`Here's to you, kid!'; Toastmasters hones fine art of public speaking.Byline: Danielle M. Williamson WORCESTER - Catherine R. Foster has to give Bill Clinton credit. She shook his hand recently, after watching him speak. "He could say more with his eyes than anyone I'd ever seen," the president of the Paul Revere Revere, city (1990 pop. 42,786), Suffolk co., E Mass., a residential suburb of Boston, on Massachusetts Bay; settled c.1630, set off from Chelsea and named for Paul Revere 1871, inc. as a city 1914. Toastmasters said at a club meeting last week. She praised the former president for his ability to engage an audience, noting, "No matter how you feel about our politicians, they're great public speakers." Proficient and engaging public speaking is one of the goals of Toastmasters clubs, which aim to improve their members' oratory oratory, the art of swaying an audience by eloquent speech. In ancient Greece and Rome oratory was included under the term rhetoric, which meant the art of composing as well as delivering a speech. skills. The Paul Revere chapter is one of several Worcester-area clubs that are open to the public. Most people won't ever find themselves addressing a huge audience. Still, the tips that Toastmasters learn, and the skills they hone at twice-monthly meetings, are used for everyday activities: talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to a boss, for example, or leaving a voicemail. "You want to get your point across as succinctly suc·cinct adj. suc·cinct·er, suc·cinct·est 1. Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: a succinct reply; a succinct style. 2. as possible," said Mrs. Foster, who lives in Northboro. "People don't have time to listen to a long story." Toastmasters keep this advice in mind throughout their twice-monthly meetings, held in a conference room at Unum on Chestnut Street. One member times their speeches, while another counts "ums," and other distracting connecting phrases that afflict af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, even the most seasoned speakers. "If you're saying a lot of ums and ahhs, you're boring the audience, and it makes you look stupid," Mrs. Foster said, adding she's become more cognizant of her use of the phrases since joining Toastmasters 14 years ago. Joellyn Schwerdlin, a certified career management coach who lives in Worcester, joined Toastmasters to help her with her job. She served as the Toastmaster toast·mas·ter n. A man who proposes the toasts and introduces the speakers at a banquet. toastmaster Noun a person who introduces speakers and proposes toasts at public dinners Noun 1. at the group's meeting last Wednesday, essentially moderating the meeting. "So many times we use ums and ahhs, which I've become very aware of. I listen to other people with the ums and ahhs," she said. Toastmasters hone their skills by taking turns giving speeches, and practicing off-the-cuff speaking. "Table topics," featured at each meeting, requires members to answer a question in under two-and-a-half minutes. Questions featured last week included "Do you think we should expand our military presence in Afghanistan?" and "What is your fondest summer memory?" Members also take turns as featured speakers, giving them the opportunity to speak about any subject they'd like for four to six minutes. Mary Ellen Lepore of Shrewsbury entertained members with a speech about her struggles readjusting her car seat after her husband has driven the car. At the end of each meeting, a member evaluates the speeches and answers. Roger Trahan of Grafton, who is also the town's moderator, filled that role last week, even critiquing himself. "I sometimes get unfocused un·fo·cused also un·fo·cussed adj. 1. Not brought into focus: an unfocused lens. 2. and need to rein my words in," he said. The Paul Revere club's atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging. Members don't rip each other apart, Mrs. Foster explained. Rather, they offer each other encouragement and positive reinforcement positive reinforcement, n a technique used to encourage a desirable behavior. Also called positive feedback, in which the patient or subject receives encouraging and favorable communication from another person. . Knowing that public speaking is among people's biggest fears, members don't want to scare anyone away. As Jerry Seinfeld This article is about the comedian. For the character, see Jerry Seinfeld (character). Jerry Seinfeld (born Jerome Seinfeld on April 29, 1954 in New York City, New York) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor and writer. once joked, studies show that people fear public speaking more than death. So, they'd rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy. "Some people tell me they can't believe I'm doing this for fun, when it's something they're deathly death·ly adj. 1. Of, resembling, or characteristic of death: a deathly silence. 2. Causing death; fatal. adv. 1. In the manner of death. 2. afraid of," Mrs. Foster said. "But we provide a safe audience. We give people tips on what they can improve." The Paul Revere Toastmasters Club meets from noon to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Unum, 18 Chestnut St. Guests are welcome. Information about other locations may be found at www.toastmasters.org. ART: PHOTO; CHART CUTLINE: (PHOTO) Joellyn Schwerdlin, left, shakes hands with new member Jackson B. Restrepo of Worcester during a Paul Revere Toastmasters meeting held at Unum last week. (CHART) Wedding toast tips PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : (PHOTO) T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG |
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