John Kelly receives top Toastmasters honour
MEMBERS of Greystones Toastmasters Club were delighted to celebrate with Dublin South Toastmasters a great event. John Kelly who lives in Greystones, the founder of the Dublin South Toastmasters club, received his Distinguished Toastmaster Award.
Toastmasters is a worldwide organisation with over 300,000 members. Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 15,400 clubs in 135 countries. Speaking in public, is consistently ranked as number 1 of the most frightening things to do. It’s an irrational fear that affects most people in many situations - Best Man speeches, work presentations or if you’re required to chair a committee. However irrational it might be, it is a very real fear.
It was apt that John received the highest award the Toastmasters organisation bestows at the Leopardstown club he started 5 years ago. The evening was a special night and Dublin South Toastmasters hosted a packed event. John’s friends, family and fellow Toastmasters from Greystones, Bray and Wicklow Clubs celebrated John’s many achievements including delivering over 40 speeches, mentoring and leading at club and Dublin area level.
‘ Toastmasters has gained a reputation as a very successful and extremely friendly way to improve your public speaking, leadership and listening skills,’ said John Kelly who was delighted to be awarded his DTM Award.
‘Visitors are always welcome to attend any meeting. As they say “visitors are not expected to speak, so just turn up, sit back and enjoy the meeting”. Toastmasters provides a supportive environment where members gain the skills and confidence needed to comfortably stand up in front of an audience,’ said John, ‘ There is a tried and tested programme, but it’s flexible. You progress at your own pace, advancing when you’re ready to take the next challenge.
‘Each meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.
‘ There are no instructors or teachers and members evaluate one another’s presentations.’
John said that this feedback process is a key part of the program’s suc- cess. ‘Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedures.’
Anybody wishing to find out more about Toastmasters can go to WWW. greystonestoastmasters.com or visit one of their meetings which take place in The Glenview Hotel on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month between September and June.