1. How often do you meet?
2. What is the cost to join?
3. What is a "prepared speech"?
4. What speech projects are there for me to work on?
5. Are there other manuals as well?
6. Are there other opportunities other than speeches?
7. Do I have to attend every meeting?
8. May I bring a guest myself?

 1. How often do you meet?
Our club meets every Monday evening (7:15 PM - 9:15 PM) from early September to early June. The Area clubs of Oakville also sponsor a summer club that you may also attend.
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2. What is the cost to join?
Initial membership fee for one year is $225. This includes the enormously helpful CTM manual outlining your first 10 speeches. You choose the pace in which to complete these speeches. They may be about any subject you wish. Upon completion you will earn the coveted Competent Toastmaster Award (CTM). Your fee also includes a Parliamentary Procedure manual. We use this in our business sessions. Subsequently, the membership fee is $195 per year.
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3. What is a "prepared speech"?
On joining Toastmasters, members receive a basic speaking manual with ten speech projects. Each project calls on you to prepare a speech on a subject of your own choosing but using certain speaking principles. Each manual project lists the objectives for that speech and includes a written checklist for your evaluator to use when evaluating the speech.

When you are scheduled to speak at a meeting, you generally pull out your manual a week or two in advance and put together a speech on whatever topic you like while paying attention to your goals and objectives for that speech. When you go to the meeting, you hand your manual to your evaluator and that person makes written comments while you speak. At the end of the meeting, your evaluator will rise to give oral commentary as well. The purpose of the extensive preparation and commentary is to show you what you're doing well, what you need to work on, and driving these lessons home so you're constantly improving.
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4. What speech projects are there for me to work on?
In the basic "Communication and Leadership" manual, there are ten speech projects:

1. Icebreaker - 4 to 6 minutes — getting over nervousness by introducing yourself to the club.
2. Organize Your Speech - 5 to 7 minutes — work on giving a well-organized speech.
3. Get to the Point - 5 to 7 minutes — focusing your speech.
4. How to Say it - 5 to 7 minutes — work on proper word choice, avoiding jargon and generalizations.
5. Your Body Speaks - 5 to 7 minutes — work with gestures and body language during your speech.
6. Vocal Variety - 5 to 7 minutes — work on rate of delivery, volume, speed, pitch, emphasis.
7. Research your Topic - 5 to 7 minutes — gather facts and information on your topic.
8. Get Comfortable with Visual Aids - 5 to 7 minutes — give a speech while using visual aids.
9. Persuade with Power - 5 to 7 minutes — persuade the audience to your point of view
10. Inspire Your Audience - 8 to 10 minutes — The final speech in the manual calls on you to move and inspire your audience in a well-presented and well-prepared speech.

For all ten speeches you are free to choose whatever topic you like!
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5. Are there other manuals as well?
Yes. Upon completion of your CTM, you can choose to complete any of of the specialized Toastmaster Manuals (Broadcasting speeches, Management, Humorous, Social speeches, Sales presentations, etc.) Toastmasters International will, at your request, send a congratulatory letter to your employer as you reach each new level of achievement. For more information about our parent organization, please see www.toastmasters.org.
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6. Are there other opportunities other than speeches?
Yes. A typical Toastmaster evening includes many opportunities to build confidence. At different meetings, you will learn to evaluate others verbally, give impromptu speeches, propose toasts, and participate in business sessions. We even had a mock wedding reception to allow our members to practise wedding speeches! Trafalgar Toastmasters tries to make each meeting different and invigorating!
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7. Do I have to attend every meeting?
Attendance is voluntary. Many of our members are business people and cannot attend every meeting. When you enrol as a member, our Vice President of Education will work with you to help develop your goals as a Toastmaster member.
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8.May I bring a guest myself?
Certainly! Guests are welcome to return up to 3 times free of charge. A friendly and supportive environment will build your confidence and improve your speaking and leadership skills. We welcome you to Trafalgar Toastmasters and hope to see you as a guest and a member.
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