In the results of a survey I heard about several years back was this interesting statistic. About 40 percent of those surveyed said that they were more afraid of speaking in public than they were of dying.

While I admit that public speaking can be a scary experience, I doubt, given the choice, I would prefer to die. After all, no matter how poorly I did with the speech, I'd still be alive afterward.

But apparently there are those who find that deliberately focusing the attention of a group of people upon themselves and opening their mouth to impart information of any sort is so terrifying that they would rather run away than face the faces.

There is, however, a remedial place for those who feel they would like or even need to get past that phobia and become a public speaker.

After a few failed starts, a forty-six-year-old schoolteacher from Illinois, Ralph C. Smedley, formally founded Toastmasters in 1924. The first meeting was held at the YMCA Building on October 22 of that year in Santa, Ana, Calif.

Toastmasters International charters over 10,000 clubs and has more than 200,000 members in over 90 countries. Clearly, people all over the world are gaining their speaking strength from attending these very safe and supportive meetings.

Here in Pahrump, a former Fire Department Chief and longtime Toastmasters member, Jack Martincavage, gave our local club a speech titled, "How Toastmasters Made Me A Million Dollars." In the speech, well received by the club, Jack told of how, through his quality of communication, he received promotion after promotion, which he cites the years of attending Toastmaster meetings as primary in gaining this ability. In all, Jack attributes the growth in his income over the decades to be a million dollars over what it may have been, had he been fearful of speaking up.

New members find that, contrary to the common fantasy that everyone in every audience is judging each speaker and finding fault, a Toastmaster speaker at any stage in their growth is given praise and support for doing their best. The growth and ease with each speech is delivered by any member attests to the fact that Toastmasters is indeed a nurturing place to begin to find comfort in public speaking.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization. Each club charges a nominal fee to become a member and the bi-annual dues are kept low. However, membership is not a prerequisite to attending Toastmaster meetings, especially in Pahrump. One may attend as a guest for two meetings without obligation, and may even be offered the choice to participate as a speaker, time and attendance allowing.

Generally, there are two speakers at each meeting who have previously volunteered to be featured, each giving prepared speeches ranging from five to seven minutes. However, that time frame may be shortened or lengthened, should the speaker require and request it. Afterward, two other members who have volunteered beforehand evaluate one speech each.

But the featured speeches are not the only opportunity for one to get on one's feet at the meetings. A segment of each meeting is titled, "Table Topics." During this portion, a Table Topics master sets the subject according to his or her predefined plan and each member is requested to speaking on that subject, right off the top of his or her head, for between thirty to ninety seconds. However, it is allowed that the member may, for whatever reason, choose to change the given topic.

Each segment, from the Pledge of Allegiance that begins each meeting, the Table Topics and the featured speeches, to the final evaluation of the meeting, is timed. After each portion, the timer, using the club stopwatch, gives his or her report. This is to help each member get a feel for how long they have spoken, and how to confine their speeches to a given window of time.

While members who have been in the club for a time are often eager to participate, new members are never forced or pushed to make any speech until they feel comfortable to do so. We find that it doesn't take long for a new member to jump in and participate, once they see how safe and fostering this environment is.

Toastmasters issues to each new member a new member kit, which includes a subscription to the monthly Toastmaster magazine, two guidance manuals; Competent Communicator and Competent Leadership. There are also three brief manuals titled; Your Speaking Voice, Gestures: Your Body Speaks, and Effective Evaluation, along with other relevant materials.

The Competent Communicator manual lists ten guideline titles for delivering speeches, starting with The Ice Breaker and ending with Inspire Your Audience. While it is encouraged, it is not mandatory that one present these speeches in the order listed. Nor is designing one's speech to fit any of the listed guidelines mandatory.

The Competent Communicator manual also contains sections such as About Your Club and Your Toastmasters Survival Guide.

There is no doubt that aside from gaining the ability to speak more comfortably and competently in public, or in private for that matter, the meetings are fun and lasting friendships are forged.

Toastmasters Pahrump Club 1970 meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at the offices of Realty Executives located in the Community Bank Plaza, 3260 S. Highway 160, Suite 11,

For more information please contact Donna Laduke, Ppresident at 727-9984 or Sharon Whalen, vice president of membership at 751-9708. For Toastmaster Clubs in your area check your local phone book or visit www.toastmasters.org.

Come for a visit and bring a friend.