Barnum Square TM

Barnum Square Toastmasters'
Welcomes You

The District Lt. Gov. of Marketing, Dave Wheeler & two past Club Presidents, Pat Kelly and Richard Smith

   Barnum Square
    Toastmasters

If you can Perceive it and Believe it,
You can Achieve it!!!


    District 53, Division A, Area A4, Club #1701                              Bethel, Connecticut

Barnum Square Toastmasters

Mission Statement

The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth.

Some people join Toastmasters to overcome their fear of public speaking while others join to enhance their speaking and leadership skills ... building skills for the future.

Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, who conceived and developed the idea of helping others to speak more effectively, established the first Toastmasters club on October 22, 1924, in Santa Ana, California. More clubs were formed, and Toastmasters International was incorporated under California law on December 19, 1932.

Its World Headquarters, located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, administers Toastmasters International's business and services. It employs no paid promoters or instructors. It has no salaried staff except the Executive Director and World Headquarters staff, who provide services to the clubs and Districts.

The Barnum Square Toastmasters Chapter of Toastmasters International was chartered on May 22, 2002. We meet every Tuesday at the Municipal Center in Bethel, Connecticut from Noon until 1:00pm.

Barnum Square Toastmasters Club #1701 is part of District 53 , A 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 Distinguished District, serving over 100 Clubs.

The first speech a Toastmaster gives is the Ice Breaker Speech. Search our other pages to find out more about the first of many wonderful speeches you can give on your way to become an accomplished public speaker.

Welcome to the Barnum Square Toastmasters!

Richard in mid-sentence.

Colleen thinking before she speaks during Table Topics in January 2009

See "Current Schedule" tab for Upcoming Events.

Tony earned his Competent Communicator award this year. Way To Go, Tony! Here is Barbara C. giving him his certificate and his badge. Tony is very good about wearing his badge to the meeting each week like all of us should.

Typical Format of our

Toastmasters Meeting

There are 3 components of

Toastmasters Meeting

Formal Speeches presented by Club Members. Each speech stresses specific goals set forth by manuals provided by Toastmasters International. Generally three formal speeches are given at each of our meetings.

VPE Barbara (Nathan) Clendinning congratulates Heather O'Neill on completing her Competent Communicator

Barbara and her husband Mark celebrated 4th of July nuptials this year (2009) down at her parent's home in the Washington, DC - Maryland coast and environs. You may find Barbara listed as "Barbara Nathan" if I haven't caught every place her name is listed.

Table Topics is impromptu speaking. The Table Topics Master asks his or her fellow Toastmasters a question, which is answered off the cuff. There may be a theme for the meeting or they may be random. The most important part about Table Topics is that the speaker only has 30 to 60 seconds to compose their response.

Lana Levine and Elli Hess along with other members of the audience during a recent meeting.

Evaluations of the Formal Speeches which many believe is a key element to growth. The Speakers are given specific and general feedback; highlighting what made the presentation strong with suggestions for improvement while maintaining or building self-esteem.

All This Takes Place Within The Support System of a Toastmasters Club!