Has anyone here gone to Toastmasters meetings?

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I did a search on this, and see that the topic has been brought up many times, but usually when I click on something that says "Toastmasters" I end up going to a page that shows all 600 of one person's posts.

Anyway, I'm considering it, but I'd love to hear people's specific experiences. I can't find anything that gives a clue how much meetings or membership costs. Is it expensive?

In case you don't know what Toastmasters is: www.toastmasters.org

Their site doesn't make it easy to locate, but I found the costs here .

A lady I worked with found it helpful, but I have no personal experience with it.

I have experience with the Toastmasters Society. I was able to use the main website to locate one in my area. For a membership that lasted somewhere from a few months until half a year I paid around 60ish dollars. I'm unsure, but at the specific Toastmasters location I was at, I think you needed to pay for a new membership at around the same month every year. Though, I was allowed to come in 1ce, or a few times free as a guest before paying for a membership. Overall, I'd say that the experience is worth it.

At the Toastmasters area I was at, we would meet once a week, and every week there would be a new topic that almost everyone's speeches were based off of. For instance, during 1 week there would be a topic about animals, and during another there was a topic about UFOs. Every speech was evaluated and timed. The evaluators would use the sandwich technique of constructive criticism. During the speeches, the speakers would often ask the audience members their opinion about something, or something about their life experiences. Also, people would take turns doing certain roles during each meeting. For instance, there was a timer and an "Uh" and "Umm" counter. There were some roles that people volunteered for permanently throughout the year, like the role of being secretary, treasurer, and the person that prepared the topics.

Everyone was very cordial and polite, and you were given time in advance to prepare for speeches. Also, you didn't have to make a speach if you didn't want to. As a Toastmasters member, I was also given invites to attend speeches by motivational speakers. Additionally, I had the Toastmasters magazines mailed to me.

We were given workbooks to to use to guide us in our speeches. Our speeches were based off of assignments on a book called Competent Communication. Then, after completing the assignments on that book, there was a more advanced book based on leadership skills. Additionally, there were 3 miniature books on effective body language, using your speaking voice, and doing effective evaluations, used as extra tips.

I belonged to Toastmasters for a short period of time about 12 years ago. I joined because I had just taken a job in the Community Relations department of a hospital and I thought it might help me get over my fear of talking in front of a group of people. I don't remember the cost, but it couldn't have been very expensive or I wouldn't have joined. The group I joined was run somewhat like Butterflyrainbow describes her group, but we didn't get any books or guides that I can recall. I remember that there were a lot of extroverted people who didn't seem the least shy about speaking and actually monopolized the floor and these people were seasoned speakers and competed against other Toastmaster groups. I didn't like the element of competition so much and so that was a stumbling block for me. The thing that stands out in my mind the most was a Christmas party I was invited to at an English professors house. This professor sent a lot of his students to Toastmasters and had a Christmas party every year that was really spectacular. His house was modest, but fabulous, with artifacts and art and antiques all over the place. Great food and anything you wanted to drink. Everybody had to (was encouraged to) get up in front of the group and either sing a Christmas Carol, or give a brief talk about a special Christmas memory. I forget what I talked about, but it was scary for me. And then, as if all of that excitement wasn't enough, the professor announced that he had a special gift for all of us. He turned down the lights and this exotic music started playing as a beautiful young woman from Egypt (one of his students), dressed exquisitely in red and gold and playing finger cymbals, came belly dancing down the stairs and through the crowd. It was awesome.

I attended one at the request of a friend who didn't want to go alone. I was merely in the audience, as that event was one of Toastmaster's competitions for points to rise in rank/status within the organization.

The speeches were okay, though formulaic and predictable (I've been through many public speaking and acting classes, so know some of the general patterns followed). As rainbowbutterfly said, the members seemed pleasant enough, and all seemed to know each other quite well. I think I said a couple of words during the whole time I was there. It's not my kind of activity.

The reason I ask is because I have an absolutely paralyzing fear of public speaking or performing. I would love to try out for community theater or something like that, but I've never been able to even think about it without feeling nervous.

If you google "stage fright" you get a lot of people saying that it's normal to feel nervous, but you get over it. I think my stage fright is significantly worse that most people's though, because mine is not like what people describe. In the 5th grade, I was given my first oral book report assignment. I remember that my tongue wouldn't work properly, and my hands were shaking so much I couldn't read my paper. In high school, I got bad grades because I simply refused to do assignments that involved getting in front of the class and talking. I was in the band (saxophone), but could not do solos because I would get so nervous that my hands and mouth stopped working properly. It never got any better. In fact, each bad experience made me fear the next even more, so I've pretty much spend my life avoiding everything. I just watched a video of an autistic 13 year old (I know his mother from an online forum) doing a piano recital. He did great. I've never been able to do anything like that, because of the fear.

Same thing if I have to speak at a meeting or something. My brain stops working, and my throat and tongue get all tight, so I can't talk. And I shake. In some cases, I get that just talking to a single person, even if there is no reason to be afraid, and even if I was feeling relaxed a few minutes before. There have been times when I wanted to approach an interesting person who I respect, and I couldn't, because of the whole choking and spluttering factor.

There is never any actual, conscious thoughts like, "OMG, everyone is going to think----" It's not like I'm worried about a specific bad thing happening, and I need to just change my thinking. It's a physiological thing that happens to me EVEN IF I know I'm in a safe environment, and there is no reason for fear.

I understand Toastmasters is supposed to be helpful for stage fright, but I'm just wondering if it's the answer for someone with my type and degree of stage fright. Or would it just be another opportunity for me to be reminded of this horrible thing that happens?

Quoting ElderWanda:

You won't really know until you give it a try. You could go a few times as a guest before signing up or paying any fees. Check it out first, and see what the program is like. If there is a group leader, explain your situation, and see what they have to say or suggest. Ask them if others with the same horrible fear have been helped by Toast Masters. Just a few ideas.

I go to Toastmasters weekly. I joined last year to learn to be a better speaker.

I go to Toastmasters every Thursday. I think it's fun.