Benefits in joining a Toastmasters club include:
• Improving leadership, speaking, listening and thinking skills;
• Discovering hidden abilities and awakening latent talents;
• Acquiring an expanded vision of the role of communication;
• Increasing self-esteem through active participation in personal development.
Toastmasters addition of the Pathways program does not alter the structured format of a club or meeting. The conventional leadership roles and meeting agendas that typically include speakers, table topics, grammar coaching, evaluators and timers, have not changed.
Pathways recognition program is a new learning approach to Toastmasters that provides its members a learning experience that challenges and inspires both personally and professionally.
The traditional education structure of Toastmasters had two main learning tracks of accomplishment. The communication track, which was focused on presentation mastery and becoming an accomplished public speaker. And the leadership track, which built skills as a strategic leader and developing an understanding of communication styles. Pathways combines aspects of both leadership and communication and fuses them into a more individually tailored learning experience, catered to the needs and desires of the individual member.
The configuration of a learning track has 10 paths available to choose from. They are: Dynamic Leadership, Effective Coaching, Innovative Planning, Leadership Development, Motivational Strategies, Persuasive Influence, Presentation Mastery, Strategic Relationships, Team Collaboration and Visionary Communication.
Each path has unique projects and speeches related to it. Within each path, there are five levels and project types, with each leading to an achievement award. Level one is Mastering Fundamentals; level two is Learning Your Style; level three is Increasing Knowledge; level four is Building Skills and level five is Demonstrating Expertise.
At Wright-Patterson AFB, there are two Toastmasters clubs with lunchtime meetings. Both groups are dedicated to teaching its members the art of effective public speaking, effective listening and protocols for formal meetings.
The Huffman Prairie Toastmasters club meets on Wednesdays in Bldg. 262, in Area A. Their vision is providing a friendly and trustworthy environment for improving critical thinking, communication and leadership skills: https://huffmanprairie.toastmastersclubs.org/
The Wright Flyer Toastmasters club meets on Tuesdays in Bldg. 50 in Area B. Their vision is to equip, empower and energize leaders, and they are dedicated to communication and leadership skill development: http://wrightflyers.toastmastersclubs.org/.
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