in develop your public speaking skills, or maybe you need a little more leadership to get a boost on your professional career try to be a toaster. A toastmaster that is. Toastmasters International is a non profit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. Through its clubs, Toastmasters offers a program of communication and leadership projects design to help members the art of speaking, listening, and thinking. To become a member, first you have to find a Toastmaster or Gavel Club near your area. The clubs are open to any person 18 years old and up wishing to improve their communication and leadership skills. (Sounds like recruitment propaganda, well it is, I just got it from their website) Once a member there is two tracks two choose from Leadership and Communication. The goal is to become a Distinguished Toastmaster through a system of self taught modules. It's a "learn-by-doing" deal. With the help of other members, and a healthy dose of criticism, you could move through the ranks of Competent Communicator (which I am, oh I forgot to tell you; I'm a member since 2009) , Advanced Communicator: Bronze, Silver and Gold  and Distinguished Toastmaster.
    I choose to feature this community because I realized that most people will form an opinion of you by the way you present yourself in front of them. The way you speak, dress, or stand. Details like how you shake hands or if you have a tick in your right eye may change the perception of who you are in an onlooker. Toastmasters International will help you to achieve an always professional facade.

To learn more go their website:
http://www.toastmasters.org/


Here is a little some-some. It's a toast founded carved on a table in Henderson Hall, US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. Even when its author is unknown is kind of famous.

There once  was the love of a beautiful maid
And the love of a staunch, true man
And the love of a baby, unafraid
All have existed since time began.

But the eternal love
The love of all loves
Even greater than love for mother
Is the infinite, passionate, tender love
Of a dunken Marine for another.