Maureen Murray

Like many people, I was not comfortable speaking in front of strangers.  This year, my daughter asked me if I would like to give a toast at her wedding. She and my son-in-law live in Hollywood, and work in the entertainment industry. After my initial hesitation, I thought about all that I have learned since joining Toastmasters.

I built a speech. Opening, to grab the audience. Middle, to hold the audience. And the ending, to wrap up all I needed to say. Good posture. Proper delivery. Simple, right?

However the guests included people that they worked for, with and people who worked for them. Big money, and big names. The toast was about a mother's love for her child, and the magic that your child makes you see. The magic that we miss due to the hectic pace of day to day life. A touch of humor in the middle of the toast broke the emotional impact a bit.

It worked. How well? Tori Spelling was a guest at the wedding. She came up to me and told me that my toast was beautiful and it made her cry. Me? I said something that Ms. Spelling heard and it hit home? Me? Yes, me.

Thanks to Toastmasters, I was able to express my love and gratitude for my child, and her new husband. This is the example that I use when explaining just one of the perks of being a member of Toastmasters.

Maureen Murray is a club officer of BAC Talkers Club at Bank of America in East Hartford, CT.