LAKE HAVASU CITY – For the past 10 years, the London Bridge Toastmasters is still a prominent Lake Havasu nonprofit. The public speaking club has been helping its members become effective communicators. As part of the district’s expansion program, the team was founded by Evangeline Canaman-Johnston. The former Area Director of Mohave Toastmasters District 3, said it was that company that encouraged her to start meetings in Havasu.
In March of 2016, Canaman-Johnston invited four individuals that she referred to as co-founders, to assist in planning the gatherings. Line Zapf, Bonny, Toy, Don Johnston, and Carl Stuart, was the team’s makeup of just five members for the first year. Based on the standards of the Toastmasters International organization created in 1905, they hold meetings every week at night that are centered around scheduled speeches. Whomever is speaking will usually get feedback from one of the more seasoned speakers.
Sometimes, a portion of the meetings consists of Table Topics that are unscripted and given to chosen members. The idea is to improvise without a plan. Previously, the London Bridge Toastmasters has devoted their keynote speaking expertise with local nonprofits like the Kiwanis Club, the Women’s Network Exchange, and the former Arizona State University location.
An ongoing project with the group is with Telesis Preparatory Academy, helping the students with public speaking goals with their youth leadership program. Currently, the group meets just online each Thursday. February 26 will be the group’s last digital gathering. Their hybrid meetings which will give the public a chance to join either in person or through the zoom, will resume on Thursday, March 6 from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at Mohave Community College in room 301 at Building 200, 1977 W Acoma Blvd.
The mission of the club has always been to assist individuals to gain inner strength, enhance interpersonal skills, and advocacy. Canaman-Johnston maintains that over the years, it’s the preparation of the speeches and how it helps people, that feels the most enriching. “I just enjoy doing the speeches , working with the members, and helping those in need achieve their goals,” Canaman-Johnston said.
