Overcoming public speaking: toastmasters sculpt shy speakers into outstanding orators.

• Author: Kalytiak, Tracy
• Position: SELF IMPROVEMENT

Sherrie Simmonds once dreaded speaking in public.

In seventh grade, she forgot every word of a memorized campaign speech she attempted to give while running for a class office. A few years later, Simmonds experienced another traumatic episode while delivering a five-minute-long speech to her history class.

"I locked my knees to keep them from shaking and I literally just passed out in front of the class," she said.

Simmonds now works as the Alaska Housing Finance Corp.'s (AHFC) corporate communications officer. Her job requires her to deliver polished presentations to large groups about energy rebates, weatherization and other programs. She's even starred in a TV commercial for AHFC.

Simmonds accomplishes these public-speaking duties without a qualm because of a decision she made 19 years ago to join Toastmasters International, an organization that helps people like Simmonds gain confidence by honing their public-speaking skills.

"I'd been to a meeting where someone spoke about it, and I knew that was what I needed," Simmonds said about Toastmasters. "Now, public speaking is a big part of my job. I feel great about it, look forward to it. That's not to say I don't get nervous, but I got really great feedback at Toastmasters. It was all about getting that confidence built up."

The first Toastmasters International chapter was founded in 1924, at a YMCA in Santa Ana, Calif. The nonprofit now has close to 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries, according to the organization's Web site. Alaska has 25 chapters; 13 are located in Anchorage. Juneau's Taku Toastmasters Club is Alaska's oldest chapter, launched Aug. 1, 1949.

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Most chapters are open to the public; a few have membership eligibility criteria. There is an $80 annual membership fee.

ROLES FOR ALL

Members take different roles at meetings, which are divided into three sections.

The first speech a member gives after joining is a 4- to 6-minute "ice-breaker," in which the person finds a creative way to introduce themselves to the audience.

In the second segment of the meeting, members give 60- to 90-second impromptu answers to the day's "table topic" questions.

Members act in turn as the meeting's moderator, speech timer and grammarian. In the third segment of the meetings, each member evaluates the performances of the day's speakers.

"Over time you're doing a lot of roles that help you in leadership positions," Simmonds said.

Members study Toastmasters books...