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Campus Toastmasters groups create better speakers by Cindy Abole Public Relations Since 2002, MUSC Toastmasters has strived to create an environment for communicators on all levels to practice and develop their public speaking and leadership skills.      Members include students, residents, MUSC faculty and staff and members outside of campus.     Chapter Sergeant of Arms and past president Susan Brooks is happy about the club’s progress but would also like to see increased membership.      “Toastmasters is an educational opportunity that is incomparable to anything else including some college-level public speaking courses,” said Brooks, MUSC International Programs director. “Toastmasters prepare an individual to become the best they can be. Summer is typically a slow time for attendance, we encourage anyone interested to attend one of our midday meetings and see for themselves.”      One of two groups that meet weekly on campus, MUSC Toastmasters Club 1214 meets noon, Wednesdays at the Harper Student Center Conference Room.      “It’s something I’ve always planned to do,” said Jennifer Shambrook, Institute of Psychiatry associate chair of research administration. Shambrook joined MUSC Toastmasters in April and was newly elected as the chapter’s vice president for education. Shambrook set personal goals for herself which included improvements in public speaking and presentations skills.     Shambrook was easily drawn to Toastmasters’ interactive, multi-tiered educational program. Each hour-long meeting follow a set agenda including a greeting, introduction of chapter Toastmasters and assigned duties, speeches, evaluations/reports and concludes with an awards presentation. Members are encouraged to prepare speeches of various lengths and topics. Prepared speeches are based on various topics like speech organization, voice, language, gestures and presentation.     She’s confident that Toastmasters skills can benefit scientific presenters, English as a Second Language students as well as those who fear public speaking. According to Shambrook, it encourages participants by learning and practicing the fundamentals of speaking, listening and thinking to talking and delivering a speech effectively.      “It’s been a great experience,” Shambrook said, of the ability of practicing and working with a group which adds a level of accountability to the experience. “It’s an outstanding professional development opportunity. I’m always learning something new.”      For more information about MUSC Toastmasters, contact Susan Brooks, 792-8083. MUSC Toastmasters Officers 2005-06 George Holmes, President Himanshu Upadhayaya, Vice President for Public Relations Jennifer Shambrook, Vice President for Education Nrusimha Kiran, Secretary Denny Palacios, Treasurer Susan Brooks, Sergeant at Arms   Friday, July 8, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.