The SMU Toastmasters Club will be holding their annual fall kickoff today with keynote speaker Mr. Jim Key. The event will be held in the Ernst & Young Gallery of the Fincher Building from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and feature information for prospective members, refreshments and hundreds of dollars in door prizes.
Mr. Key, the 2003 International Toastmasters World Champion, will be speaking on the advantages of the Toastmasters club and striving for excellence. There will also be a chance for prospective students to join the club and learn about the Speaker Series. In addition, the featured door prizes come from such businesses as Barnes & Noble, Avon Cleaners, Stromboli and Empire Baking Company. The kickoff will conclude with the club’s corporate sponsor, Ernst & Young, presenting the Cox School of Business and the club with a $5,000 check. Ernst & Young is the main contributor to the organization’s Speaker Series Scholarship Competition.
Although there are other Toastmasters Clubs across the country, the Toastmasters Speaker Series is the only one of its kind, and is a significant part of the club. Officers of the club, along with the Dallas business community, arrange for members on the Speaker Series to deliver speeches to corporate leaders for chances to win scholarships. Members can win $5,000 for Best Speaker or $2,500 for Most Improved Speaker. In addition, students are able to connect with local companies that will provide them with direct feedback for specific job fields.
“Our ultimate goal is to help our members become confident, prepared individuals able to market themselves as a desired asset to any potential employer,” Chase Hassan, president and former Speaker Series competition winner, said.
Students who join the Toastmasters Club are provided with an environment to gain, practice and improve their communication skills. The various meetings consist of giving impromptu speeches, prepared presentations and feedback from others. All of these activities are expected to enhance the communication skills of club members and better prepare them for the business world.
“I truly believe SMU Toastmasters is one of the few organizations that delivers what it promises: improved personal confidence in both business and life,” Hassan said.
