2006-2007 Orange Book: Internet Directory
Ramona Toastmasters

Improving communications and leadership skills is the goal of Ramona Toastmasters, which has reorganized and become active again after a few years of relative inactivity.

The group meets Saturdays, 9 a.m. at the Town Hall.

The officers are President, Gabe Crabtree; Bob Hailey, vice president of education and treasurer, Sergeant-at-arms, Mike Belden.

Although small, the club has a wide array of professions and interests in its ranks. One manages an electronics firm. A member from La Jolla is on the governing board of the USO. One is an elected official. One is working to become a college instructor. One is a former Miss Ramona, another was a rodeo queen contestant. One is a retired construction contractor. The Honorary Mayor of Ramona, Dave Pattterson, practiced some of his campaign speeches on the club members.

All are united by a desire to improve their communications skills, learning by giving speeches and speaking effectively.

"As far as I'm concerned, effective communication is the number one thing in leadership and is the one thing that's going to make you successful," says club vice president Bob Hailey, who is a software engineer and President of the Ramona School Board.

The meeting format normally consists of table topics, where members are asked questions about a specific topic and given a minute or so to speak. And then there are prepared speeches, two or three per meeting. The club has manuals that help members work on specific aspects of speaking and communication. Members must give ten speeches to earn the title of Competent Toast Master (CTM).

The Ramona club has the youngest member (18 years old) of any other club in District 5, and the distinction of having someone become CTM faster than anyone else in the district.

Member Jertrude Aney coaches the girls each year who compete in the Miss Ramona and Ramona Rodeo Queen contests.

In July the club will hold a speech craft, a six week shortened version of Toastmasters that allows people to come in and find out what the club is all about and get some training in various aspects of speaking.

"These skills are useful wherever you speak, not just public speaking," says Hailey. "It's people learning how to be persuasive and communicate their ideas."

For more information on Toastmasters, call Bob Hailey at 789-4624 or Dave Patterson at 788-9139 or write Ramona Toastmasters, 15865 Fecanin Way, Ramona.