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ISP Toastmasters club makes its debut What do two retired MUSC faculty members and an assistant dean for postdoctoral affairs in the College of Graduate Studies and the director of International Programs and Services have in common? The answer is loud and clear for Subbi and Rajesh Mathur, both Ph.Ds., Edward L. Krug, Ph.D., and Rebecca Mueller.   The group collaborated in establishing a new weekly leadership program to help mold graduate students, post-doctoral research fellows and MUSC’s junior-level scientists into becoming effective scientific leaders and communicators. The International Scientific Presenters (ISP) Toastmasters club is committed to improving these skills among the institution’s budding new scientists.   In the competitive environment of biomedical research, outstanding science generally is not enough to insure professional success. Often the focus on research is lost at the presentation stage of an individual’s work.   ISP Toastmasters club is designed to help members succinctly and effectively communicate their science. Its goals are to: Build self-confidence in public speaking Sharpen organization and delivery skills Incorporate effective body language and facial expression Improve grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation Help reduce stress about giving an oral presentation Develop leadership skills Focus scientific planning and execution In a typical ISP Toastmasters meeting, MUSC junior scientists give talks of interest or scientific topics followed by feedback from peers and the ISP Toastmasters sponsors. This is an excellent way to practice relevant technical presentations in a comfortable and friendly environment. Both the person presenting and those in the audience benefit from this format and the result is to improve communication skills that can lead to opportunities in career advancement.   In addition to the various educational materials available through the Toastmasters International, members receive the monthly magazine publication, “The Toastmaster.” Club and district officers receive an electronic bimonthly publication, “TIPS,” and district officers receive the District Newsletter each month.      Any effective speaker can also be  an effective writer. Thus, the program can indirectly help in improving grant and scientific writing skills of members.   Since its inception, Toastmasters International has helped more than 4 million adults benefit from the organization’s communication and leadership programs. In 1924, a group of men  met in the basement of the YMCA in California to form a club “to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members.” The group took the name Toastmasters. Soon men and then women in other communities and states asked for permission to begin their own Toastmasters clubs. By 1930, a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the many clubs and provide a standard program. When a speaking club in New Westminster, British Columbia, expressed interest in forming a club, the group became known as Toastmasters International.   Toastmasters International’s success and growth is due in large part to the continued development of its educational programs. The organization has come a long way since the first speech manual, Basic Training, was developed more than 50 years ago. The current manual “Competent Communication,” was updated this year. After members of Toastmasters complete all 10 speech projects in that manual, they may apply for their Competent Communicator award and then choose from any combination of 15 advanced manuals to advance further in their educational awards, finally culminating in the distinguished toastmaster (DTM) award.   Toastmasters International is considered the world leader in public speaking training with more than 10,500 clubs and more than 200,000 members in approximately 90 countries. Last year, South Carolina ranked number one among American toastmasters clubs and fifth in the world.      The first meeting of ISP, held Dec. 7, was attended by District 58 Gov. Fred Broughton, DTM; Division A Gov. Patricia Henley, DTM; ISP sponsors Rajesh S. Mathur, advanced communicator gold and competent leader; Subbi P. Mathur, advanced communicator gold and advanced leader; Area 13 Gov. Krug; Mueller; and MUSC graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.   The next ISP will meet at noon Jan. 12 at the MUSC Harper Student Wellness Center, 45 Courtenay Dr. Regular meetings are scheduled at noon on Thursdays at the same location.     Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.