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Planning has started for a Bega Toastmasters Club, the first of its kind in the town.
The club will soon become a reality thanks to the hard work of Leanne Atkinson and Jacqui Brown.
The Bega Toastmasters’ first meeting will be held on November 19 from 5-7pm at a venue to be decided.
Ms Atkinson and Ms Brown have turned to the Euro Toastmasters in Moruya for support.
Interestingly, the Euro Toastmasters put the pair in touch after both expressed interest in forming a Bega club.
“That’s how Jacqui and I became connected, we were both asking how to start it up,” Ms Atkinson said.
Ms Atkinson, of Tathra, said the inaugural meeting will give locals an introduction to Toastmasters.
“We have a dozen people interested already without advertising,” she said.
“We will hold a demonstration meeting, the Euro Toastmasters will be supporting us to get started.”
Ms Atkinson said November 19’s event will be a “taster” for newcomers.
“The demo meeting is about how Toastmasters works and gives people a taste of Toastmasters,” she said.
“There will be a couple of experienced speakers to attend and indicate how it works.
“The first meeting will include a mini workshop on dealing with nerves.”
The Bega Toastmasters will be promoted through Community Training Partnerships and The Jobs and Training Shop Facebook page.
Meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Ms Atkinson said there will be a nominal weekly cost, which will be explained at the inaugural meeting.
She said Toastmasters was about more than just developing confidence in public speaking.
“It’s networking and meeting other people interested in building their skills as well,” Ms Atkinson said.
“We encourage people that we are all in together and will support one another through the process and build trust.”
Ms Atkinson thanked the Euro Toastmasters for their support.
“To send someone down to Bega twice a month [for meetings] is pretty significant,” she said.
“We need 20 people for a fully fledged club, but we can start with less with support from Moruya.”
