TAMPA- The Toastmasters Big Wheels chapter helps people with their public speaking skills in weekly meetings at the Department of Transportation District Seven Headquarters.
Toastmasters is an organization anyone can join that allows people to work on building their confidence in public speaking. It has clubs across the world with its Big Wheels chapter right across the street from USF. Club President, Kelly Nitzman, says she enjoys how her position allows her to help members.
“I think I really enjoy kind of helping the other club members and their growth with public speaking and you know, because Toastmasters is really supposed to be for your own self growth for that,” says Nitzman. “But to be an officer is really kind of great to be able to help the club and help other officers, help other members grow.”
Members come together and take turns giving a speech based on the chosen table topic. Activities like these help members in their day-to-day like Emilio Dominguez, Vice President of Education.
“Originally when I started at FDOT I worked in Pinellas and I found out I was going to have to start doing presentations and I had no idea how to do that,” says Dominguez. “I was very shy and nervous about it. When I came to work here at the District office in Tampa and I found out they had a regular Toastmasters meeting every week, I asked about it and was invited to come, now it’s hard to get me to shut up.”
The Big Wheels club offers an online option for those who can’t make it in person. For more information on how to join, visit their website at https://toastmasters.org/events.