Public Speaking Organizations

If you’re looking to learn new skills, meet others who are interested in public speaking and maybe even find speaking opportunities, then joining public speaking clubs such as the ones organized by Toastmasters is a great way to start.

As an alternative to taking a public speaking training course, clubs offer ongoing support and a community within which to improve your public speaking skills on an ongoing basis. Many people join clubs because they have an important presentation coming up and want a quick fix, and end up staying members for years. The support you’ll find in these kind of clubs is second to none. Everyone’s in the same boat and sympathetic to the feelings of the fledgling public speaker.

You may eventually decide that you want to speak professionally, in which case public speaking groups such as the National Speakers Association (NSA) will offer you the resources and networking opportunities you’ll need to advance your public speaking career. Professional speakers from all levels, industries and disciplines are members of groups such as these.

As a member of Toastmasters and having been to a number of National Speakers Association meetings, I can certainly vouch for their value. Not only am I learning so much but I’ve made many new acquaintances that have turned into great friends.