16 mm film was originally an amateur movie format. A moving picture is created by taking a series of still images and advancing them frame by frame at a consistent rate of speed to create the illusion of movement. Our eyes assist by creating a “persistence of vision” to help this optical trick work.
16 hours is the amount of time we have to work with a group of amateur speakers and help them develop their ability to express themselves in a learning opportunity known as the Youth Leadership Program. This eight week Toastmaster program is no illusion, yet like a film it is a process. The program has a mission to help young people communicate effectively using a tried and true Toastmasters structure.
As in the 16mm film, the Youth Leadership Program is built frame by frame on a series of sessions that introduce various skills to the fifteen young people from ages eight to fourteen that are participating in the program. Brad Beck, ACS, ALB, Karen Dittman, CC and Sandie Sorrells are the directors behind this program being presented in the Town of Erie, Colorado for the first time. “I was looking for a project to complete my Advanced Communicator Gold requirements,” says Brad Beck, “when fellow Toastmaster Tom Hobbs suggested I conduct a Youth Leadership Program. Tom visited our club, the Erie Expressors and made a pitch to our members. Tom promised to provided the materials if we promised to conduct the program.” When vision meets action, something is going to happen. It did. “Karen and Sandie agreed to co-coordinate the program with me and we started planning it as soon as Tom delivered the materials,” said Beck.
Over coffee and croissants at the Smiling Moose in Erie, we planned our production. The materials we received gave us guidance on how to conduct the program with a Coordinators Guide and a Participants Handbook. The skills taught and practiced in these manuals include learning about chairmanship, evaluation, organizing a speech, listening, gestures, vocal variety, impromptu and prepared speech presentation. (For Toastmasters this should sound familiar). “We wanted to punch things up a notch,” said Beck, “so we created a power point program for each two hour session to enhance the program and keep the participants attention. About every fifth slide we have a funny or silly picture which keeps the kids engaged and makes them anticipate the material.”
The three split the responsibilities. Karen recruited home schooled children in our community and secured a location for us to conduct the program. Sandie volunteered to be the snack master keeping drinks and goodies for our participants to stay energized. And, Brad posted flyers at the local community center, library and submitted press releases in the local newspaper. They all take turns presenting the material.
Our participants are halfway through the program and they have learned to overcome their nervousness when speaking before an audience. Other skills practiced are organization, presentation, sharing ideas in a logical and convincing way, listening carefully to others, offering advice with evaluations, participating in and leading group discussions. With four meetings completed we have witnessed an increase in the participants self confidence as they learn and have fun.
“I am fortunate to have the assistance of some dedicated individuals from our club,” says Beck. “Karen and Sandie enthusiastically accepted the challenge of bringing this program to life and making it a success.”
Like a film there is a lot of pre-production time spent prior to conducting each session, enhancing the materials. The end product however is well worth it. “If we can help these young people become tomorrow’s leaders by giving them the tools they can use to become better citizens and confident communicators we have spent our time well,” says Beck. Word has already spread around town about the program and we have a list started for another eight week session which we hope to do sometime in the spring. 16 hours is not a lot of time to invest in your community to create your own program. Our suggestion like the directors call is, “Action”
