April proclaimed as Toastmasters Awareness Month

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green last week issued a proclamation recognizing April as Toastmasters Awareness Month throughout the state to promote public speaking, communication and leadership.

Toastmasters International District 49 Director Gerald Toyomura accepted Green’s proclamation, which seeks to assist people across the state to overcome the fear of speaking in public, a news release said.

City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick

Blangiardi, Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth, Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami, and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen have also issued or plan to issue similar proclamations for their respective counties.

Toastmasters District 49 has 65 clubs across Hawaii that meet on different days and times in person or via Zoom. Each club is always looking for more people interested in building public speaking and leadership skills, according to the news release.

Toastmasters International

is one of the world’s leading nonprofit educational entities to devote to communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. It has approximately 280,000 members in more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries.

The organization offers services to its members and local communities that help them to perform better in “virtually every endeavor and profession through a friendly, supportive, and professional environment,” the news release said.

A free hybrid event is scheduled for April 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Susannah Wesley Community Center located on 1117 Kaili Street, #3432, on Oahu. There will be prizes, and refreshments will be served.

For those interested in participating in an informational session via Zoom, a Toastmasters Virtual Open House is also being planned at a later date.

To register for the April 13 event, or for more information, visit www. district49.com or contact Club Growth Director Lynn Araki-Regan at d49lynn@ gmail.com.