The Chartered Accountants toastmasters’ society is celebrating 30 years in existence this year.

The Society Toastmasters Club has legal professionals among its membership and helps in the acquisition of better communication skills.

Ray Murphy of Society Toastmasters believes that, for all the benefits of formal education, a lot of people have a fear of speaking in public.

In familiar settings among friends and family this is generally not an issue.

However, to be the designated speaker for any occasion can be unnecessarily daunting due to a fear of the unknown.

Clubs such as Society Toastmasters allow people the opportunity to acquire such an experience in a benign environment.

Mission

The mission of a toastmasters’ club is “to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth”.

The club is run by members for members with only a nominal membership fee.

All clubs are affiliated to Toastmasters International which provide all the learning materials.

Visitors are welcome to attend and newcomers will only ever speak when they are comfortable and ready.

Framework

Toastmasters provides a structured framework which members follow in order to obtain the Competent Communicator (CC) award.

To obtain the award, ten speeches must be delivered.

But while the CC award is an achievement in itself, for most people the greatest reward is the skills, experience and enjoyment that comes from preparing and delivering speeches, the society’s leadership believes.

Society Toastmasters has a mentoring system to guide and assist newcomers where necessary.

Evaluated

Each meeting is compered by a toastmaster and usually four members deliver a speech, which is then evaluated.

Legal professionals who are interested in improving their communication skills are invited to attend.

The Society Toastmasters Club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7.15 pm in Chartered Accountants House, 47/49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 (near Lombard Street and opposite Pearse Street Dart Station).

The meetings are online during the Covid crisis until the return to Chartered Accountant's House.

Please email society.toastmasters@gmail.com to get a Zoom invitation.