Presidential Visit (Toastmasters)

Toastmasters International President Jana Barnhill will be visiting Christchurch this week to speak at the Toastmasters’ national convention. Jana heads an organisation which has over twelve thousand clubs in over one hundred countries around the world. There are over two hundred Toastmasters clubs in New Zealand.

Jana has been a Toastmaster for 24 years and with her husband Bob runs a professional speaking and training business in Lubbock Texas. She says she has stayed with Toastmasters because “I still have a lot to learn, both as a speaker and a leader”.

Toastmasters teaches communication and leadership skills in a supportive club environment. Jana says “there are few things as gratifying as seeing new members come into our organisation and watching their transformation – seeing how our program can shape lives is truly amazing”

Jana also values the diversity of membership. “It is fascinating to me that this organisation brings people together who otherwise may never have met”

Jana holds two of Toastmasters highest awards, the Distinguished Toastmaster and Accredited Speaker and has been a finalist in the world championship of public speaking on two occasions. She is the fourth woman president in the organisation’s history.

Jana will be in Christchurch from May 14 to May 19.

ENDS

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