The Toast August/September 2010 by Simone Petersib

Manatee County County Administrator’s Office

The Toast

Power Speakers of Manatee County Government News Mag

August/ September 2010 Message from the Vice President of Education Ace the Interview! Charisma: The Magic and the Menance Corporate Profile: Caterpillar

If it’s not fun, it’s not Toastmasters!

Toastmasters District 47, Division F, Area 61 Club #1197988 Power Speakers of MCG 1

July/August Rewind What makes a successful club? And much more...

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Letter from the Vice President of Education Dear Toastmasters and Guests, As your VP of Education and Area Governor, I want to make sure everyone gets their roles and speeches in before June 2011 as well as achieving President’s Distinguished Club status. If you have any questions, please contact me at mary.moeller@ mymanatee.org or 941-708-7509 x7283. The Power Speakers of MCG Toastmasters group has two areas where we conduct club meetings! The first and second Friday of the month is at Public Works, 26th Ave. E., and on the third and fourth Friday of the month we are at the Administration Building on the 4th Floor. I got to see the 4th Floor for the first time last Friday (August 20th) and that room is a great place to have meetings. The smart board will come in handy when practicing visual aids. We are hoping this will help some of the employees that need to be closer to their work. Come and check it out. We love visitors! In closing…I like to share with you a story about tenacity. The story of Ralph Smedley’s early work with Toastmasters is a testimony to insight and tenacity. While working for the YMCA, he discovered that many young men were tongue-tied and awkward in their presentations. To help them improve, he created a club where they could practice public speaking in an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance. The idea was a success – the young men’s skills improved. However, the club was not self-sustaining. Four times, Dr. Smedley was transferred by his employer, and each time a club he left behind eventually died. After 16 years, he was finally transferred to Santa Ana, California, where his concept of self-sustaining clubs for the practice and improvement of public speech grew into reality, establishing a strong-enough foothold to thrive on their own. Dr. Smedley established Toastmasters as “a nonprofit, noncommercial movement, for the benefit of its members,” and never made a penny from his creation. He worked for the YMCA until retirement at the age of 63 and then volunteered his services to Toastmasters until shortly before his death at 87. Employees and members, we are here today because of this vision and the never-give-up attitude of Dr. Smedley. Let us not give up on our dreams. Let’s continue to learn. Let us continue to grow as communicators and leaders.

Mary Moeller

, ACB, ALB

Mary Moeller VP of Education Power Speakers of MCG Area Governor 61

ACB= Advanced Communicator Bronze

ALB=Advanced Leadership Bronze Have any questions about Toastmasters? E-mail us: toastmasters@ mymanatee.org

Power Speakers of Manatee County Government Toastmasters application

August/September 2010 Issue

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Member Profile Kelli Polanksi 1. How long have you worked for Manatee County Government? Since August of 1999

2. Title and department?

Administrative Specialist for Environmental Protection Division of Natural Resources Department.

3. How long have you been a member of Toastmasters? I joined July 1, 2010

4. How did you find out about Toastmasters?

Toastmasters had one of their meetings at my office and Stacy Haag encouraged me to join. I went to a few meetings as a guest and was hooked.

5. Why did you join Toastmasters?

I would like to strengthen my conversation skills so that I can join in on a conversation without feeling like I have nothing to add to the conversation that is being discussed (usually at a luncheon).

6. What do you like about the Club?

I really like the positive input that you receive from the members. It makes my Friday much more enjoyable.

7. What is your Toastmasters goal?

I would truly love to be a motivational speaker one day.

8. Any awards received or working on?

I have received one award for Best Table Topics and one for Best Speaker. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m working on completing my 10 speeches to receive my CC award as well as the CL award.

9. Why should employees join the Toastmasters?

They should join to learn how to be more effective listeners as well as communicators. This was something that I took for granted until I saw the importance of being a better listener.

10. What tip would you give regarding public speaking?

Take a deep breath and keep breathing slow and pause during your speech. Never let the audience know that you are nervous.

