I looked up and called a "Mr. William Offner" to find out his view about our local election situation. I had never met him; his name was in the paper as a potential city council candidate and I wanted to learn about his experience with the city. While introducing myself, I asked him, if he would prefer that I address him as William or Bill.
"Your Highness would be most appropriate" he answered in jest. I knew that second, that he was going to become a fun and interesting person to talk to.
We finished our conversation about politics and after a while he told me that he's been a long time ambassador for Toastmasters International and invited me to their next meeting.
The "Chino Hills Amazing Club" meets every second Thursday evening at 7:00 PM in the community room, at the Butterfield Ranch Fire Station, 5551 Butterfield Ranch Road. I didn't get to meet Bill as it ended up that he had to attend to another function and attendance to this particular meeting was sparse, but the conversation I had with the existing members convinced me that this is something worth being involved in.
Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.
There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.
The leader of the meeting I went to was Dan Kopulsky, Chief of Community Planning at the State of California DOT. He cordially explained the procedures of the local club and gave me all the information I'd need to become a member of the local Toastmasters Group. I think I'm going to go back.
For more information, you can contact Dan at (909) 383 4557.
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.