Capitol Toastmasters

     At Capitol Toastmasters we have a long tradition of improving communication and leadership skills for our members.   ...and having fun while doing it.  We meet every Thursday at 7 am to share stories and information with each other and improve our abilities through trying our hands at different types of speeches and functionary roles.

     In the first Toastmasters Communications manual, there are ten types of speeches which build a variety of different speech delivery skills.  The accompanying leadership manual, builds leadership skills.  After these first two manuals, one can choose from a variety of others on different types of speeches from Storytelling to Persuasion depending on your interest.  There are advanced leadership manuals as well. 

     Capitol Toastmasters provides a supportive environment - all of us are friends here - which makes it easier to develop our speaking talents.
The roles in the leadership manual range from ah-counter or Grammarian to Toastmaster or Chairman of social events or public relations campaigns.  They serve to expand your experience and expertise in these areas.

     At our meetings are some long friends ...a few of us work together.  There are some who we have known just briefly and occasionally there are those who we have met for the first time.  But our goal always is to let no one leave a stranger.   Below are pictured the members of Capitol Toastmasters.  So stop by sometime and enjoy our club.

	Leigh Waite, Lost in Translation Leigh gave her speech, "Lost in Translation" which explored different ways of delivering effective everyday communication.  During her speech, she gave examples from her personal and work life which demonstrated communication breakdowns.  She finished by challenging the audience to reduce chaos and stress and foster well-established boundaries at work and at home.
Girgis Girgis, Technologies for Intrusion and Obstacle Deflection for the Light Rail Girgis gave his speech on Technologies for Intrusion and Obstacle Deflection for the Light Rail.  Intrusion in light rail and underground train paths have always been a challenge.  In his speech, Girgis explained how the technologies worked and proposed the testing of new technologies for the future.
	Bill Kohn, Facing Fear to Succeed. Bill spoke on the topic of facing fear to succeed.  From his experiences in public education, he shared with the audience his successes and near successes in taking on those fears.  Although the intended outcomes were not always attained, a positive success came out of each story because it expanded his comfort zone and lead to personal growth.

Table Topics and Speeches

James Young and Heather Dye	Girgis Girgis and Leigh Waite
James Young and David Bolter	Lydia Cano and Len Vidra
Tony Sotelo and Tim Owens

Toastmasters speaking up and having a good time

Lydia Cano	Len Vidra
Shana Knox	Manish Shah
Heather Dye	David Bolter
Leigh Waite	Girgis Girgis
James Young	Bill Kohn
Arif Kazmi	Tim Owens
Sarker Rahman	Murari Pradhan
Toney Sotelo	Asad Karim