11. What do you do in your leisure time?

In my leisure time I like to read, take my 3 small dogs for a walk and I love the beach & boating with my spouse.

12. Favorite type of music?

Country is my #1 favorite type of music, but I also like jazz. 3

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Power Speakers of MCG News

She recently left her employer to set up her own company and her clients followed without the Meeting Dates slightest hesitation. And most importantly, she For convenience of members and guests, makes people feel good when she’s around, as Power Speakers of Manatee County Govern- if we’re in the center of things, and something DTM= ment will be holding meetings at Public Works magical could happen at any moment. Distinguished and the downtown Administration Building. Toastmaster Anne has “it”: that certain combination of personGenerally, the first and second Fridays of the ality and vitality that compels us to pay attention Caren Schnur month meeting will be held at Public Works at and leaves us wanting more. That’s charisma. Neile, Ph.D., 1022 26th Street East and meetings on the 3rd The word comes from Greek language; the literal ATMS, directs or 4th Friday will be held in the Manatee Room or translation is “gift of grace.” the South Osprey Room on the 4th floor of the Administration Florida StorytellBuilding. Everyone is invited to attend. All meetings Charisma denotes extraordinary personal charm ing Project at take place from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and magnetism, an ability to connect with others Florida Atlantic physically, intellectually and emotionally. It is usually University in September 24- Manatee Room accompanied by tremendous powers of persuasion. Boca Raton. She October 1- Public Works also chairs the October 8- Public Works Clearly, charisma – used wisely – is a wonderful National StoryOctober 15- Manatee Room communication tool. But even if you don’t natutelling Network. October 22- Manatee Room rally have that quality of personal magnetism, October 29- Public Works you can work on it. You can make yourself more charismatic by doing the following:

Welcome New Members

Erica Barrett, Planning Department Sage Kamiya, Public Works James Stockwell, Public Works

Member Corner

• Make a point to feel and express your emotions, rather than denying or repressing them. • Continually improve your Toastmasters skills, such as vocal variety, eye contact and focused listening. • Be optimistic and enthusiastic about the world around you. “People who have that certain extra something are not sitting with a lot of negative emotion,” says Margaret Page, a Toastmaster from British Columbia, Canada. “They’re not carrying around this black bag of negative thoughts that is weighing them down.”

Who Has Charisma?

caren schnur neile, ph.d.,

You know the expression “she lights up a room”? I have a friend who does just that. If Ann is around, all eyes naturally turn to her, even if more physically attractive women are in the room. Whenever she shares a new idea for a project or an outing, her friends are eager to get involved.

Whether or not we can all precisely define charisma, we know it when we see it. Think of former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, or ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, all of whom were known to charm even their fiercest political opponents. Picture Elvis Presley (not surprisingly, a favorite of Clinton’s), whose taped appearances are almost impossible to turn away from, whatever you think of his music. Then there are the people we all know – the boss, co-worker, family member or friend who seems to be at the center of every party or meet-

August/September 2010 Issue

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ing she attends. As Toastmasters, we have all seen speakers and leaders who have that certain magic spark that draws us in. Charismatic individuals tend to hold our attention with some combination of appearance, energy and a way of making us feel special when we’re around them. It’s not typically something we can put our finger on – a flash of blue eyes, perhaps, or a dazzling smile. Whatever it is, by definition, few of us are immune to its power.

while sweeping us away in a flood of feeling. To put it in rhetorical terms, they emphasize pathos, or emotion, to the detriment of logos, or intellect.

It should come as no surprise that charismatic people tend to be more successful and better liked than their peers. Writing about charisma a century ago, the German sociologist Max Weber noted that charismatic leaders inspire devotion in their followers, making them effective agents of change.

• Try to get a copy of the speaker’s words in writing. That may eliminate much of your emotional connection to the speech. Next, outline the proposals, ignoring the most flowery or poetic sentiments. What is it, really, that you are being asked to buy into?

