Toastmasters: Still thriving 100 years into its history 🗯 Joe Smith, Toastmasters - Get Together

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Episode notes

“The hallmark of Toastmasters is making things fun because we want people to come back. We can have the best education in the world but if you're not coming back, it's of no use.” - Joe Smith Toastmasters was founded on October 22, 1924 (97 years ago!) at a YMCA in Santa Monica, California by a man named Ralph Smedley. Ralph set out to offer a functional value - creating a space for members to improve their public speaking. What continues to keep people coming back decades later is the inspirational, supportive, and fun vibe of the group. Toastmasters is sustained by a vibrant group of volunteers. Today there are more than 364,000 paying members around the world, and one in three members also volunteers for the organization. Joe Smith is a longtime Toastmaster and serves as the Program Quality Director for District 38 of Toastmasters in the Philadelphia area. We talked with him about Toastmasters’ history and the magic that keeps members coming back to learn and volunteer. Highlights, inspiration, & key learnings: Can’t fake the funk. How Joe found himself at Toastmasters. Origin story. People are afraid of public speaking - everywhere. An activity refined over years.

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