Back in 2015 when I first joined Toastmasters, the VP of Membership didn’t reach out to me or assign me to a mentor, which allowed me to fade into the background. I mustered up just enough courage to give my Icebreaker speech and then without any encouragement to

continue giving additional speeches, so I fell to the wayside.

It didn’t leave me with a positive lasting impression; therefore,

I didn’t renew my membership. In 2023, I re-joined Toastmasters

after being encouraged by my department manager to join to

improve my public speaking skills.

To my delight, the atmosphere at Toastmasters had completely

changed for the better. Shortly after I paid my membership fees, Marcy/Ola contacted me to schedule an onboarding session, where I learnt how to navigate the Toastmasters International website / to sign up for my first speech (gulp!) but most importantly, I was welcomed with open arms.

This time, I knew that I would be supported. In the spring of 2024, our past president, Adiya Verma, asked me if I would consider being the next VP of Membership, which I enthusiastically accepted before he could explain the benefits of taking on the new role.

This was my opportunity to help new members feel at ease! Since July 2024, I have had the honour of meeting and onboarding several new members, most of whom have become dear friends. For most of the new members, I am the first person they meet.

I am the face of Fluor Communicators Club, which I take very seriously. During the onboarding sessions, my most important goal is to always ensure that individuals feel comfortable and safe while I show them the ropes.

Each individual joins Toastmasters for different reasons, therefore; I tailor their onboarding sessions based on their public speaking comfort levels, while giving them an encouraging nudge to sign up for their Icebreaker speech and for as many roles as possible.