Toastmasters craft Airmen’s speaking, leadership skills

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  An international speech club dedicated to developing leadership and speaking skills is hosting a six-week course to spark interest in the hopes of forming a Moody Chapter.

Toastmasters International local Valdosta chapter is helping Moody host a Speechcraft Communications class held at the Education Center every Thursday at 11 a.m. from Jan. 15 to Feb. 19.

The non- profit organization was founded in 1924 by Dr. Ralph Smedley in Santa Ana, Calif. There are now 11,700 clubs with more than 235 thousand members in 92 countries.

Once the course is complete, the Education Center hopes to garner enough interest from participants to form a Toastmasters chapter at Moody. The base needs at least 10 members in order to start the club.

"We just really hope people come out and participate," said Wendy Byrd, director of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Moody. "The class and program is something every Airman can really benefit from."

Airmen have already been jumping at the opportunity enroll and participate in the class.

"I heard about the class at a staff meeting," said 1st Lt. Jama Stilwell, 23rd Force Support Squadron manpower and personnel flight commander. "I'm always speaking in front of people as a flight commander, and I look forward to any way I can improve my public speaking. I really want to hear what some of my classmates will have to say," she added.

During the class, participants will need to be ready and willing to participate in a friendly, workshop environment and must complete at least two formal speech projects.

For more information on Toastmasters, contact the Education Center at 257-3150.

"We just ask participants come in with a positive attitude and have a good time," said Mark Tidrow, Moody Speechcraft class facilitator and accomplished Toastmaster member. "By the end of the class, members should improve their communication, leadership and problem solving skills."

Mr. Tidrow is a retired master sergeant, who separated from active duty service in 2000. He serves as the area governor in the Valdosta Toastmasters chapter, which covers most of the South Georgia area.

Mr. Tidrow also holds the rank of Advanced Toastmaster Gold which represents the highest level of education a toastmaster can achieve.

As the class facilitator, Mr. Tidrow will help guide each meeting, although each student is responsible for the class content.

"Our goal is to build you up," said Mr. Tidrow. "The Toastmasters program concentrates on the positives of your speech giving. When we focus on what the speech giver did right, they tend to improve much quicker."