Introduction to Parramatta Toastmasters Club
Parramatta Toastmasters Club extends a warm welcome to all visitors to its meetings. Our aim is always to adhere to the mission of a Toastmasters Club.
The Mission of a Toastmasters Club
"The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which each member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth."
We achieve this aim through our educational programs, the features of which are:
- Participation by every member in every meeting
- Balanced opportunities to speak formally and in an impromptu manner.
- Opportunities for members to help one another through constructive evaluation.
- Opportunities for handling leadership roles, including chairmanship.
- Good fellowship among our members.
Our Club
Parramatta Club has always been a very large and successful one and has had a major influence on the Toastmasters movement in Australia, where there are now over 500 Clubs. Through the achievements of our Club and of the Clubs we have formed, we have provided communication and leadership training directly and indirectly to over 10,000 people.
Our aim is to satisfy each member's need for friendship, recognition and respect, in a community organisation, as well as his/her need to learn and to make a creative contribution.
A strong spirit of camaraderie has always existed in the Club. This helps us enjoy ourselves even while we are learning, since Toastmasters recognises that people learn best in moments of enjoyment.
See our Photo Gallery for significant pictures of our Club.
Beyond our Club
Parramatta Club has readily shared its expertise by forming other Toastmasters Clubs. The Club has sponsored Blacktown (1970); The Hills District (1974); Orange (1978); Enthusiastic Epping (1983); Parrachievers (1986); Parratax (now Parramatta Midday) (1988); Parramatta Breakfast (1995); Dubbo and Parkes Clubs (1996); Western Gourmet (1999) and Dundas (2002).
Members have also been involved in the presentation of Speechcraft, Youth Leadership and Success Leadership programs. These are short-term programs, which allow Toastmasters to share their experience in communication, with members of the community. Parramatta Club runs a number of Speechcraft programs each year while Youth Leadership programs are conducted in local high schools.
Parramatta Club members have also served at Area and District levels - 31 members have served outside the Club as Area Governors, with 16 also holding a senior District office on the District Policy Committee. Of these, four, Ken Rennie, Gary Wilson, John Taylor and Ian Chick were District Governors. The first two were later elected to the International Board of Directors. They remain the only two members from District 70 to achieve this honour.
Contests
Speech contests are a feature of Toastmasters. Parramatta has had its successes with David Williamson, Jerry O'Donovan, Bob Hince (twice) and David Griffiths winning the District 70 finals of the International Speech Contest. In 1989, Bob Hince went on to be runner up in the Toastmasters World Championship of public speaking. In 2007, Wikrom Tang won the District 70 final of the Humorous Speech Contest and in doing so, was the first club member to win the District trophy which was donated by Gary Wilson and Parramatta Toastmasters. He was followed by David Griffiths who won in 2009.
See our Club History for more information about the Club and our leaders.
With a proud history over 45 years, Parramatta Toastmasters Club aims to continue playing a key role within Toastmasters in the 21st century.
To find out more about Toastmasters and our Club, please see the page Introducing Toastmasters. This contains answers to all the frequently asked questions about Toastmasters and what is involved in joining our Club.