Travis Talkers help people conquer pre-speech jitters

  • Published
  • By Capt. Vanessa Hillman
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On the top of many lists of fears, public speaking is listed as the No. 1 thing people fear. For some people, standing in front of an audience causes their heart to pound as if they just ran a marathon. They get sweaty palms and flip flops in their stomach. Anxiety is at an all-time high. 

Thus, a new organization has arrived on base to help. 

Toastmasters of America is here to assist base members interested in overcoming these fears or improving their current speaking skills. 

A Toastmasters club is a “learn-by-doing” workshop in which men and women hone their skills in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. 

A typical club has 20 to 40 members who meet weekly or biweekly to learn and practice public speaking techniques. The average club meeting lasts approximately one hour. 

“Toastmasters is a wonderful way to enhance leadership skills,” said Master Sgt. Joan Miller, club president. 

“The structure, camaraderie and prestige are what drew me to it. For the skills you acquire, you only pay a minimal amount a year, whereas people go to college for their master’s and pay a lot of money to do the same thing,” she said. 

Annual dues start at $61.29 for first timers and then it is $27 every six months. With the dues, members receive their manuals, a monthly magazine and membership into Toastmasters International so they can go to a meeting anywhere in the world. On top of the membership dues there is a local fee of about $3 to cover club administrative costs. 

“[However], as an incentive, we are waiving the dues for the first 20 chartered members,” said Sergeant Miller. 

Potential members shouldn’t be weary of being uncomfortable speaking or making mistakes. 

“Toastmasters puts you in a forum where you’re comfortable with your inefficiencies,” according to Sergeant Miller. “If you stumble it doesn’t bother you because you know this is an area you need to expand on. With each meeting you grow stronger and stronger in that area.” 

“Anybody who is apprehensive about taking the lead in their own section should come out and they will learn how to take the lead at work,” she added. 

Travis Talkers, the chapter that has been started here, meets every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the 60th Mission Support Group conference room and is to open to anyone with base access. 

“I joined because I wanted to become a better speaker; I am already comfortable in front of people, but I hope to get better. There is always room for improvement,” said Staff Sgt. Maria Testut, 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief’s executive assistant. “It is always a good learning environment because they point your challenges as opposed to your faults.” 

For more information about Travis Talkers, contact Sergeant Miller at 424-0057.