However, charisma is a tool, and like all tools, it can be used to fulfill a variety of goals, including malevolent ones. Many Latin American caudillos (authoritarian military leaders) and African “Big Men” greatly inspired their followers, only to wreak longterm devastation on their countries. The Rev. Jim Jones induced 900 people to kill themselves in Jonestown, Guyana. Communist leader Josip Broz Tito was responsible for a quarter million deaths in a oneyear period in Yugoslavia. Charles Manson incited his “family” to murder in cold blood. Perhaps the most dramatic example in history of charisma’s danger is Adolf Hitler, who sent 6 million Jews to their deaths at the hands of his Nazi regime.

Pathos vs. Logos

Charismatic speakers effectively turn down the volume on the cognitive centers of our brains 5

While it can be extremely exciting to be swept away, we don’t always want to cede control of our faculties in that way. That brings up the question: How can you make sure you’re not persuaded by a charismatic speaker to do something you shouldn’t do? You can protect yourself by following a few simple rules: • Before you make decisions or take action based on a charismatic speaker’s appeals, step out of the situation. Leave the room. Calm down and allow yourself to think logically outside the sway of the individual. If you are prevented from doing so, that should be a red flag that logical examination of the message could cause you to change your mind. • Do your research. Check with reputable people or other sources to better judge the ethos, or credibility, of the speaker.

Of course, many charismatic speakers have legitimate and worthy goals. Those who do will be glad to give you the time, space and information required to pause and reflect on them.

What If I Don’t Have Charisma? First of all, don’t sell yourself short: You may have charisma and simply not be particularly flashy. U.S. President Barack Obama tends to display a quiet charisma, which helped get him elected. What’s more, a lack of charisma doesn’t necessarily doom us to failure. For one thing, the importance of that quality can vary, depending on the career you choose. Charisma isn’t as vital for

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a job in the sciences, for example, as it is in politics and the arts. And even then, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and several of Australia’s recent prime ministers all did quite well for themselves without being particularly charismatic. Of course, they had other gifts to compensate. Those lacking in personal charm may have qualities that charismatic folks sometimes lack: a good character and a focus on content over appearances, intellect over emotions, and, above all, old-fashioned work ethic. But what’s also important to remember is that charisma can be developed. Here are a few tips on ramping up your charisma quotient: • Charismatic people tend to be – or at least feel – physically attractive. I’m not advocating cosmetic surgery. Rather, maintaining good health and grooming will encourage people to seek you out. Most of us will never have movie-star looks. But we can certainly learn to make the most of what we do have.

• Research shows that charismatic people in many cultures appear to feel and communicate emotions more strongly than does the general public. (Conversely, in some cultures it is the control of deeply felt emotion that is found to be compelling. This is important to check out when you are presenting to an audience outside of your own culture.) In other words, if your culture supports this, make it a point to express joy, anger, sadness, etc., rather than denying that you are moved in certain situations.

• According to Tony Alessandra, Ph.D., author of Seven Keys to Developing the Magnetism that Leads to Success, the key to achieving charisma is to improve your communication skills. The speaking tools learned in Toastmasters, such as vocal variety and speaking rate, will go a long way toward enhancing your likeability and persuasiveness. Nonverbal skills, including eye contact, gestures, facial expressions – don’t forget to smile – good posture, a professional wardrobe and the effective use of time and space are also part of the equation. • Be in the moment. Margaret Page, the Vancouver-based Toastmaster, who is also an etiquette and protocol consultant, says that a key quality in people who stand out is they are truly focused on the present. “They are at ease in this particular moment,” says Page, a member of Sunshine Toastmasters in Sechelt, British Columbia. “They are fully present.” • Good listeners are often described as good conversationalists. While this may sound counterintuitive, Toastmasters know that listening is a vital part of conversation. Charismatic people are interesting in part because they are interested in us. Who doesn’t want to be around a person like that? Individuals who exude the spirit of optimism draw people to them. And it’s not just what you say to others. When you think mostly positive thoughts, it gives you a more self-assured, appealing quality, notes Page. “I call it ‘shining from the inside out.’” • Be informed. If people are going to want to listen to you, you must have something to say! Take a class, and keep up with current events through the Internet or other media. Before going to sleep, you might want to read a book on a subject that interests you. As you can see, charisma is a powerful tool that most of us can acquire. Once you’ve got it, keep in mind your responsibility to use it wisely. And then, world, watch out! Whether you’re in the office, on the podium or at a party, there’ll be no stopping you.

