It started with a Tweet….Well actually, it didn’t, it started with a dream, but Twitter played a big role in Farnham Speakers Club starting.
For a while the thought of starting a Toastmasters International Club in Farnham had been mulling in my mind. I do a lot of networking in the Farnham area and in most networking groups and I had noticed how difficult some business owners found it to stand up and introduce their business to the group.
How confident are you at getting up to speak in front of twenty to thirty people?
For some people the idea of speaking in public is nerve wracking and stress inducing. At most networking meetings there are always the people who are so nervous they write everything down and bury their face in the paper reading the words verbatim. Or they make you feel uncomfortable because you are aware about how painful the experience is for them. When someone is really nervous, you pay more attention to their discomfort than what they are saying.
I am a member of Guildford Speakers Club which is part of Toastmasters International.
Now, in England, the word “Toastmasters” is associated with people in red coats who call everyone to order at weddings and corporate events, but the Toastmasters I belong to is about gaining confidence through public speaking.
Joining Toastmasters was probably one of best decisions, I have ever taken. There are very few places where people will spend more time telling you what you are doing right than what you are doing wrong. It is amazing how many people I have watched blossom and grow in confidence just because they are developing a skill in speech making.
Anyhow, I think you can guess I am a bit evangelical about spreading the word.
So back to Farnham, I made the decision I wanted to found a club, but how would I know if there was any interest in one in Farnham?
- So I tweeted and asked people, ”Who would be interested if I started up a speaker club?”. There would be no point if there was no interest.
- At least 20 people tweeted back that they were interested. In fact, I was tweeting about it so much that people started to ask what date it was starting, oops!
Look at Farnham Speakers Club's stunning venue.
- I didn’t have a venue. So guess what? I tweeted that I need a venue.
- A number of people came back with useful suggestions. One of the venues that a few people suggested came back with a very steep price.
- Toastmaster is a not for profit organisation and the aim is to keep the membership fees as affordable as possible.
- Then I had a stroke of luck, someone who I have never met in person, but only know through Twitter, decided to help me find a venue and she negotiated on a price with the venue on our behalf that was half the original asking price.
So we had a venue and a date was set. Then some lovely things started happening:
- I asked on Twitter if anyone had pictures of Farnham that they would mind us using for our website and James Firth volunteered and also agreed to be our photographer for our opening night.
- A friend who I knew through both Twitter and networking volunteered her mother who was the mayor of Waverley to attend our opening night because she knew I was looking for someone.
- Unfortunately, no hot celebrities volunteered their services, but it was fun dreaming and tweeting about who we could get.
- A single tweet secured me an interview on BBC Surrey radio show to talk about Farnham Speakers.
We had our first meeting and within seven months we chartered which means we are now an official member of Toastmasters International with over twenty members.
- And yes, many of our members came initially to our club because they saw me tweeting about it.
Farnham Speakers opening night - photograph courtesy of James Firth
There was a lot of work that went into creating a lively, fun and supportive club. It was about a year from making the decision “Just do it” at an officer club training meeting to chartering, but my stroke of inspiration was collecting a great committee together to get Farnham Speakers off the ground. We have also been very lucky to have the support of local Toastmaster clubs who helped fill roles initially and visit regularly as a result we have a high standard at our club. It is our members who make our meetings buzzy and welcoming.
It has been a brilliant learning experience and it is sooooooo tempting to do it again, I even have another place in mind, but I will not Tweet about it just yet!
Nicky Kriel
Nicky Kriel is a Social Media Coach & Trainer inspiring, educating and empowering Business Owners to use Social Media more strategically. She is also the author of How to Twitter for Business Success. For more information visit http://www.nickykriel.com or to find out about her courses that she runs in Guildford visit http://www.nickykriel.com/courses
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Hi Nicky,
Way to go!!
This is the effect of proper use of social media/networking. The world has indeed become a global village and everyone a friendly neighbour.
I wish you and your speaking club all the best.
Pamela
Thank you, Pamela,
I have been amazed at how many Toastmasters Friends I have made all around the world, thanks to Social Media.
Well done! That is so awesome! All done because you followed your passions and used the resources you had! Great story!
