Toast to This

St. Pete Beach Toastmasters Finds Wider Audience

By Gabrielle Reeder

Members of the St. Pete Beach Toasmasters Club gather for a group photo.

You’ve probably heard the oft-stated “fact” that people fear public speaking more than death. That may or may not be true, but whether you want to learn to speak professionally or articulate on any topic, Toastmasters can help.

In May, the St. Pete Beach branch of the club resumed live meetings at the Suntan Art Center, while also continuing the Zoom format started in the pandemic.

“Every week someone different is the toastmaster and their job is to come up with the theme of the club that week,” member Michael Carraba said. “It’s really just a way of describing a mood for the evening.”

Carraba was introduced to the St. Pete Beach Toastmasters by his friend Monica Cordrey. He attended a meeting on March 19, 2020 via Zoom, despite living in D.C.

Although he is excited in-person meetings have resumed, Carraba says he’s grateful they will also still be live streamed.

“I think it’s great because it gives the chance for people to just reestablish their own comfort level….The virtual meeting was a great way to keep it going,” he said. We actually expanded our membership during virtual meetings. We have members all across the country now.”

Carraba said members participate from as far away as Massachusetts, Arizona and Canada. “It’s not just learning to speak,” said Carraba, “it’s learning to listen.”

For more on the group, visit stpetebeachtoastmasters.com.