We are a President’s Distinguished Club 2019-2022!
We’re proud to announce that our club has achieved Toastmasters International’s designation as a President’s Distinguished Club. This is the highest level of recognition that Toastmasters International gives its clubs, based on consistently achieving 9 of 10 goals in education, membership, training and administration.
We have our hybrid meetings (in-person or online for members at Office Evolution, online through Zoom for guests), weekly. Please note that due to increased interest in our club as we embrace a fully hybrid model, plus Covid room capacity considerations for Members/Guests, for our hybrid meetings we ask that Members join us in Person or on Zoom, and that Guests join us exclusively on Zoom until deciding to be a full member.
Request more info and next meeting details by clicking on the Guest Form Link Below:
Looking to improve your speaking and leadership skills in a supportive environment? Ignite your career? Obtain the confidence to speak up?
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 280,000 in more than 14,700 clubs in 144 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.
Toastmasters with give you the skills and confidence you need to express yourself effectively in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, Toastmasters is the most enjoyable, efficient, and affordable way to obtain great communication skills.
About
Los Gatos Toastmasters is a social club based in Los Gatos, California USA. We practice our public speaking and leadership skills every week.
Our membership comprises of over 26 individuals from all walks-of-life seeking professional growth.
We welcome residents of Los Gatos, Campbell, Saratoga and surrounding San Jose/Silicon Valley Area to join us.
Our meetings are held every Tuesday at 6:30pm-7:30pm in Person and on Zoom (Hybrid) simultaneously. Members are welcome to join in person or on Zoom. We request guests visit us only via Zoom until they become a full member. Guests can attend our meetings online 2-3 times before deciding to join.
As part of the Toastmasters leadership program we also elect Club Officers that manage the club while building confidence in ourselves and our organizational skills.
FAQ
Are you meeting during Covid-19?
Yes! We have been meeting at 6:30pm every Tuesday In-Person and online via Zoom SIMULTANEOUSLY. We ask that Guests attend our hybrid meetings via Zoom until becoming Members at which time they can choose to attend in person or Zoom. Members can attend in person at Office Evolution Los Gatos, 16185 Los Gatos Blvd #205, Los Gatos, CA 95032.
Request more info and next meeting details by clicking on the Guest Form Link Below:
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. There are thousands of clubs around the world meeting every day. Some clubs are found at companies and some are open to the community like ours. Here is a great introductory quote:
The world needs leaders. Leaders head families, coach teams, run businesses and mentor others. These leaders must not only accomplish, they must communicate. By regularly giving speeches, gaining feedback, leading teams and guiding others to achieve their goals in a supportive atmosphere, leaders emerge from the Toastmasters program. Every Toastmasters journey begins with a single speech. During their journey, they learn to tell their stories. They listen and answer. They plan and lead. They give feedback—and accept it. Through our community of learners, they find their path to leadership. -Toastmasters International
Can I come as a guest?
Yes! Our membership is open and growing so we encourage visitors to any of our online Zoom meetings.
I’m visiting for the first time, do I need to participate?
Visiting a club is an exciting first step in reaching your goals. There’s no need to feel pressure to participate at your first club meeting – you can simply observe if you wish. And since every club is unique, it’s OK to visit several clubs before you decide to join the right club for you. Have a great first meeting!
What’s a meeting like?
A typical Toastmasters meeting includes two to four speeches by members, evaluations & feedback of each speech, meeting role assignments & reports (such as Ah counter, Timer, Grammarian, etc.), and Table Topics (a think-fast Q&A session that guests can also participate in).
What does it cost?
Los Gatos Toastmasters collect member dues of $81 every 6 months. Dues cover Toastmasters International program and Pathways curriculum and our room rental costs. If you are a brand new member you are also charged a $20 new member fee. You only have to pay the new member fee once per lifetime so if you belong to a second club (Dual Membership) or have a lapse in membership (Reinstated Membership) you don’t need to pay the new member fee. We email Square invoices or accept checks for dues.
Do you meet at other times or locations?
We only meet on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Our meeting locations may change especially in the summer months where we like to take advantage of the long daylight and get outside. We have conducted outdoor meetings all around town.
I’m not a native English speaker, do you have ESL members?
Yes! Silicon Valley has wonderful diversity and we are proud to learn from and grow with our ESL members. Speech givers always have the opportunity to give their goals, like English grammar, to their speech evaluators.
What is your non-profit status?
Toastmasters International is an organization registered in the United States as a 501(c)3 non-profit. The World Headquarters FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) of 95-1300076 is provided to our venue to substantiate our non-profit status.
Can youth join as members?
Toastmasters is strictly 18 years and older. If you are a youth or a parent of a child who is interested in public speaking and leadership please see the following resources.
Our goal is to completely eliminate paper from our meetings for the environment and to make it easier to meet anywhere.
Trello is a simple & fun project management app we use for selecting meeting roles and searching member’s participation history.
In the meetings we use Zoom to record speeches and meeting proceedings then forward the recording link via Trello to our members as a way to track progress and hone their public speaking skills.
At every meeting we use Google slides to cast the meeting agenda and Zoom members to our large wall mounted flat screen with table phone conference system for audio.
Emailed Square invoices are used to collect credit card payments for new members and ongoing dues via email.
We use Google Forms on our mobile phones so that meeting participants can vote for Best Table Topics speech giver and also to provide speech feedback. Doing it this way avoids reading people’s hand writing and allows us to save in Trello and Google Forms.