August/September 2010 Issue

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Check out the official Toastmasters video.

Members of the Caterpillar Employees Club (#79) in East Peoria, Illinois, enjoy strong company support.

Guest Corner Corporate Profile: Caterpillar Builds a Winning Team

A culture of learning helps this global manufacturer thrive. by beth black

“Hey, want to buy a knuckleboom loader? You don’t know what that is? Well, allow me to explain...” A company that manufactures products with mystifying names such as feller bunchers, skidders and articulated trucks needs employees who are strong communicators. When that company is Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading producer of construction and mining equipment, it becomes even more essential to develop an educated, competent staff who can handle not only the big machines, but the big accounts as well. Caterpillar’s senior executives are so sure of this, they founded Caterpillar University – Cat University – consisting of more than a dozen internal “colleges,” each with a specialty area of study. The company’s culture of education is emphasized on its Web site: “As Caterpillar continues to expand into new markets and our machines tackle increasingly complex challenges, our career development programs ensure every member of Team Caterpillar is prepared and ready to lead the way.” Finding Toastmasters in the Cat University Catalog is easy, as it plays an important role in the General Studies College curriculum. If clear communication is a Caterpillar employee’s doorway to success, Toastmasters hands them the key.

A Record of Promoting Success 7

In 1974, the first Toastmasters Speechcraft program was introduced to the company, and company leaders immediately noticed the

benefits. In the ensuing 36 years, Caterpillar has sponsored many corporate clubs and encouraged employee participation. Cat University’s promotional campaigns help maintain a burgeoning club membership. Messages are posted on TV monitors at the entrances to all main buildings. Managers are regularly reminded that Toastmasters is available through Cat University. Notices are e-mailed to the employees. When an employee earns a Toastmasters educational award, the company records that accomplishment on his personnel record. Achievements in Toastmasters and at Caterpillar often work together. Jon Greiner, DTM, is an Information Solutions Manager for Caterpillar and is active in several company- sponsored Toastmasters clubs. He has enjoyed tremendous accomplishments in Toastmasters, culminating with his term as International President in 2004-2005. Greiner can’t pinpoint which dream led to the other, but says that the support of his company, while building skills in Toastmasters, helped him reach many milestones along both paths.

A Worldwide Network of Clubs

Caterpillar’s offices are spread around the globe, resulting in corporate Toastmasters clubs in cities such as Singapore, Bangalore and Beijing, as well as in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Illinois, where the company is headquartered. All in all, 15 Toastmasters clubs exist to meet the communication and leadership needs of Caterpillar employees. Balakrishnan Arasapan, who works in Caterpillar’s Asia Pacific Sales Operations Division, helped charter the Singapore Toastmasters Club in 2008 and is the club’s immediate past president. Arasapan is pleased with his progress in Toastmasters and says, “It’s critical in the business world to communicate as quickly and concisely as possible without creating ambiguity in the message.” Caterpillar also has equipment dealerships scattered around the globe, which also support Toastmasters clubs. All in all, Caterpillar’s network of clubs offers a Toastmasters program that, Greiner says, is “pretty deeply embedded” in its educational system. The program has been around so long that managers support club membership because they were members before reaching a supervisory level. Often, these managers are willing to cover some or all of the members’ dues.

