Where are meetings held?
Meetings are held every Wednesday at Charles Schwab in San Francisco.  Please check near the bottom of the home page for specific location, as we've used a few different rooms in several buildings over the years.  Exceptions for holidays or offsite events are also noted on our home page.

How do I become a member?
Attend a meeting as a guest and see if San Francisco Toastmasters is the right club for you.  If it feels right, please visit our membership page to learn current membership procedure.  It changes over time due to changes in the level of membership and number of candidates.  There have been membership freezes at times.

How frequently am I expected to attend?
Attend at a pace that works for you. However, members tend to find that the more they participate the more they see improvement in their communication skills.  And, some leadership opportunities include officer roles which may have specific responsibilities requiring more frequent attendance.

How many people typically attend a meeting?
Meeting attendance varies, but is usually between 25 and 35 people.

Am I expected to speak as a guest?
We understand that many visitors are shy about speaking, so we strive to make guest participation opportunities very simple and low-pressure. As a visitor, you will be asked to introduce yourself.  Commonly, guests use this greeting as a chance to share what brought them to Toastmasters: how they found out about the club or what their goals are in seeking out Toastmasters.  This can be as simple as "I just wanted to check it out."  Additionally, you will be asked if you would like to participate in Table Topics, the impromptu speaking portion of the meeting. If you wish to participate and are called upon, a Table Topic response is expected to be 1 to 2 minutes.  You can opt out if that's too much for a first visit.

What are your members like?
Open and supportive. San Francisco Toastmasters is a diverse group of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, with a shared commitment to improving their communication and leadership skills.

How can Toastmasters help me develop my speaking skills?
As a member, each meeting has a variety of roles that require varying levels of preparation and are great ways to get started at practicing your skills. Additionally, the Table Topics portion of each meeting will provide opportunities for you to improve your impromptu speaking skills. For planned speeches, you will work through your Toastmasters manual and build your skills at a pace that works for you. The manual guides you through ten projects: speeches you prepare and deliver, each of which focuses on a different core skill.  At the end of the ten projects, you will have earned a Competent Communicator (CC) award, and will be a Certified Toastmaster.  Most members obtain the CC in 1-2 years.  Thereafter, there are many advanced projects and certifications, to support a lifetime of involvement with the club and public speaking.