Toastmasters International Enters a New Era with Updated Brand

The following article was taken from Toastmasters International Web site:


The organization modernizes its look and strengthens its focus on leadership

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — For the first time in 70 years, Toastmasters International, the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to teaching communication and leadership skills, is updating its brand. The organization unveiled its new brand identity at its International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, today. As part of the rebranding effort, the organization has updated its logo, colors, fonts, imagery and messaging to make Toastmasters’ identity clearer, increase awareness of its impact around the world and focus more on leadership.

“Despite the fact that Toastmasters International is a global organization, we have suffered from an inconsistent understanding of what we do and how members benefit,” says Pat Johnson, Toastmasters International President. “For many people, Toastmasters is synonymous with public speaking, but we are much more than that. We are not your grandfather’s Toastmasters.”

The Toastmasters members of today are culturally and ethnically diverse, representing all ages and professions, meeting in communities and corporations in 116 countries.

While more than a quarter of a million members attend approximately 13,000 club meetings each week, how they experience those meetings and describe their experiences vary widely from member to member and club to club. It’s important to note that the brand refresh does not affect or alter the organization’s core programs of communication and leadership skill-building; rather, it provides potential members with a clearer picture of what to expect when visiting any club in the world.

“The refreshed brand reflects the organization’s evolution while honoring its heritage,” says Johnson. “It allows us to unite and grow in exciting new ways."

Toastmasters: Where Leaders Are Made

In 2009, Toastmasters and its branding partner, Innovation Protocol, conducted research to better understand the organization’s position in the market.

“We heard loud and clear from the members and leaders we spoke with that the Toastmasters program helped them gain the competence in communication that gave them theconfidence to lead others. It is the foundation of our program,” says Daniel Rex, Toastmasters International’s executive director. That powerful combination of strengthening one’scompetence in communication and leadership skills – thereby gaining the confidence to lead – is what differentiates Toastmasters International from other skill-building programs.

The Look

Along with the new logo, which is an evolved version of the Toastmasters globe emblem, the organization is now represented in bolder colors and imagery.

Mark Scoggins , a Los Angeles based photographer and videographer, contributed to the newly branded photo and video libraries. These images are unique to Toastmasters and represent all members. The photos reflect the Toastmastersexperience.

For more information about the history of the logo and the brand refresh, please visit: www.toastmasters.org/vbp

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visitwww.toastmasters.org.

Media Contact:
Katie Ferguson
949-858-8255
Kferguson@toastmasters.org

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 634-6540

Have You Got the Time?

Our theme at Cottonwood Toastmasters today was "Time" and the word of the day was "Integrity".  As the General Evaluator for the day I had an amazing team of helpers. I witnessed many people taking the time to fill dual assignments with willingness and excellence. There was the Grammarian, Ah Counter, Timer and Speech Evaluator. Their leadership titles seem self explanatory, however, maybe a little more information is necessary for the "Ah Counter". This can be a fun job at our Cottonwood Toastmasters for you get to ring a bell whenever you hear the words "ah" or "um". For a more detailed description as to the role of the "Ah Counter" I have taken the following information from Toastmasters International:

Helping members off their crutches

"The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note any word or sound used as a crutch by anyone who speaks during the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections, such as and, well, but, so and you know. Sounds may be ah, um or er. You should also note when a speaker repeats a word or phrase such as “I, I” or “This means, this means.” These words and sounds can be annoying to listeners. The Ah-Counter role is an excellent opportunity to practice your listening skills."

"Throughout the meeting, listen to everyone for sounds and long pauses used as fillers and not as a necessary part of sentence structure. Write down how many filler sounds or words each person used during all portions of the meeting. When you’re called on by the general evaluator during the evaluation segment, stand by your chair and give your report"

*Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 928-634-6540