In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members. The group took the name Toastmasters. We are a local chapter of Toastmasters International.
Today, Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. Toastmasters International includes more than 199,000 men and women in more than 9,300 clubs in more than 70 countries.
Experienced professionals and beginning speakers alike can benefit from our practical, face-to-face learning program. Whether you're speaking to the board of directors, your customers, your co-workers or your kids, Toastmasters can help you do it better. You'll learn and practice in a friendly, comfortable environment with people who are there for the same reason you areto become better communicators.
At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.
We alternate meeting locations between our two BDO offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of the month we meet at our BDO office on 770 Kenmoor SE, Suite 300, GR, MI 49546 - this is right off of the Cascade & I96 exit. The 2nd & 4th Wednesday meet at our BDO office downtown Grand Rapids at 99 Monroe Ave., Suite 300, GR, MI 49503
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
