I Stutter! How in the World Can I Join Toastmasters?

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Re: Inspirational Paper !

From: Pam
Date: 22 Oct 2011
Time: 11:46:21 -0500
Remote Name: 67.248.218.106

Comments

Harish, thanks for sharing and commenting. I did not realize you are also in Toastmasters. Congratulations. I know you will reap the same benefits in TM as I have. I am currently an Area Governor and working on my high performance leadership project. I am aiming for my DTM. That would be really special for me to earn. As to your questions . . . . Toastmasters has worked for me because I have worked at adapting my stuttering pattern to what is needed for success in Toastmasters. Slowing my pace and pausing - which are actually speech tools - has helped me a lot in Toastmasters. But so has disclising that I stutter - often, as we have periodic transitions in membership and new members and guests. I let people know I stutter, so it does not detract from the goals. I do not wish to be treated any differently than anyone else in my club or when I compete or help at contests. IO did not dare to compete in a contest until last year, more than 3 years after first joining, as timing was an issue. I ALWAYS went over. I learned to be more aware, and quite honestly, prepare less material to compensate for the extra time it takes for me to speak slower and pause more often. And I hated the "Ah" counter - I felt that role was there purposely to humiliate me. But again, I learned to use a pause instead of all the "uhms" I used to use as "starters" for words I thought I would stutter on. I find I can be fairly fluid in Toastmasters, because I project my voice and talk louder than I do ion conversation. And I find that people who don't stutter have many "ahs" and "uhms". I have become much more attuned to that. As for very overt stutterers, all I can say is, it can be done. A friend here in the states, from Dallas, TX - Russ Hicks - is a very overt stutterer. He stutters very noticeably on almost every syllable and word. Yet, he excels in Toastmasters and has his DTM. I don't know for sure, but I suspect honest disclosure has helped him quite a bit, as well as learning to adapt to the time rules. He has won speech contests. We who stutter just need to let others know in Toastmasters that it is OK, for them to learn to listen to what we say, as opposed to listening to the stuttering, and to provide feedback on the content delivery. One time, a senior leader in toastmasters was urging me to compete in a TM contest, and when I had confided about my anxiety about never being able to stay within time, he indicated that he might be able to work out an allowance. I didn't want that - I wanted the same playing field as everyone else. So I have entered on contest, did OK, and gained confidence. I cannot compete this year, as an AG, but am considering entering the International Speaking contest next year, with a speech I did for a youth group 2 years ago. Hope that helps! As for TM being available in language other than English, I honestly did not know that, until Dr Sachin pointed that out in a response to this paper earlier. I think Toastmasters should consider that, so that others could avail themselves of this great opportunity. But I suppose the reason why they don't allow it is the international nature of Toastmasters. Because speakers from clubs all over the world are eligible to compete at all levels, including the international speaking contest, I suppose a level playing field must be established so that everyone can understand each other. But for those not interested in competition, I see no reason why non-English speaking people should be excluded. In my club, we have many members for whom English is not their first language. I am currently mentoring someone from Bangladesh. And I helped mentor someone who was/is in Chennai. We did that via email Facebook and Skype. He now has his ACB, and has progressed as a winner to his division humorous contest. Yes, I am indeed passionate about Toastmasters. Thanks for saying you clapped when done reading - made me feel great! Perhaps sometime we can chat via Skype. ~Pam


Last changed: 10/22/11