Released on = August 2, 2007, 11:50 am

Press Release Author = Eva Jenkins

Industry = Management

Press Release Summary = Instead of enduring the traffic-snarled Beltway, a fed-up
commuter launches a chartered Toastmasters Club geared to fellow baby boomers at her
Virginia golf course community

Press Release Body = Haymarket, VA (PR) August 2, 2007 - Business Consultant, Eva
Jenkins knows that good communications is "the centerpiece of personal and
professional success." When she decided recently that it was time to improve her
own public speaking skills and leadership abilities, one word came to mind:
Toastmasters. "Toastmasters International is one of the country's premiere
information resources for public speaking and speech training," she reports.

Since Toastmasters began in 1924, more than three million men and women have
benefited from the organization's communication and leadership programs. Jenkins
wanted to join their ranks. Time and distance were her enemies.

Think Global, Toast Local
There are hundreds of Toastmasters clubs throughout the U.S. However, when Jenkins
investigated becoming a member, she was surprised to learn that the nearest group
meeting was more than 30 minutes away. "Distance means something different to a
Beltway driver," says Jenkins. Commuters report that a 40-minute trip can easily
stretch into 2 hours or more of stand-still on the Inner and Outer Loops. "In order
to get to DC in the morning from where I live, I would to need to get on the road
between 5:00 and 5:30 A.M.. in order to be certain that I'd make it by 8:00 or
8:30."

The long commute made membership in the club problematic for the busy professional
who was convinced that others were missing out on the Toastmasters experience for
the same reason. "I would have had to move mountains to commit to make meetings and
probably arrived too stressed out to get anything from being there," Jenkins
explains. It was then that she decided to "bring the mountain to Mohammed" and
create a Toastmasters Charter Club closer to home.

Home for Jenkins is the Dominion Valley Country Club, which hosts twin courses and
clubhouses. One is intended for members 55 and up; the other for members under 55.
"I looked at my wonderful, accomplished neighbors and was certain that they could
benefit from being part of Toastmasters," says Jenkins. "The club could serve as
both a hub for learning and a gathering place for residents.

A Community Affair
"Our residents are extraordinary people," reports Jenkins, pointing to professionals
ranging from business owners to retired Fortune 500 CEO's. Noting the stellar
achievements of the people around her, Jenkins decided to create a different model
for her club. Although many Toastmaster groups are closed to employees of a
specific company or business, Jenkins has determined that the Dominion Valley club
will be open to all. "It's a community club," she says, "and our policy is going to
be one of inclusion."

Dominion Valley is home to many young families. "Some of the mothers have held
corporate positions in the past, but got out of the work force to be at home with
their young children." Jenkins hopes that Toastmasters membership will help them
"maintain or increase their current skills so when they rejoin the workforce, they
will be ahead of the game." Jenkins hopes that retirees will also participate to
keep their skills up or learn new skills. "Learning doesn't stop when you retire
any more than living does," says Jenkins emphatically.

At regularly scheduled monthly meetings, Toastmaster members give oral speeches and
give and receive evaluations, both from their peers and the mentors. "The speakers
develop their presentation skills," says Jenkins. "The listeners develop their
analytical and critical skills."

About Toastmasters
According to the organization's mission statement, "Toastmasters International is
the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide
reality." The mission each club is to "provide a mutually supportive and positive
learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop
communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and
personal growth."

Toastmasters International oversees the creation of all charter clubs. "I, myself,
went through an application process to be approved by the national group," explains
Jenkins. She has also been assigned a veteran Toastmaster Leader to ensure that the
club is set up properly and marketed effectively. "Once we have 20 members, the
Leader will assign mentors to our group to help us get the most out of the
Toastmasters training content," says Jenkins.

For more information about this new Charter Club of Toastmasters International,
please contact Eva Jenkins at (571) 248-8042 or e-mail her at
evajenkins@comcast.net.



Web Site = http://www.toastmasters.org

Contact Details = Eva Jenkins at (571) 248-8041 or e-mail: evajenkins@comcast.net.