Gift of gab comes to market

The Penticton Toastmaster's club is holding a one-time-only event at the Farmer's Market on Saturday.

Photo: Contributed

From left: Area contest chairperson Jennifer Mlazgar with Rachael Allenbrand, winner of the 2013 'Best Speaker' contest.

The Toastmaster's club is a non-profit worldwide organization that promotes communication and leadership through support and positive feedback. Saturday they will be challenging members of the public to speak in front of the crowd.

"Primarily the motivation was to help the public become aware of who we are and what we do," says club president Sean Wurz. "Toastmasters is known for public speaking, but I call it a personal and professional development program. You work on public speaking, listening skills, reaction skills, and leadership skills."

Wurz said he expects 10 to 12 members to be at the booth Saturday.

Speeches will begiven by members at 10 a.m., 11a.m. and 12 p.m. 

Members of the public will be dared to an impromptu speaking challenge on the half-hours. 

"We will be inviting members of the public to participate in that, we thought that would be fun."

Wurz said he joined Toastmaster's because BC billionaire Jimmy Pattison was an advocate of the program.
"I figured if it could help Jimmy Pattison, it could help me," he said. "And, I think it has."

The booth will be on the 200 block of Main Street near Nanaimo Avenue.