1. How many people are typically at these meetings? 25 – 30 is typical.
    2. Do I need to register as a Guest or RSVP? No, feel free to come by any Tuesday! (We meet promptly at 6:20pm.) But we welcome guest registration so that we can prepare our meeting resources accordingly. Please click here to see our meeting schedule and register as a Guest.
    3. What should I expect at each meeting? We have an agenda focused on providing public speaking opportunities to all of our members. We typically have 3 prepared speakers who give speeches lasting 5-7 minutes. These speakers are then evaluated so that everyone can learn from their experience.We also have a table topics session geared towards developing impromptu speaking skills. A random member will be called on to respond to an unexpected question. The member is expected to speak for at least 1 minute in response. Guests may decline participation.
    4. Am I expected to speak as a guest? We understand that you might be shy about speaking, so we strive to make guest participation opportunities very simple and low-pressure. At the beginning of each meeting, we’ll ask you to introduce yourself.  Commonly, guests use this greeting as a chance to share what brought them to Toastmasters: how they found out about the club or what their goals are in seeking out Toastmasters.  This can be as simple as “I just wanted to check out a meeting.”  Additionally, may have an opportunity to participate in Table Topics, the impromptu speaking portion of the meeting. Guests are permitted to decline and just observe. But if you wish to participate and are called upon, a Table Topic response is expected to be 1 to 2 minutes.
    5. Is there a fee to join the club? Yes, there is a membership fee (includes materials) for a 6-month period. The fee primarily covers the food we have at every meeting, real estate, training materials, and Toastmasters membership. This fee is often reimbursed by companies as training expense.
    6. How do I choose a Toastmasters club? Most people chose based on the following criteria: (1) time and location that can fit their schedule and (2) feel of the club. At Rhinoceros Business Toastmasters, we pride ourselves on the experience gained over 10+ years. Our membership base is diverse, with broad professional experiences. As a business club, we encourage the sharing of these experiences via speeches and networking opportunities.
    7. How do I become a member of Rhino Business Toastmasters? Attend a meeting as a guest and see if Rhino Business Toastmasters is the right club for you.  If you’d like to become a member, speak to our Vice President of Membership and s/he will provide you an application form and answer any additional questions you may have. Or you may print out and complete an application form and bring it to your next meeting, with a check or cash for the membership fees
    8. What is expected of me if I join? You are expected to participate to develop both your public speaking and leadership skills! Our weekly schedule allows for varying levels of participation to ensure every member has a speaking opportunity. We also expect you to develop your leadership skills by taking roles to run not only the meetings, but also the club.
    9. How frequently am I expected to attend?Attend at a pace that works for you. However, members tend to find that the more they participate the more they see improvement in their communication skills.
    10. What are your members like?Open and supportive. Rhinoceros Business Toastmasters is a diverse group of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, with a shared commitment to improving their communication and leadership skills.
    11. How can Toastmasters help me develop my speaking & leadership skills? As a member, each meeting has a variety of roles that require little preparation and are great ways to get started at practicing your skills. Additionally, the Table Topics portion of each meeting will provide opportunities for you to improve your impromptu speaking skills. Once you feel ready, you can work through either your Toastmasters speech manual or your leadership manual (or BOTH simultaneously!) and build your skills at a pace that works for you. The Competent Communicator (CC) manual guides you through ten projects: speeches you prepare and deliver, each of which focuses on a different core skill.  At the end of the ten projects, you will have earned a Competent Communicator (CC) award, and will be a Certified Toastmaster (CTM).  Most members complete CTM certification in 1-2 years.  The Competent Leadership (CL) manual guides you through ten leadership projects. Thereafter, there are many advanced projects, opportunities (such as Club Leadership and Speech Contests) and certifications, to support a lifetime of involvement with the club and public speaking. Upon completion of many of these certifications, a letter may be requested and send to you supervisor for recognition.