I followed my husband to my first Toastmasters meeting for the food. Boise Club 61 meets at a Chinese restaurant and sometimes you just want a really good crab rangoon.
Joining a Toastmasters club wasn't an obvious choice for me. I did not feel I had anything to offer beyond an incredible grasp of useless information. I can name all of the ThunderCats and recall any episode of the 1980's G.I. Joe cartoon, but when it comes to speaking, networking, and leadership? Yeah, I'm lost.
I felt hopelessly mundane in a room full of successful professionals. As a peon at a big box retailer, I do not have a title or degree or something to say after the words "I am." Self-doubt filled me in on all of the reasons I should not join. It did me a favor, too. Self-doubt 's constant ranting about how I was going to fail in all kinds of spectacular ways was what convinced me to finally sign that membership application. I joined Toastmasters because I was going to learn to do the things that scared me, I did not have to be perfect from the beginning, and it was such a fun group of people I wanted to hang out and learn with them every week.
I'm a Toastmaster. I'm the club Secretary. I'm also a Gamemaster in the HackMaster Association and Chairperson of the STAR Safety Committee at work. I found all kinds of things to put after the words "I am." It might not have happened if I was not in the mood for some crab rangoon... :) ...and ended up joining Boise Club 61.
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