The Austin Toastmasters is one club among many in the worldwide organization - Toastmasters International (TI).

 

Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization founded in 1924 in California, by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley. Toastmasters begins with the member, and then rolls up into a hierarchy from club, to area, to division, to district, to region and finally to TI.

 

The Austin Toastmasters is a club in District 55, which encompasses the Austin metro area down through the valley.

There are over 60 other Toastmasters clubs in the Austin area and over 13,000 clubs in 70 countries worldwide. The mission of the 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 foster self-confidence and personal growth.

 

Speech Contests 
Every year there are 2 club contests

• ​Fall - humorous speech contest

• Spring - International Speech Contest.

Winners of the club contests go on to an Area Contest. Winners of the Area Contest go on to the Division Contest and on up the Toastmasters hierarchy. Frequently, members of The Austin Toastmasters are contest winners. The contests provide members another venue for speaking which further helps build speaking skills. The next level of competition is at the International Convention in August (see below).

 

Annual International Convention
Every August, TI hosts an International Convention in North America, complete with educational programs, social events and speaking contests. Speakers who have won at every level in the preceding months compete for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking.

In recent years, Scotty Burch represented our club at the National level in Spring 2012, and Susan Baughman represented our club at the District level in Spring 2003.