Hi Tonja
Thank you for a leaving a comment and spotting that I am just a little bit passionate about Toastmaster.
Hi..I really need to know more about Toastmasters. It was introduced to me through a friend, but I’m not sure, in reading your post, if this is the right thing for me.
Is this something I can use to get clients (jobs) and coach them through Public Speaking fears and more, or is it…really, just what is it? I’d appreciate any help. I’m going to a conference at the end of the month, but now I think I spent my money with the wrong expectations. Thank you.
Hi Stuart,
I am not entirely sure what you think Toastmaster is all about. What is your understanding of Toastmasters? Have you looked at the Toastmasters website? http://www.toastmasters.org/
Let me know what questions you still have.
Nicky, what a great story – for yourself, as well as social media! Well done…
I used a local forum that started here in South London called “Streetlife.com” (which is now nationwide) to survey interest in a locals womens business networking group in Tooting, where I live. The response was very positive, and I also tweeted about it for my more “local” followers and now, just 2 months after the first meeting there are over 70 people on the email list & at least 20 people at each meeting – quite a result for the stereotyped “reserved English”
Social media is great!
Hi Nicky: I THOUGHT it’d be a way for ME to get jobs in either being a guest speaker OR to train others. I already speak and/or perform for small and large assemblages, so I am NOT looking to build confidence, and the only time I really want to spend is for potential job networking. That’s one of my main reasons for being more active on the internet with my blogs, website, and LinkedIn and other things. If Toastmasters is really only for personal growth, then it’s not what I was looking for. I am already an acknowledged Professional Development coordinator and facilitator.
Hi Stuart,
There are many Toastmasters who create successful businesses teaching people the art of public speaking, presentation skills and coaching nervous speakers. Generally, the Toastmasters that perform best at competitions, tend to attract people who want to learn to do what they are doing. As a Master NLP practitioner I have coached people 1-2-1 for anxieties around speaking in public. I have worked together with fellow Toastmasters running courses and members of my Toastmasters club have attended courses that I have run. The reason that these things have happened isn’t because I have plugged my services, but because I have got to know people over time united by a common interest.
Nicky, thank you. With the economy as it is, I am trying to diversify and use all my skills and talents to bring in a paycheck. This is something I know I’m good at and wanted to turn add that to my “things why you should hire me” list.
Thanks
Hi Nicky, I could identify with being nervous about having to speak in front of 20 or so people. But well done with your Toastmaster’s Club and using the power of social media to connect.
Hi Kifayat
It’s worth checking to see if you have a club near you. Thank you for stopping by again.
I love any organisation that gives its members positive feedback – isn’t that lovely.
Isn’t twitter wonderful. I’ve witnessed so many wonderful ways that twitter has helped get people together, get people things they need and get info to the right person very quickly.
Do you remember when Duncan Bannatyne’s wife had left her evening dress (that she needed for a function that evening)on a Virgin train at Euston station? It was amazing how twitter came to the rescue. I love it.
Heather x
Nicky, along with everyone else here, I think it’s great that you’re using Twitter (and LinkedIn) to make things happen out in the real world. I’ve made some wonderful friendships on the web, especially in the writer groups I work with, and sometimes think it would be fun to bring them all together to meet up in real life (though I guess there would be some surprises). Any more examples you have of the web translating into real-life experiences?
Hi Alain
I have tons of stories about wonderful things that have happened including meeting my boyfriend via Twitter. I have 28 more days of the Ultimate Blog Challenge to go so I am sure you will hear some of them. I have a series of interviews, under the category “Social Media”, called “How Social Media has helped my Business” where I interview a few people including Heather Bestel, who is on this Blog Challenge with us. Real people with real stories.
And you said you were looking for inspiration??
Nicky, Fantastic story, WOW I had no idea this was your brain child… totally brilliant, my Jelly started the same way and my Jelly twitter account has a healthy follower base of fellow Jelly attendees, local businesses and others. Twitter is an amazing thing. Just amazing Nicky !
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Nicky, congratulations on the way that you used twitter to start a Toastmasters club, I am really impressed.
Stuart, Toastmaster would be very good for you if you have not been evaluated before, Toastmasters has certainly helped me improve by learning from others.
VPPR
Aberdeen Toastmasters