The Toastmasters program is a series of speech projects designed to develop your skills one step at a time, at your own pace. Each project builds upon what you have learned in your preceding speeches.

How It Works You'll begin with an "Icebreaker" speech. This is an opportunity for you to gain a feeling for public speaking while talking on a subject about which you are the world's greatest expert-yourself. Next, you will learn the importance and principles of speaking with sincerity and conviction. In your third speech, you will concentrate on organizing your ideas into a clear, logical outline. Your next three speeches will focus on body language, vocal variety and proper word usage-vital aspects of effective speaking. Then, with your seventh speech, you'll have an opportunity to review and apply all of the skills you have learned. At this time you will pause to evaluate your progress, reexamine your self-development goals, and perhaps set new ones that are even more challenging. Next, you will present a talk designed to persuade your audience to accept your views on a subject of importance. This is followed by a speech you will read from a prepared script. Then, for your tenth speech, you will bring together all of your communication skills into a powerful presentation that inspires your audience. Most of the projects in this program call for talks of five to seven minutes in length. This is not aimed at making you a master of the seven-minute address. Rather, it is designed to give you adequate time to develop your topic while still keeping club meetings within a reasonable time frame. By learning to effectively present a seven-minute talk, You'll also be able to deliver a 40-minute address or a two-minute statement of your views at a business meeting. And you'll be able to do so with confidence, clarity, persuasiveness and enthusiasm. Be A CTM After you've completed all 10 projects, have your club educational vice president(VPE) sign your application for the Competent Toastmaster (CTM) Award and send it to World Headquarters. You'll receive recognition as a CTM-a major milestone in your development. You'll also receive, without charge, any three of our Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals. The Advanced Communication and Leadership Program is a multi-manual system that lets you choose the kind of speeches you will present, based on your own needs. By completing some of the Advanced manuals, you'll be well on your way to becoming an Able Toastmaster (ATM). Information about all of Toastmasters' recognition will be provided to you when you join us. You're Among Friends Your Toastmasters club is not a classroom. It's a workshop in which you will develop your communication and leadership skills among a group of friends-people who are there for the same reason you are. This shared commitment to a worthwhile goal gives a Toastmasters club a special energy. Members draw strength from one another and take pride in helping each other grow and develop. This spirit of camaraderie and mutual support is one of the most satisfying benefits of Toastmasters member-ship. It also makes learning fun. As you get started, your club may provide you with a coach/mentor to help you with your first few projects. Rely on this experienced Toastmaster for advice and guidance; he or she has faced the same challenges you're facing and understands how you feel. Like your coach/mentor, the other members of your club are there to help you become the com-municator you want to be. Toastmasters International also has a wealth of material available to help you in your self-improvement efforts. Ask to see your club's copy of the Toastmasters International Supply Catalog. You'll get out of Toastmasters what you put into it. If you participate actively and apply what you learn to your business, home and social life, your oppor-tunities for self-development will be endless... and richly rewarding The core of the communication track is the Communication and Leadership Program manual (also called the Basic Manual), which contains 10 speech projects. Every new member is sent a Basic Manual within 48 hours after his or her application for Membership is received at World Headquarters. Also included in the material sent with the basic manual are booklets on different areas of speaking.   The CTM Award The Basic Manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others. Your first goal as a member is to complete this manual. When you do, you are eligible for Competent Toastmaster (CTM) recognition. When you finish all 10 projects, complete the CTM application, have the Vice President Education sign it, and send it to World Headquarters. You will receive a CTM certificate and, if this is your first CTM award, two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals free of charge. If you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.   Advanced Program   After receiving CTM recognition you can enter the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program, where you can refine and enhance your basic skills. This program consists of over 14 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. The Advanced Manuals are described on the Advanced Manuals Page When you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards:   Advanced Toastmaster, Bronze (ATM-B)   To be eligible for this award, you must have: Achieved Competent Toastmaster award (CTM) Completed two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals   Advanced Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S)   To be eligible for this award, you must have: Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award (ATM-B) Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards) Conducted any two programs from either The Better Speaker Series or The Successful Club Series   Advanced Toastmaster Gold (ATM-G)   To be eligible for this award, members must have: Achieved Advanced Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S) award Completed two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for previous awards) Conducted any two programs from either The Better Speaker Series or The Successful Club Series(these programs may not be those completed for ATM Bronze award) or a Youth Leadership Program. Coached a new member with the first three speech projects. By the time you earn the Advanced Toastmaster Gold award, you will have completed six of the available Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking skills. To apply for any of the Advanced Toastmaster awards, complete the appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award application. This application also is in the back of each advanced manual and is available from World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.   Accredited Speaker Program   Toastmasters International has a special program which recognizes those members who have professional-level speaking skills. The Accredited Speaker Program is not for everyone. Only a handful of Toastmasters have what it takes to become Accredited Speakers. Less than 25 percent of those who apply for the program become Accredited Speakers. The program is conducted annually. To qualify as an Accredited Speaker, an applicant must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. He or she also must be an Able Toastmaster or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze and have had a minimum of 25 speaking engagements to non-Toastmasters audiences within three years of application date. Five copies of letters of acknowledgment or appreciation from any of the 25 engagements must be provided as documentary evidence of successful presentations. In addition, applicants must pass a rigorous two-stage judging process. If you or someone in your Club has professional-level speaking skills, call or write World Headquarters for the Accredited Speaker Program brochure and application. Deadline each year for entries is November 1. 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