Author: Lavon Compton

In September 2020, Michigan Economic Development Corporation Grant Manager LeTasha Peebles joined the Secondary To None Toastmasters club. Her goal was simple: “I had severe anxiety when it came to public speaking and simply just wanted to drum up the courage to do it.”

Little did she know Toastmasters and Pathways would far surpass her expectations. 

As LeTasha began to work the Pathways program, she learned the importance of how to arrange her speech and engage her audience. With the feedback she obtained from her club and the Pathways lessons, she started feeling more comfortable. More speaking opportunities opened for her professionally.

In early 2021, after years of hard work, LeTasha and team implemented a grant program in Michigan that impacted hundreds of small businesses.

“I was so grateful,” explains LeTasha, “for the opportunity given to share more about the new microloan program my colleague and I created. This was such a proud moment in my career, and I could not be happier about the program outcomes. Had it not been for my time with Toastmasters, my confidence to go forward and share more on the program would not exist. I now look forward to speaking and engaging with others and owe such gratitude to my club who supported me from day one.”

During October 2021, Achievers Club #2903 in Caribbean District 81 celebrated Toastmasters 97th anniversary by hosting an Impromptu Speaking Extravaganza (a.k.a. Table Topics on Steroids).

This worldwide competition was open to all past and present Table Topics District Champions from Districts 1 through 121. 

As the 2021 Table Topics winner for District 62, Matthew credits his home club, Cherry Capitol Toastmasters, for pooling their talents to coach and mentor him, helping him acquire the skills he needed to advance.

“When I began the latter stages in the competition, I reached out to my club for help preparing. With one voice they all said, ‘absolutely’. They set aside the regular meetings for two weeks to have mock debates, which was the format of the Extravaganza competition.

I try to encourage members to compete in the contests each year. At the club level we work on the basic elements of public speaking, impromptu speaking, and evaluation skills. By participating in contests, we hone those skills further and polish them to a gloss.

I applaud the tireless efforts of members at every level to organize and present these

contests. I feel a great debt to them as I could not have achieved this level had it not been for those in District 62 that sacrificed to make this all possible.

Thank you!”

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement, Matthew!