It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since we chartered a Toastmasters club just for VYP members, called “VYP’s Strip View Speakers.” In January of 2009, we invited all VYP members to learn about Toastmasters at a “demo meeting,” where we presented a shortened version of a traditional Toastmasters meeting. Less than 2 months later, on March 18, 2009, we had 20 members, and chartered the club.

Since then, our members have enjoyed our twice-monthly meetings, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Platinum Hotel. Members take turns running the meeting, or various parts of the meeting, and presenting prepared and impromptu speeches. Other members provide speech evaluations to help members continuously improve.

We use the Toastmasters model, one that has worked for thousands of members in over 120 countries worldwide. Strip View Speakers members learn speaking and leadership skills, and are recognized for their achievements with a Certificate from Toastmasters Headquarters after their first 10 speeches… and a letter to their employer outlining their accomplishments! Additional recognitions continue, but you’ll have to come to a meeting so that we can explain it to you!

As the Club’s President, I am amazed at how much our club has grown over the last year. I’ve watched members who were afraid of public speaking come out of their shells, and I’ve seen members who were already confident gain more poise. The club has a great vibe – with members and guests taking an hour to an hour and a half to laugh, learn, and get to know each other a little better.

Every Strip View Speakers member gets a unique experience at our meetings. Some come because it is the most in-depth networking experience they can have. Others tell me that even if they are not scheduled to speak, they still learn something from listening to the evaluations. I come for the atmosphere – the meetings are far from boring, and at our last meeting, I laughed so hard I had tears coming from my eyes!

These members have become my friends, confidants, and my sounding board… and it doesn’t hurt that we often grab drinks at the bar downstairs after the meeting! I hope you’ll join us at a future meeting… visiting is always free, but I’m sure that after just one meeting, you’ll want to join us!