Nashua-Hudson Toastmasters
Educational Program#
Toastmasters is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly, supportive environment. The educational program is the heart of every Toastmasters club. It is a proven curriculum that enables members to develop their skills at their own pace. There are many opportunities for awards and recognition along the way and, with the completion of both the Communication and Leadership tracks, a member gains the title of Distinguished Toastmaster.
Though the tracks are separate, they are not mutually exclusive and members can pursue both at the same time. Members are guided through the tracks by a series of manuals. Each manual includes a set of projects crafted to help members develop their skills and achieve their goals.
Every project includes an evaluation guide which is used to provide members with immediate and constructive feedback as each project is completed. Once you become a member, you can begin the educational program right away. You will receive a New Member Kit that contains tools to help you get started. Read more about the
Communication and
Leadership tracks, below.
Communication
The Communication track is designed to help members improve their public speaking skills. It consists of four steps: Competent Communicator, Advanced Communicator Bronze, Advanced Communicator Silver, and Advanced Communicator Gold.
The Competent Communicator (CC) is the first level of the communication track and one of the first manuals a new Toastmaster receives. The manual contains 10 projects which help you learn the basics of public speaking, one step at a time. Examples of speech projects in the manual are "The Ice Breaker" (the first project), "Organize Your Speech", "Vocal Variety", and "Persuade with Power".
You set your own pace and choose when to present a speech from the manual. Then, you start by reviewing the objectives for the project and prepare a speech on a topic of your choosing. On the day of your presentation, you have the option of meeting with your evaluator to discuss any special goals you're working on. At the same meeting, your evaluator will give an oral review of your speech. The purpose of these constructive evaluations is to help you understand what you are doing well and to suggest improvements for your next speech.
Upon completing the manual, you will know how to organize and present a dynamic and effective speech, receive the CC certificate, and be eligible to move forward towards the Advanced Communicator Bronze award.
- Advanced Communicator Bronze
The Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) is the next step in honing and refining the skills learned in the Competent Communicator manual. To achieve this award, you must first have:
- Received the Competent Communication award; and,
- Have completed two of the advanced manuals, listed below.
- Advanced Communicator Silver
The Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) is the third step in the Communication track. To receive this award, you must:
- Receive the Advanced Communicator Bronze award;
- Completed two additional advanced manuals; and,
- Conducted two of the programs within the Successful Club and/or Better Speaker series.
- Advanced Communicator Gold
The Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) is the final step of the Communication track. To be eligible for this award, you must have:
- Received the Advanced Communicator Silver award;
- Completed two additional advanced manuals (cannot have been completed for any prior award);
- Conducted a Success/Leadership, Success/Communication, or Youth Leadership program; and,
- Coached a new Toastmaster with their first three speeches.
The following is the current list of
15 advanced manuals available to members pursuing any of the Advanced Communicator awards. The advanced manuals have five projects each, and each manual focuses on a particular aspect of communication (such as technical presentations, storytelling, or interpersonal communication). Copies of these manuals are available for review at one of our club meetings, or a description can be viewed at the
Toastmasters International website:
- The Entertaining Speaker
- Speaking to Inform
- Public Relations
- Facilitating Discussion
- Specialty Speeches
- Speeches by Management
- The Professional Speaker
- Technical Presentations
- Persuasive Speaking
- Communicating on Television
- Storytelling
- Interpretive Reading
- Interpersonal Communication
- Special Occasion Speeches
- Humorously Speaking
- Other Educational Opportunities
In addition to the formal Communication track, Toastmasters offers other educational opportunities for our members including conferences and contests. You can learn more about them on our
Personal Development page on this website.
Leadership
Members working in the Leadership track learn and practice leadership skills by serving in club roles. The track
consists of three steps: Competent Leader, Advanced Leader
Bronze, and Advanced Leader Silver.
The Competent Leader (CL) is the first level in the leadership track and one of the first manuals received when a new Toastmaster joins the club. The manual defines 10 projects for which the member takes on various meeting and club roles. To achieve the level of CL, you must complete all 10 projects within the manual.
The Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) is the next step on the Leadership path. To achieve this award, you must:
- Achieve the level of Competent Leader;
- Receive the Competent Communicator award;
- Serve as a club officer for at least six months and participate in the preparation of a Club Success Plan;
- Participate in district-sponsered club officer training while in office; and,
- Conducted two of the programs within the Successful Club and/or Leadership Excellence series.
The Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) is the final step of the Leadership path. To be eligible for this award, you must have:
- Received the Advanced Leader Bronze award;
- Served a term as a district officer;
- Completed the High Performance Leadership program; and,
- Served as a successful coach, mentor, or club sponsor.
- Other Leadership Opportunities
In addition to the formal Leadership track, Toastmasters offers active leadership opportunities for our members through positions as club and district officers. You can learn more about them on our
Personal Development page on this website.
Distinguished Toastmaster
The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award is the highest our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills. To be eligible for the award a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Communicator Gold award (or achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award).
-
Achieved Advanced Leader Silver award (or achieved Advanced Leader award).
