Toastmasters Club 21

My first impression of Santa Monica Club 21 was one of abundant love, support, and family. The number of advanced Toastmasters is fantastic. It’s a place where everyone grows as public speakers, leaders, and is free to make mistakes in the process of growing. All the encouragement and feedback has been invaluable. On top of that, I was given an incredible mentor to coach me through speeches and experienced a tremendous amount of personal growth while preparing speeches. I love this Toastmasters club!

I haven’t found a better way (or a better Toastmasters club) to work on, not just speaking in front of people, but my communication and leadership skills – and have a ball doing it! Also, I am now more confident in my ability to influence people, which is key in my commitment to ending hunger and poverty as an activist and investor in The Hunger Project.

From the moment I walked into this Toastmasters club earlier this year I loved the atmosphere. There is something special about the members and it is such a positive, supportive place. Just the right place to conquer one’s public speaking issues. Trustworthy enough to be able to open up and face the dreaded fear of making a fool of yourself in front of a group.
It’s loads of fun with lots of laughter and lots of learning all at the same time. Can’t get enough of it.

I’m approaching my one year anniversary at Club 21 now… things have just sped by. I’ve felt mildly comfortable speaking before, but there is always room for improvement. Speaking is done so often, you can’t help but get better at it. And what better environment than one in which everyone is trying to improve? There is no reason not to join!

Club 21 has changed my life. About 15 years ago a friend mentioned his love for a local Toastmasters club. I delayed trying a meeting until just a few years ago. Not only has Club 21 helped me conquer my fears of public speaking, it has given me a new found confidence to speak in situations outside of the Club 21 venue. An added benefit of becoming an experienced speaker is the development of valuable listening skills.
Thank you Club 21 for creating a fun and creative environment in which this all can happen.

I have been attending Club 21 Toastmasters’ meetings for over a year now, and I can honestly say that the decision to join has been one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made in myself. Having just recently completed a master’s degree at UCLA, I continually found myself thinking that the growth I’ve achieved from my 2 hour-​per-​week commitment to my club far exceeded my feelings of accomplishment at the more formal institution of learning.
I first showed up at Club 21 because I suffer from what sometimes feels like a crippling fear of speaking. Prior to joining Club 21, I HATED public speaking, and my feelings of anxiety extended to other forms of formal speaking as well– such as conducting myself in interviews and meetings. While I can’t say that my speaking-​phobia has disappeared, my feelings at the lectern have become more nuanced; rather than experiencing pure terror, I now feel a mix of fear and sheer exhilaration at the opportunity to address a room of attentive listeners. It is such an incredible feeling– I often drive away from meetings feeling more confident and empowered than I ever had before.
The club members are quite an interesting mix of people. There are folks of all ages and from many walks of life, but they all share one common characteristic– everyone is incredibly supportive. If you decide to attend a meeting, your hands will get a workout; we do a hell of a lot of clapping. Not only that, but the Toastmasters program offers countless opportunities for evaluation and feedback. After presenting a speech, you will receive a formal spoken evaluation, a written evaluation, and feedback cards from most members of the club… not to mention a lot of pats on the back.
I really can’t emphasize enough how wonderful this club is. I think the Toastmasters program in general is pretty fantastic, but I like to think that our club is exceptionally special, as well. But the only way for you to discover that is to come check it out for yourself. So please do: Tuesdays at 7PM at Delores Bakery and Café in West LA/​Santa Monica. I look forward to seeing you there!