Toastmasters Club Sharpens Public Speaking Skills

Julie Keros doesn't have a Facebook account –  and she doesn't want one. 

On a recent Thursday night at  21200 Haggerty Rd. in Northville, she was able to spin that personal belief into an off-the-cuff speech for the Windbaggers Toastmasters club. Diane Sands riffed on what she'd do if she arrived at a performance and found someone in her seat. 

"This is a club where you learn by doing," said Sands, who has been a club member for about 10 years.

Meetings start with "Table Topics", like Keros' Facebook manifesto, and move on to longer speeches. There are no instructors; members evaluate each other's presentations. 

Joe Szafranski, who has been a Windbaggers member for 19 years and a Toastmasters member for more than 25 years, said everyone gets a chance to speak at every meeting. "You learn to think on your feet," he said. 

Working through a manual, members complete 10, self-paced speaking assignments, through which they learn presentation skills like making eye contact with the audience and how to use props. Each speech gets a critique from designated group members. 

Sands said evaluators point out what speakers did well, then suggest what could be improved.

"They're kind, but they're honest," she said. 

Club members are all encouraged to be attentive listeners as well. At the end of the evening, a "Roastmaster," who takes notes during the speeches, quizzes everyone on their content. 

"It's one thing to give a vergy good speech," Szafranski said, "but if nobody remembers what you said, it doesn't mean much." 

Riya Cao said being in Toastmasters helped her learn English. When she emigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago, she could read and write the language, but could not speak it. Now, she confidently makes presentations, even at work. 

In giving her speech, Cao said she had recently spoken to an audience of 50 people, most of whom had positions higher than hers. 

"I have to tell you guys, I did extremely well," she said. 

Visitors are welcome at Windbaggers Toastmasters club meetings, which are held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, except for holidays and the first Thursday of the month. Learn more at windbaggers.org.

Correction: Joe Szafranski's name was incorrectly spelled in the original version of this story.