New Chapter In Woodstock

Monday, 8 September 2014 at 06:23

The Public Speakers Association is opening their sixth Canadian chapter in Woodstock.

WOODSTOCK - A new organization is starting up in the County for people who want to learn the business of public speaking.

The Public Speakers Association is set to launch their sixth chapter in Canada, right here in Woodstock.

Regional Development Director Anne Miner says this fills a void out there for those who know how to speak and want to use speaking as a way to build their business.

"We have Toastmasters where you can go and learn to be a great speaker and then on the other end of the spectrum we have the professional speaking associations who require that you have actually been paid a speaker fee at a certain level before you can be a member and in between there there is a huge gap in the market for those who know how to speak and want to speak to learn how to be in the business of speaking or to use speaking as a way to build their business."

Miner says they provide the education, resources and safe environment for members to develop their skills, and the connections to build their businesses, whether they aspire to be a speaker as their vocation, speak to build their businesses or offer services to the speaking industry.

"That's what the Public Speakers Association is here to do. Teach about being in the business and offer a directory. There's lots of organizations looking for speakers and they can access our members and tap into their expertise for their association members for example."

Miner says one of their success stories is about a woman named Jocelyn who was almost too afraid to stand up and say her name the first meeting she attended.

"She joined the organization and she participated absolutely diligently and after six months she came and told us she had given a presentation at her work. The next thing we heard she was promoted and all because she was able to step into the spot light and speak in a comprehensive manner."

The Public Speakers Association Woodstock Branch will be hosting a launch meeting on Tuesday, September 16 at the Oxford Kitchen from 6:30-8:30pm.

More information can be found by visiting their website publicspeakerassociation.com.