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Caterpillar’s Reward: Onstaff Communicators and Leaders

Greiner says there is a joke among Caterpillar Toastmasters that they help teach the engineers how to speak English – even those who were born speaking English. These employees habitually speak such technical language that ordinary people can’t understand what they say. Their managers send them to Toastmasters club so that they can learn to speak to a lay audience. Also, English-language learners are numerous at Caterpillar – and they avail themselves of the language skills they can build through the Toastmasters program. Those who are learning English as a foreign language total nearly a third of the members at the Mossville, Illinois, Toastmasters clubs. Di Wang is one such Caterpillar employee. Wang’s language skills made her apprehensive about participating in Toastmasters. “I didn’t really understand what I was supposed to do and had trouble understanding others,” she says. “I was confused and nervous.” As a result of these communication challenges, the corporation leans its support toward the basic communication skill-building aspects of club membership. However, Greiner and his group are working with representatives of Cat University to expand the promotion of club, area, division and district leadership experiences as a means to strengthen managerial skills for corporate executive positions as well. Greiner notes, “The other group of Toastmasters members at Caterpillar is made up of those who are candidates for supervisory positions. They’re working to improve their communication and leadership skills to prepare for these managerial roles.” Wang is also a skilled leader highly valued in Caterpillar’s Project Management Environment. To prepare for a supervisory role at

Caterpillar, she became club president last year and is an area governor now. Currently a project manager, Wang says, “This job requires me to contact people among multiple divisions and with different backgrounds. I think I am getting more comfortable in facilitating meetings, leading discussions, clarifying problems and removing roadblocks.”

Beth Black is an associate editor of the Toastmaster magazine.

Other Caterpillar leaders mention Toastmasters when discussing accomplishments. Linda Andrews, of the Progressively Speaking club in Peoria, Illinois, has been a full-time Caterpillar employee for 15 years and consulted with the company for the eight years prior. Her current title is IT Project Manager, though she wears many hats in the company. Andrews joined Toastmasters three years ago. She credits her Toastmasters training with the success she’s enjoying in her current position. “My ability to serve as a competent IT project manager would not be possible without effective verbal communication skills,” she notes. Andrews is also looking forward to the career achievements her training will bring in the future. “I firmly believe developing my Toastmaster skills will open the door to new opportunities,” she says. “My career growth was at a dead end without verbal communication skills. As I develop the necessary communication skills, I am more confident that I am a valuable and contributing member of the Caterpillar team.” Arasapan, of Singapore, values the leadership track. “Coming from a corporate club, the leadership track is a highly beneficial way of developing employees’ leadership qualities – mentoring, creating and executing a vision,” he says. “This development is critical to preparing our employees of today to be leaders of tomorrow.” As Cat University’s curriculum promotes an increasingly balanced combination of communication and leadership practice, benefits to the company

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Questions? Suggestions? Comments? We want to hear from you! Forward your message to Simone Peterson.

are already emerging. Andrews says, “I am now able to speak to larger audiences composed of upper management and their direct reports. I could never have done that successfully prior to my Toastmaster development.” Then she notes, “I also believe I do a better job leading business meetings and discussion groups.”

July Rewind

August Rewind

July 9

August 6

July 16

August 13

July 30

August 20

Best Table Topics- Deborah Carey Reed Best Speaker- Jane Casey and Stacy Haag Best Evaluator- Liz Jones Best Table Topics: Rossina Leider Best Speaker: Chuck Froman Best Evaluator: Jerson Lopez Best Speaker: Kelli Polanski & Stacy Haag Best Evaluator: Renee Isom

Best Table Topics: Chuck Froman Best Speaker: Stacy Haag Best Evaluator: Kelli Polanski Best Table Topics: Stephanie Moreland Best Speaker: Stephanie Moreland Best Evaluator: Kelli Polanski Best Table Topics: Sharon Tarman Best Speaker: Tammy Boggs & Rossina Leider Best Evaluator: Phyllis Strong

Toastmasters District 47 News What makes a successful club? vicki wayne, division g governor

Location … Day &Time … Officers … Or, is it the members? Location is vital. Is it easily accessible? Can guests find it? Is it a pleasant environment suitable for a business/professional event? Day & time is just as important as location. Is the meeting after work? Do members & guests have time to get to the meeting? Are the meetings weekly or bi-weekly? Does it start on time and follow an agenda? Taking a leadership role is an honor, privilege and duty. Have you or the other officers taken the role “just for the title”? Are you following the guidelines in the officer manual set forth by Toastmasters International? Each person brings a new dimension to the club – new ideas, new excitement. Are your members getting all that they expected when they joined? Are they meeting their individual goals – educational, personal and professional? Yes! Every single one of these is important. Can you say one is more important than the other? I can’t. There are two things that make a tremendous impact on the success of a club – attitude and enthusiasm. If you are a club officer it is your responsibility to maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE & exhibit genuine ENTHUSIASM at all meetings/events.

