Welcome to Public Speaking Secrets. My name is Wes Rogers, and I’m extremely excited to be writing this book. I have been a member of Toastmasters International for over thirty years. I have held every club officer position and have served as District Public Relations Officer. I earned Toastmasters’ top educational award, the Distinguished Toastmaster Award, twice. First on what they now call the legacy educational system and later under the Pathways Learning Environment. I have conducted twelve Speechcraft workshops and eleven Youth Leadership programs with every workshop concluding successfully with almost all participants graduating with improved confidence and public speaking abilities. I have successfully mentored over 500 new Toastmasters to launch their Toastmasters journey to improve their communication and leadership. While home-schooling my daughter, I used Toastmasters as the basis of her communication curriculum. Fortunately, my home club allowed my 15-year-old daughter to accompany me to meetings, participate, and give speeches. When my daughter turned 18, she joined the club and went on to quickly earn her Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Awards. I became a teacher and instructor at Toastmasters Leadership Institute training courses.

I plan to continue mentoring Toastmasters for the rest of my life. That is why I wrote this book. I decided to create a resource to give to my protégés and mentees to augment my mentorship so they may have a resource to guide them outside of our mentor sessions.

If I am not personally your mentor, this book may serve as a guide for new and experienced Toastmasters of the tips, tricks, and secrets that I have learned in over thirty years as a Toastmaster. I remember the exact moment many years ago when I was drawn to Toastmasters. In Boy Scouts, I was a Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. In these positions, I gave speeches to the troop in meetings every week and introduced all speakers in the Courts of Honor formal awards event. My father was an adult leader in the troop. I was too young at that time to join Toastmasters. I vividly recall my father telling me, “Wes, at some time in the future you will be engaged in public speaking. If you find the need to improve, you should join Toastmasters.” As dad predicted, that day came. I was working as a nuclear engineer doing research for the US Department of Energy. The day came when I had to present the results of my research to an audience of engineers and managers from the DOE and non-governmental managers and engineers.

My presentation followed that of my mentor, Hilton. In his presentation, he had the rapt attention of the audience by injecting humor at strategic intervals in his speech. His was an engrossing presentation that drew numerous laughs from the audience. Then it was my turn. I knew the subject of my speech inside and out and had practiced my speech to give it fully and confidently. I presented just as I had rehearsed. But unlike Hilton’s presentation, my speech lulled the audience to distraction. I could tell this by their body language and facial expressions and the fact that they pulled out things to read. They were clearly bored by my presentation and not at all engaged. I was mortified. With the words of my father, “join Toastmasters”, ringing in my head, I did just that. I joined Toastmasters via a Speechcraft Workshop that same week. I quickly became very active and had two wonderful mentors who helped me at the beginning of my Toastmasters journey. I went on to form four clubs, join six clubs, and mentor and coach many other clubs. Every day in Toastmasters has been a learning experience. I love the fellowship and learning that takes place in the intimate club environment. As I became more experienced, I decided to “pay it forward”.

This rich learning experience led me to write this book to provide a guide for those I mentor and for everyone else interested in excelling in public speaking whether as a Toastmaster or not. Through this book, you will have joined my tribe. I am called to serve you in your public speaking journey.