Contact Us

You can contact the current officers by sending an email to these email addresses. Your email will be forwarded to the current officers:

If you're close to Syracuse, you could also just drop by before our regular TM meetings on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm, to meet us in person, and to possibly be a guest in a meeting. Our meetings start exactly at 6:30 pm; don't be late! See our directions and description of a typical meeting for more information about the meetings and how to get to the Weber's Restaurant.

Why Join Toastmasters?

(by Bob Bouder, CTM)

Public speaking skills are vital in today's business world. Yet many of us become anxious at even the thought of speaking in front of an audience. So we face a dilemma, we can't become good speakers unless we practice yet we can't bring ourselves to practice at our jobs because we fear that we're not good speakers. This is where Toastmasters comes in. Because each member is working towards this common goal, speaking to a group of Toastmasters is quite different than speaking to a typical audience. At Toastmasters, we all know what it's like to be just starting out and we're all more than happy to help out in any way we can. It's this supportive atmosphere that makes all the difference.

Even if the need to give a speech never actually presents itself in your job, it is still a valuable skill to learn. It may be helpful to think of public speaking as the pinnacle of effective communication. Once a person is able to give a speech with ease, an activity most people are uncomfortable with, other forms of communication will seem easy by comparison. This will create a confidence in the individual's daily interactions that will add legitimacy and professionalism to his overall image.

Toastmasters meetings are designed to help members develop in several different areas. In addition to prepared speeches, members frequently practice impromptu speaking and evaluating other speakers. Giving impromptu speeches improves one's ability to think on their feet and perform gracefully under pressure. The goal of an evaluation (speech) is to suggest areas for improvement while at the same time generating enthusiasm so that the speaker will be excited about giving her next speech. Effectively achieving this balance requires skill.

Perhaps the most notable quality of Toastmasters though, is its accessibility to virtually everyone. This is achieved in three ways. First, clubs can be found almost anywhere in the United States; in fact most cities have multiple clubs to choose from. Second, in contrast to communications seminars or classes that only last for a few days or weeks, membership in Toastmasters is ongoing. This means that members can take as long as they need to get to the level that they want without ever feeling rushed. It also enables members to keep their public speaking skills "in shape" for when they actually need them. An athlete doesn't stop practicing once he's reached his goals, neither should we. Third, membership in Toastmasters is very affordable. While a typical communications seminar may cost several hundred dollars, a Toastmasters membership costs about six dollars a month. As a non-profit organization, making money is not our goal.

So, if you're ready to take that next step come visit us for a free meeting. If afterwards you're still not sure then feel free to come back for a few more. We want you to feel comfortable with whatever your final decision may be. Need more information about becoming a member? Read on...

How To Join

So you've attended a few meetings and decided that you want to be a member? Joining is easy. Just meet with Mary Lynn Vierling, our Vice President of Education and she will gladly walk you through the entire process. You will be asked to fill out a membership application which is available at the meeting location or you can get one on-line.

Costs and Benefits

(by S. Kanat Bolazar, ATM-Silver)

Toastmasters meetings are extremely efficient and cost-effective in gaining public speaking skills.

Membership fees are $33 every six months, with an additional $26 the first time you join. You would have to pay $59 for the first six months (if joining at the beginning of the term; see note below), and $33 for every six months thereafter. Of these, $27 / six months and $20 / first time fee are collected by the Toastmaster International, and $6 is collected by our club, the Empire Statesmen Toastmasters.

In return for your first time fee, you will get five manuals, with 10 assignments each in CC and CL manuals:

Competent Communicator (CC) Manual: CC manual replaces the older Communication and Leadership Manual (and the corresponding Competent Toastmaster (CTM) title). It has 10 speaking assignments. Your first assignment is your "Ice Breaker," where you introduce yourself to the club in any way you choose. The other nine assignments focus on vocal variety, proper word usage, gestures, visuals, and other important public communication skills.

Competent Leader (CL) Manual. The new CL manual (introduced in fall 2006) allows you to get feedback on your performance in other toastmaster roles.
Your Speaking Voice
Effective Speech Evaluation
Gestures: Your Body Speaks

Our regular $33 membership fee collected every six months corresponds to:

$5.5 per month
About $1.25 per meeting

In return, you will receive the monthly Toastmasters Magazine with tips from fellow toastmasters on how to improve your public speaking. Some part of your fee also subsidizes Toastmaster International costs and Empire Statesmen Toastmaster activities and costs.

Note:

Dues are paid twice a year on April 1st and October 1st.
New members pay the one-time fee and a prorated version of the regular member dues. For example, if a new member joins in December, she will pay the $26 new member fee plus a $22 membership fee ($33 / 6 months = $5.50 per month so 2 x $5.50 would be subtracted from the $33 membership fee). From this point on, she will pay only the $33 membership fee every April and October.