If you are not familiar with Toastmasters, it is an organization committed to helping adults get…read moreover their fear of public speaking. It also offers opportunities for leadership development. San Carlos Belmont Toastmasters is a very friendly community based club. It is a diverse supportive group that allows you to work at your own pace. I have been a member for years and have kept my membership even though I moved recently.

This review is long overdue. I joined San Carlos Belmont Toastmasters over a year ago, and I'm…read morestill a member to this day. What I learned is that Toastmasters isn't just about public speaking, it's about building confidence and finding your own voice. The skills that I've learned can be applied to any situation whether it's work or my personal life. Everyone I've met has been supportive and the club provides a great environment for anyone who is shy or just starting out. Definitely worth checking out.

I'm coming up on my year anniversary with Sierra Speakers and I could not be happier with the…read moreresults! The meetings are well organized and the club has a great sense of community. I've developed as a speaker and a professional and have met amazing people along the way. Highly recommend!

This is a special toastmasters group. Meetings are structured, well run and, dare I say fun…read more Guests are welcomed and are always pleasantly surprised at the inclusive environment. The group is diverse with a mix of professions and backgrounds. There is a reason this group has been around since 1984... they create a positive environment for individuals to come in and develop themselves as a public speaker. I joined as they met in my office building, and ended up staying. I get a lot out of performing formal speeches. That said, I get as much from attending and getting the chance to participate during ad hoc speaking portions of the meeting, and by taking on functionary roles (observation reveals a lot!). Toastmasters is a great process, and this group is an exceptional group, as shown by the group and individual speaking awards it consistently wins. Highly recommend.

As Jerry Seinfeld once pointed out, "The #1 fear in America is public speaking; the #2 is death…read more This means to the average person at a funeral, most people would rather be the one in the casket than the one giving the eulogy!" This hypothetical scenario definitely used to describe me, but after being a part of Everybody Speaks for the last year, I welcome opportunities to get in front of a group, great or small, and speak my mind. Toastmasters has given me a certain peace with prepared speaking, as well as speaking "off the cuff." I have observed this confidence translate into my workplace as well as I present in meetings, or simply converse with senior management when I bump into them in the elevators. Don't let fear overcome you! Come join us for a meeting and see how easy (and fun!) it can be to tackle public speaking!

This is an excellent club for someone dealing with the fear of public speaking…read more I work from home and I don't get regular opportunities to speak in front of a group. I noticed on conference calls and at the occasional face-to-face meeting, I would get very nervous before and even during the meetings, and it was affecting my performance at work. I would often decline or avoid opportunities to present to clients or at our annual conference. I joined this Toastmasters club to deal with those issues. Since joining a little over a year ago, I have settled into a regular rhythm of speaking in front of a group every week. What I like about this club in particular is that, due to its size, I have an opportunity to speak every week ("Everybody" speaks!). It's this regular practice in front of a group of about 10-15 people that has helped me rebuild and exercise my public speaking confidence. Many Toastmasters clubs are corporate sponsored and mostly comprised of employees from a particular company. What I like about Everybody Speaks is that it's an unaffiliated, community club. The members come from a diverse set of backgrounds and demographics, are friendly and supportive, and fun to interact with - I always come away from the weekly meeting looking forward to the next one. If you're looking for a good Toastmasters club, particularly to get over the fear of public speaking, you should definitely give this one a try!

I recently attended a company-sponsored training course on how to deliver more effective public…read morepresentations. The two-day course was great, along with the two instructors. One instructor would walk us through the theory, then we would practice a brief speech in front of a camera and audience. While the class continued, the second instructor would give private coaching based on the video. We covered a lot of ground in voice and hand gestures, posture, eye contact, etc. Very good course.

Just finished the two day High Tech Speaking course. It was instructed by Dan and Lisa. I thought I…read morepresented okay until I saw myself on video! That's right, they video you presenting and then coach you on how to improve. The combination of short sessions of 1 hour group instruction, followed by hands on practice in front of the camera, then individual coaching based on the recording is perfect for quick improvement. I think anyone can learn something useful and if you present regularly, then this is essential to bring your weak areas up to par.

I've been a member of Rainbow Toasties for about two years now. I really love it. Everyone is so…read morefriendly and encouraging. Having a queer safe space to tell queer stories is so needed. Allies are welcome. :) We currently meet at every Thursday. Always online and sometimes with an in-person component at the Folsom Center. Please see the website for more details!

I have been a member of Rainbow Toastmasters (RTM) for some time. It is one of the first LGBTQ+…read moreToastmasters clubs established in 2005 and is open to LGBTQ+ and allies! The meetings are fun, vibrant, well organized! It is great learning to be a better speaker and presenter in a fun atmosphere with other new and experienced RTM members. RTM has both zoom and hybrid meetings - it is important to learn to speak in both situations! Please check out RTM!

