Membership Information Page

Hawthorn Toastmasters Inc. meets at 7.30pm on the 1st, 3rd Wednesdays of the month (not January) at the Swinburn University Staff Club rooms in Hawthorn. We welcome visitors!
How Hawthorn Toastmasters Works!
At Hawthorn Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. Our Toastmasters Club is made up of about 30 people who meet about two (2) hours two times each month.

Each meeting gives members an opportunity to practice;
• Introductory Round Robin – Normally a quick 15 second spiel on the theme of the night or the President’s chosen topic.
• Impromptu Speeches – Named as Table Topics, Members present one to one and a half minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.
• Prepared Speeches – Three (3) or more members present prepared speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters International “Competent Communication” and “Competent Leadership” manuals.
• Evaluations – Every prepared speaker is assigned an evaluator who points out speech strengths and offers suggestions for improvement (“PIP”, Praise – Improve – Praise).
• Business Meetings – Every month a Business Meeting is held which helps members learn basic meeting procedures.

The Tools You Use
Upon joining Hawthorn Toastmasters Club, each new member receives a variety of manuals and resources on speaking and leadership. Members also have access to other resources on speaking and leading. They also receive the award winning “The Toastmaster”, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights on speaking and leadership techniques. Hawthorn Toastmasters also provide a mentoring service to help you overcome those first jitters and further develop your speaking skills.

Toastmasters and Leadership
Leadership cannot be learned in a day. It takes practice. In Toastmasters, members build leadership skills by organizing and conducting meetings and motivating others to help them. Club leadership roles and a leadership development program also offer opportunities to learn and practice. Just as Toastmasters’ members learn to speak simply by speaking, they learn leadership by leading.

Professional Benefits
Toastmasters provide the tools that enable employees and business owners to become effective communicators and leaders, all at a very low cost. Toastmasters’ training helps employees and business owners;

• Give Better Sales Presentations
• Hone Their Management Skills
• Work Better With Fellow Employees
• Effectively Develop and Present Ideas
• Offer Constructive Feedback
• Accept Feedback More Objectively

Toastmasters produce results. Around the world more than three million men and women of all ages and occupations have benefited from Toastmasters’ training and more than one thousand corporations, community groups, universities, associations and government agencies now use Toastmasters’ training.

Community Benefits
Toastmasters have helped many members in their community service activities. Using the speaking and leadership skills developed in Toastmasters, people have become more active in business, churches and charity organisations. Toastmasters’ members are able to organise activities, conduct meetings and speak in public as their organisations’ representative. Some even become active in local, state or national government.