Rotary hears from Toastmasters
Wayde Drain and Margaret Lesperance spoke to the Portage Rotary Club, Tuesday, about Toastmasters in Portage la Prairie. The club meets once a week at the Portage Collegiate Prince Charles Building to help participants improve their public speaking and quick thinking skills. (ROBIN DUDGEON/THE GRAPHIC/QMI AGENCY)
The Portage Rotary Club heard from Margaret Lesperance and Wayde Drain at Tuesday’s meeting where they talked about the Toastmasters Club.
The Toastmasters has been running in Portage la Prairie for the last 33 years where it teaches people better public speaking skills and how to think on their feet. The meetings average four to six people with around 12 people in the club right now.
Toastmasters meets on Monday evenings (except holidays) at 7:00 PM at the PCI Prince Charles School. All adults are welcome to attend.
“It’s a small group and I like the constructive criticism that they do. When you do a speech they say this is what you’ve done good, here’s some room for improvement, and you end off with what you’ve done good again,” said Wayde Drain.
For Drain among the most important skills a person can learn from Toastmasters is confidence.
“I thought, what do I need this for? I’m a farmer. But there’s always a situation where you are going to be put on the spot or you’re going for a job interview. You don’t want to go to a job interview and be all stammering and humming and hawing and you’re stuck for answers,” said Drain. “That’s where Toastmasters really shines, and that’s what employers really like because they see the confidence in you. They see the confidence in your hand gestures, your movements, that’s Toastmasters.”
Margaret Lesperance has been in Toastmasters for nearly 20 years and now refers to herself as a lifer.
“I love it and I think it’s a good thing. I love the people that it attracts – it attracts people that want to better themselves, want to better their community, their relationships,” said Lesperance. “It’s just good all around. It makes better citizens, better communities, and a better world.”
In the near two decades she’s been with the club she has noticed many changes in herself.
“I think maybe self-confidence, I think maybe I’m more assertive. In an organization or a gathering I want to talk to people whereas before I would hesitate. I feel more forward,” said Lesperance. “Everything that happens in Toastmasters is a learning experience.”
To get more information call Wayde at 239-7001, visit portagetoastmasters.com or come down to a meeting and try it out.