Q. Who can join the Hutchinson II Toastmaster club?

A. Official active members are over eighteen years of age, agree to the Toastmasters rules of conduct, and keep their dues current. The Hutchinson II club is a community club meaning you don't have to be an employee of Hutchinson Technology to be a member.

Q. How much does it cost to join the Hutchinson II Toastmasters club?

A. New member's registration is $20. Dues are $66 a year usually collected as $33 payable in the months of March and September. Dues are prorated for periods less than six-months. Many employers will reimburse you for your dues as they recognize the Toastmasters Competent Communicator program as a positive and cost effective employee improvement plan.

Q. Do I have to join the club right away? I need more time to think about it.

A. You are welcome to attend as a guest for as long as you would like. There are benefits to joining such as getting on the schedule, receiving the Competent Communicator's Manual and the monthly Toastmaster magazine.

Q. Besides learning to speak better, why should I join the Toastmaster's club?

A. The Leadership program complements the Communication program and helps you grow. Most people find the club meetings to be friendly, encouraging, enjoyable and stimulating. You will be able to meet and get to know business people, entrepreneurs, politicians, educators, managers and ordinary people. All are there to improve their abilities, so there is a positive and motivating atmosphere.

Q. What do I need to do to join?

A. Fill out the Toastmaster registration form. You should have gotten the form at the first meeting you attended or you can get one from any club officer. Turn in the completed form and your check for registration and dues to the Treasurer.

Q. I'm not able to attend every meeting. Is that okay?

A. Most people have busy schedules and attending every meeting becomes a challenge. You are encouraged to contact the Toastmaster for the meeting or the Vice President of Education if you're not able to attend, especially if you have a duty in the meeting. You are also able to take breaks as needed should outside commitments become demanding.

Q. Do I have give speeches from the Competent Communicator Manual or can I give my own speeches?

The Competent Communicator Manual contains ten projects - each one focusing on a specific communications skill. The Manual doesn't restrict what your speech is about, only the communication skills to focus on. This program has proven extremely effective in helping people to improve their speaking abilities. Occasionally, you may wish to give a non-manual speech for feedback and evaluation, but you will see the most improvement by following the Manual's proven plan.

Q. There are so many duties during a meeting. Do I have to do them? I'm just interested in improving my speaking skills.

A. Toastmasters emphasizes leadership as well as communication skills. When you first join, you may be given a task to perform at the meeting that does not require a lot of face time in front of the club. As you complete more speeches, your role is expanded. These roles help you to improve your leadership and speaking skills. Two important roles are the Toastmaster and the General Evaluator. These leaders continually adjust to the pacing of each person's contribution to ensure that the meetings stay on schedule and that the agenda is accomplished.

Q. There's so much to learn. Where do I get started?

Shortly after you join, an experienced Toastmaster will be assigned as your mentor. They can answer your questions and give you advice on preparing and delivering your speeches. You will also receive the Competent Communicator's Manual and the Competent Leadership Manual in 2-4 weeks. Your first speech will be The Ice Breaker. It is a four - six minute speech about you. Your mentor can get you a copy of the Ice Breaker project to get you started until your Manual arrives.

Q. How often do I have to give a speech?

The average person gives a speech every four to six weeks. We schedule two or three speeches every week, but people get busy and skip their opportunity. You can often get in an extra speech by letting the Toastmaster know that you're ready to fill in as needed.

Q. How long does it take to complete the Competent Communicator's Manual?

A. Most people finish in about a year's time.

Q Who are the club officers and why don't they run the meetings every week?

A. There are seven club officers who have the responsibility to guide and manage the club. The Sergeant At Arms starts the meetings with the pledge of allegiance. The President conducts a brief business meeting and introduces the Toastmaster for the day. The Vice President of Education concludes the meeting by going over next week's schedule. All members participate in scheduled dutes during the educational part of the meeting which lasts about 50 minutes. These rotating meeting duties gives everybody a role to contribute and helps build confidence, speaking and leadership ability.

Q. The outer door to the building is locked. How do I get in?

The outer door to the Development Center is locked until 7:00 AM. You can walk in with any HTI employee and wait in the lobby. Our meeting room next to the lobby is always locked. You must wait until the door is opened by a Toastmaster who is also a HTI employee. This usually happens by 6:50 AM.

Q. The weather forecast looks bad. Will you still hold a meeting?

A. For over 22 years, the Hutchinson II Toastmaster club has met every Thursday - even when the weather is bad. As Toastmasters, we learn to be flexible with the schedule on days where inclement weather limits the attendance. Meeting roles may shift as the attendees rise to the challenge to provide a quality meeting. We do not meet on Thanksgiving or on major holidays that fall on Thursdays.