Members have given us their thoughts about experiences with Noontime Nomads. We would like to share their words with you.
From Past President Don Bellairs:"I enjoy Noontime Nomads for three reasons: 1. It definitely helps improve my speaking. 2. It causes me to learn to listen and focus better. 3. Perhaps best of all, I enjoy watching others grow and improve. There's usually a big jump in ability after a Toastmaster presents the third speech, and the skills keep on getting better. I really find it disappointing if a member quits before attaining the CC. Most Toastmasters are energized to pursue more goals after receiving the CC. I have been a member for five years and am currently working toward my ATM Gold."
From member Cecille Spivack:
"The Noontime Nomads Club not only has proficient, humorous and interesting members, it also has exceptionally caring and accepting people. Many people, including myself, have shared very personal experiences in our speeches. They all have been accepted with enthusiasm; we are acknowledged and encouraged to continue to share. This is a club that encourages us to take the next step but only when we are ready. Anyone joining is lucky as I feel I am."
From our Secretary Peg Woodward:
"One of our members recently commented during a speech that this is a place to fail. While initially startling, this observation is also very perceptive. Robert F. Kennedy said: 'Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.' Noontime Nomads is the place to confront fear and to set goals - and to fall down a few times while doing so. This club nurtures each member through the challenges that are part of confronting those fears and pursuing personal goals. Many of us come to Toastmasters with the goal of overcoming the fear of speaking. What we learn along the way it that Toastmasters involves so much more. It is about becoming the best that we can be - as communicators and leaders."
From former member, Coleen Carney:
"I joined the Noontime Nomads about 3 years ago. I joined as an experienced speaker. I had spoken at conferences, done many training sessions and developed and provided workshops. And I REALLY wanted to be better at it.
I wanted to learn to use more humor. I wanted to learn to 'connect' better with the audience. I wanted to get practice in front of people who would give honest feedback. I wanted to “try out” techniques and approaches that I didn’t feel comfortable “trying out” in a formal session. I wanted to use my notes less, I wanted to be able to speak impromptu – VERY different than giving a prepared speech or training session. I wanted A LOT.
I couldn’t be happier with what I have gotten from Noontime Nomads. I am sure there are other great clubs – but the Noontime Nomads have proven repeatedly to be supportive, critical (because I asked for it), and provided huge growth for me. Oddly, even when I attend a meeting and don’t participate (as a speaker, evaluator or other meeting role) I leave those meetings energized, having learned something new and pumped for the next challenge in speaking.
I am no where near 'finished.' I view public speaking like playing a musical instrument. You never get so good that you don’t need to practice, or have something else to gain. You never 'outgrow' your need to try something new, perfect a technique or try out humor in another way.
One of the most positive things about Noontime Nomads for me has been the mixture of people who are club members. There are a number of very good speakers. I watch these people closely to see what techniques I can 'steal.' There are many new or only marginally experienced speakers. I watch these people closely because I ALWAYS learn something. Inexperienced speakers, sometimes them more than the experienced ones, demonstrate how to get across sincerity and simplicity. Many times those people, who view themselves as not good speakers, are simply not practiced enough. But as they change and improve, I see things they do that I can change and improve as well. I also see things that they do exceptionally well, that I can incorporate. These can be things that I didn’t realize I was (or wasn’t) doing until I observed it in someone else. The opportunity for learning and improving is there at every meeting – you just have to attend.
One of the most exiting activities in which I have participated with Noontime Nomads was providing a 5th grade class with the Youth Leadership program provided by Toastmasters. This 10 week class was surprisingly reinforcing to me in going back to basics about speech preparation and delivery. It also was simply a thrill to see these 5th graders who insisted they couldn’t stand up in front of the class without shaking, turn into kids who fought each other to get up and speak impromptu at our meetings. See the related site on the Youth Leadership Program. It is a fabulous program for experience speakers to participate in and equally stimulating for a newer club member.
I have appreciated my membership with Noontime Nomads and Toastmasters immensely."
