On Tuesday February 17, 2015, the Public Speaking Association (PSA) held their meeting at the Five Star Buffet Restaurant in Woodstock. Executive Director of the Woodstock Chapter, Peter Wright, explained to the group that PSA is an organization on how to market yourself as a speaker. This is not Toastmasters (where Peter is a member) it helps people speak to a crowd. The motto is: “Change the World from the Front of the Room.”
Peter sees the two organizations as complimentary: "Toastmasters helps people learn to speak and develop leadership skills in a safe, supportive environment. There are organized programs and projects helping people create and deliver speeches for many different situations. Speech organization and creation, posture, vocal variety and storytelling are a few examples. Toastmasters does not actively provide speaking engagements for members. The Public Speakers Association’s primary purpose is to help members find opportunities to speak to groups and to build a successful speaking career. It does this through promotional activities, a directory of members and publicity. It does provide additional training through meetings, webinars and monthly training calls.”
The Public Speaking Association started in the United States by Tanya Hoffman who is the CEO and Founder. She reports that being a speaker “is about changing lives, whatever your specialty is somebody is waiting for you.” If you get nervous speaking in front of a group, PSA can help, if you have been speaking for a little while you can tweak it, use them as a platform to try different things and find out about speaking opportunities. If you have been speaking for a long time PSA would love to connect with you. According to Tanya, “speaking is hugely motivating, fulfilling and an incredible way to make amazing money.” Build your business by becoming a speaker.
PSA came to Canada in early 2014 yet there are already six chapters: Alberta; Cambridge, Kitchener & Waterloo Chapter; Mississauga; Niagara; Toronto and Woodstock. Peter started the Woodstock Chapter in October 2014.
There are only two major rules to attend meetings:
It’s Understood Communication
| Keeping to the theme of public speaking, guest speaker Sue Johnston, Communication Coach and Trainer, spoke to the group about her book Talk To Me: Workplace Conversations That Work. “Sue helps you talk so people listen, listen so people talk, and change the world one conversation at a time.” With a degree in Psychology and Sociology and a MBA in Communication Management, Sue established her business It’s Understood Communication, a communication coaching, training and consulting business, in March 2003 where she is the Head Coach. Her manifesto is “Our mission is to save the world from poor communication.” |
Meeting Times
The Public Speaking Association Woodstock Chapter meets every 3rd Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Five Star Buffet Restaurant located at 327 Norwich Avenue in Woodstock, Ontario. Contact Peter Wright for more information.
The Woodstock Toastmasters, who changed its name to Oxford Orators, meet every Monday except holiday weekends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Canadian Mental Health Association at 522 Peel Street in Woodstock, Ontario.
Guests are always welcome to attend either organization.