I love attending sessions at the Renaissance Toastmasters Club. Some of the benefits:…read more* The club is very diverse. This diversity provides different perspectives and I always learn something new, even on weeks where I don't speak. * The club meets every week on Wednesdays and the club size isn't too big. This cadence of meeting and club size mean that almost every week you'll have an opportunity to speak and get feedback. This is a huge benefit for those who want to make progress quickly. * The club is extremely encouraging and has a lot of positive energy. Their feedback is constructive and helpful. Public speaking is something that I've always been a little nervous about. Since joining the SF Renaissance Club, I've found myself more eager to put myself out there and far more confident in my public speaking abilities.

Before joining Renaissance Toastmasters, I visited a few other other clubs in and around the…read morefinancial district. Although these clubs were well run and professional, for me that was the problem -- they were a bit too corporate for my liking. When I went to Renaissance for the first time, the club members made me feel welcome and I was encouraged to visit again. I was immediately struck by the atmosphere, which was both informal and structured. What really stood out for me, however, was the level of support accorded to all speakers, whether new or seasoned. Since joining the club, I've made to date five speeches, each an improvement over the last. The evaluations I received from club members were incredibly helpful. Even when not making a speech, there are other roles to fill during club meetings, e.g., word master, evaluator, timer, etc., so I always have an opportunity to participate. If you're looking to improve your public speaking skills, consider visiting (and joining) Renaissance Toastmasters. You'll meet a great group of people from different walks of life and listen to inspiring speeches on a variety of topics in a supportive environment. The next move is yours.

I know there's a lot of love for 826 Valencia (and write-fully so--hee hee), but there's another…read moreyouth-focused non-profit literary organization that I think is just as impressive. Since 1996 Youth Speaks has done amazing work year after year and yet it isn't quite the household name it should be (I have my opinions about this, but perhaps they are best left for a performance of my own). I work at a high school and two of our students made it to the semi-finals this year at the Masonic Center. The place was packed full of teens, teachers, supporting adults and people who love spoken word. And in case anyone thinks that youth today has nothing to say, these kids are the real deal. I don't even like using the word "kids," because I had to remind myself as I sat mesmerized, inspired, surprised and sometimes even a bit scared by the poetry, the honesty and the artistry that this was all from the mouths of babes! Youth Speaks is an amazing and important organization. Check it out, support it, volunteer and love it like you love 826 (I know I do)!

Step to the mic!!!! Youth Speaks is a phenomenal arts-in-education program! I first heard about YS…read moreand Brave New Voices back in 2006. I was looking for volunteer opportunities and stumbled upon this organization. I attended several events as a volunteer at their shows. I soon became a fan and supporter of YS. The staff/mentors are professional, down-to-earth and model citizens. They make everything about learning, fun and give the students encouragement to build confidence, express their individuality and to live up to their potential as writers and performers. I am a huge advocate for youth outreach. There are so many amazing accolades for this literary arts program. They have several programs including after school residencies/programs, workshops outside of school and poet-mentor program for professional development. Every year, they have the Youth Speaks Grand Slam competition. I've gone to the show twice when it was hosted at the SF Opera House. The best of the best are selected through earlier competitions to perform their pieces and judged on their performance. It takes guts to get up on stage in front of a packed house. Big ups to these students (keep in mind some are just in jr. high)....brave enough to bare their soul in front of everyone and share their story, ideas and thoughts with the world. The winners are then sent to represent the Bay at the National Slam competition. Represent! If you have ever seen Def Poetry or the HBO Documentary Brave New Voices, many of the kids from YS were featured on there. It's inspiring to see young talent brought up through Youth Speaks. I've met a bunch of these students while they were in high school. These kids are smart, talented and all have great heads on their shoulders. Many at such a young age had books and albums out, yet they are so respectful and humble. I'm positive that they all go on to great opportunities in college and beyond. Big ups to the Youth Speaks Founder James Kaas and the Directors, Staff, Board, Advisers and everyone else involved! You guys rock!!!! There aren't enough great things I can say about YS. I love spoken word and I love what Youth Speaks does for our young people and community!

My company sent me to a 3-day Sales Success class. Dale Carnegie really lives up to its reputation…read more I have heard great things about Dale Carnegie and was very excited when I found out that I would be attending the class. The material taught by the knowledgeable instructor was concise, beneficial and inspiring. They teach you to change your outlook so that your attitudes toward others are changed for the better. It's easy to keep doing what you do everyday and you don't realize that you have also changed by interacting with people. It's good to keep tabs on your attitudes as this affects how you are perceived by others. They teach you how to do your sales pitch. You can change the order of how you say it to better your sales results! Very effective! Group discussions were very helpful. I loved the group exercise as you get to hear what other people would do in various situation. I loved this class. My company offered in-house training as well, but it really doesn't do justice. I highly recommend this to those who are interested in staying competitive in sales industry. You will come out on top.

I continue to believe in this wonderful organization. In addition to taking the class and coaching…read morethe class, I've recommended this to several friends who continue to appreciate the benefits. I've also met some lifelong friends. I'm SOOO glad they moved from San Francisco to San Mateo. I didn't like hauling up to the City. Old place - horrible parking; New place - good parking!