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From: Alan (to Tim)
Date: 22 Oct 2009
Time: 07:40:59 -0500
Remote Name: 84.68.164.103
Hi Tim, Thank you for your generous comments. No, I didn’t join Toastmasters International because (at the time I developed an interest in public speaking) a TM club did not exist in my area. Instead, I utilised the Association of Speakers Clubs which has its origins in Toastmasters and operates on very similar lines. Apparently the ASC was founded (in the 1950’s?) when several TM members in the UK broke away over a dispute about funding. I was specifically attracted to public speaking because addressing audiences had always figured prominently among my list of fears. A catalogue of painful experiences, accumulated throughout my life, had fuelled my belief that I could never successfully perform that role. The stuttering management programme, whose services I enlisted in 2000, afforded me numerous opportunities to speak in front of large groups of other PWS. I found it so exhilarating and wanted to challenge myself in less supportive environments. I guess I caught the public speaking bug. :-) Within a few weeks of attending my initial stuttering management course/seminar, I went along to my first ASC meeting accompanied by another PWS who was already a member of that club. I enjoyed the experience so much that I joined three ASC clubs in quick succession. Two of those clubs comprised a few other PWS in their membership, so I had support while attending. However, at the third club (the largest in the UK) I was the sole PWS. I purposely chose the latter because I wanted to move further outside my comfort zone by speaking in front of members who were not familiar with stuttering. Since joining the ASC, I have regularly given prepared and impromptu speeches; chaired meetings, competitions and topics sessions; while also presenting tutorials and providing oral evaluations of speeches made by other members. I have also been called upon to judge club, area and district contests. I would certainly recommend that PWS challenge themselves by joining such organisations. They are likely to feel uncomfortable at first, but that is a perfectly natural reaction when we do something new. It was useful for me to witness the uncertainty being displayed by other ‘fluent’ club members – such feelings are not unique to persons who stutter. Membership of a public speaking club does not exclusively involve formal speaking. There are also wonderful opportunities to mingle with others at club/area/district and national meetings, as well as at social functions. It has been my experience that some PWS lack good interpersonal/communication skills. This is not surprising because many they tend to remain on the fringes of conversation throughout their lives, while other ‘fluent’ people progressively develop these skills from an early age. I made full use of such opportunities to converse with all and sundry. :-) Another advantage was that I transferred the confidence and self-belief that I gained at ASC meetings into the outside world. During the past few years, I have not been a regular attendee at ASC meetings, principally due to my extensive programme of public speaking within the community. Whilst I have derived immense benefit from my ASC involvement, I no longer have time to attend on a regular basis. My speaking activities have taken me to three different continents, as well as providing me with a programme of talks that already extend as far ahead as December 2010. I sometimes have to pinch myself to check if I am dreaming. :-) Tim, I am most grateful to you for taking the time to read my paper and participate in the threaded discussion. I hope that our paths will cross in the future. Kindest regards Alan