There is a lot of truth in that statement.  Public speaking can be scary.

I’ve been a Toastmaster for over seven years and it was the best thing I ever did.  I only wish I had found Toastmasters earlier in my professional career.   When I first joined Toastmasters I could speak in front of audience but I certainly wasn’t comfortable doing so and I certainly wasn’t very polished.  Now, I actually enjoy giving talks, especially about topics I am passionate about…such as genealogy.

Toastmasters has given me that confidence.  This program is an non profit organization that teaches effective communication and leadership.  It is a self paced program where the individual is mentored by an experienced member and also gets constructive feedback from the group.  It is a very safe (and inexpensive) place to practice one’s public speaking skills.

There are many excellent speakers on the genealogy talk circuit and there are many other genealogy experts that might want to share their knowledge but are reluctant to speak in public.

If you want a safe place to practice your public speaking skills for that next genealogy talk, consider joining Toastmasters.  I’m sure glad I did.

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P.S. On the Toastmasters website, go to the left hand side to “Find a Location” to find a club near you.  Toastmasters is found in over 90 countries.  Leave a comment below or catch me on twitter @luxegen if you have questions about how the program works.