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That’s right … no matter what kind of day you’ve had. The moment you step inside the TOASTMASTER DOOR, you leave the outside world behind (i.e.: troubles). YOU are leader. You must lead by example. What you do will be reflected in your membership. Members … Without you, there is no club. You are integral part of the club – YOUR club. Therefore, if you don’t “participate” the club suffers. Have you read “A Toastmaster’s Promise”? (Pssst … It’s in your manuals.) As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise … ♦ To attend club meetings regularly ♦ To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication, Advanced Communication or Competent Leadership manuals ♦ To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments ♦ To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations ♦ To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow ♦ To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so ♦ To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy ♦ To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers ♦ To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs ♦ To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities In addition, Toastmasters International has many tools available to develop members and grow the club. The Successful Club Series modules address the quality of club meetings and offer tips on attracting and maintaining members. Three of the ten modules are described below. ♦ “Moments of Truth” helps the club recognize and deal with situations critical to club success.

It is a club self-evaluation tool. ♦ “Finding New Members for Your Club” suggests ways to help club seek out those vital new members! ♦ “Keeping the Commitment” discusses the 10 standards that comprise “A Toastmasters Promise.” The Better Speaker Series modules are designed as 10-15 minute educational speeches to giving practical tips that can be of benefit to all members. Beginning Your Speech, Concluding Your Speech, Organizing Your Speech, Creating an Introduction are just some samples of the topics. How to Be a Distinguished Club is a terrific tool to use to explain and promote the Distinguished Club Program to the members of your club. So, what makes a successful club? YOU!

Toastmasters International Ace the Interview In these hard times, no job is completely stable. Employees must be ready to act and react quickly. For the past 85 years, Toastmasters International has prepared members to communicate effectively through practice and study, in an environment that is comfortable as well as educational. In Toastmasters, you will learn skills to help you in your next interview as well as in your daily life. Here’s a common scenario these days: You’re 45 years old and haven’t had a job interview for more than a decade. Your company has just terminated half of its staff and you are worried that your job is no longer secure. You may have to start interviewing for a position with a new company. Reality has hit, and you are forced to find a new career. After your first interview, you realize that your skills are rusty. Answering questions, you were nervous, tongue-tied and not as confident as you thought you might be. Toastmasters can help!

August/September 2010 Issue

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Have any questions about Toastmasters? E-mail us: toastmasters@ mymanatee.org

After attending your first Toastmasters meeting, you’ll find that Toastmasters can do more than help you with that job interview. With continued attendance, you’ll have more confidence and better communication and leadership skills for the rest of your life. A few key things to remember before your next interview: • Think about the questions you might be asked and consider possible answers in advance. At a Toastmasters meeting, you will have the opportunity to discuss your fear of failing the interview and also practice your responses with other members. • Try to relax. Remember that you were called for the interview because you look good on paper. Now your job is to sell yourself in person. Even the best speakers get nervous. But it is how you deal with your nervous energy that is important. Begin by taking a deep breath. Smile. And filter that energy into positive, calm responses. • Make and keep eye contact with the person interviewing you. Eye contact shows great confidence as well as control. • Think positive! This company needs you and its management team is interested in you. They are on your side. You’ll have the opportunity to practice these skills and more when you become a member of the Toastmasters family. Not only will you have the confidence to walk into an interview, but you will also gain leadership and communication skills to improve your daily life. Many Toastmasters who are interviewed by prospective employers are complimented on their interviewing skills. Take the leap, join or at least visit Power Speakers of Manatee County Government. It will change your life! And best of luck in your interview!