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Desert Falcon Toastmasters build relationships with local club

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The Desert Falcon Toastmasters club set up a meeting with the local host nation Toastmasters recently to improve communications, build relationships and boost leadership abilities within both groups.

Toastmasters International is designed to sharpen communication skills in a public speaking environment to enhance professional development. Many people's greatest fear is to speak in front of audiences and this organization works on addressing this fear.

Fellow toastmasters from different backgrounds within the local community greeted the Desert Falcon club. The host nation Toastmasters club is a highly decorated, distinguished club with 15 years of experience in the public speaking and leadership realm.

As guests, Desert Falcon members were able to participate in the table topics portion of the meeting. Maj. Paul Prosper, Staff Sgt. Nathan Peterson and Eugeno Cohen, all Desert Falcon Toastmasters, were put on the spot to speak in front of 40 professionals about 'success.'

"It was a lot of fun getting in front of a group of people I just recently met to hone in my public speaking skills," said Peterson, Combined Air Operations Center information assurance manager and toastmaster. "Of course it was nerve racking, but I felt confident in myself and I knew everyone there was behind me."

The newly formed Desert Falcon club experienced a taste of a professional Toastmasters meeting and adopted some of the local Toastmasters best practices for maximizing an effective meeting.

"The meeting was impressive and well organized," said Staff Sgt. Jinji Batoon, CAOC personnel programs A1 noncommissioned officer in charge and potential toastmaster. "This should be a regular trip for the Desert Falcon Toastmasters so everyone can get a chance to experience what we partook in. We can learn so much from how they do things and apply some of their process so we can make our meetings more effective."

According to the official mission statement, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking - vital skills which promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind.

The Desert Falcon Toastmasters meet at 8 p.m. Thursdays at Kimbolton Hall inside the BPC Mall. Email toastmasters.info@auab.afcent.af.mil for more information.