Vincent joined the Plimmerton-based club hoping to improve his speaking skills. Just over a year later, he was competing against some of New Zealand’s most accomplished Toastmasters at the District 72 Conference.

His competition speech was inspired by an experience at his very first club meeting.

“The speech itself went well,” Vincent recalled. “But when I got home, I realised my fly had been down the whole evening.”

Rather than letting the experience undermine his confidence, Vincent turned it into an entertaining speech that resonated with audiences.

“It was a transformational year,” he said. “I couldn’t have achieved it without the real time feedback, mentorship and encouragement from our club.”

Vincent was not the only Spinnaker member to perform well in the district competitions. Fellow members Jacqui Blackwell and Juwairiyah Nawaz also qualified for the District 72 Annual Conference in their respective contest categories.

Spinnaker Toastmasters has been helping local residents develop their communication and leadership skills for more than 35 years. Established in Plimmerton in 1990, the club welcomes adults of all experience levels, from people nervous about speaking in front of others to experienced presenters wanting to improve their skills.

Members practise prepared speeches, take part in impromptu speaking exercises and receive constructive feedback from fellow members. The club also offers opportunities to develop leadership, listening and meeting management skills.

Spinnaker Toastmasters meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, from February to November, at St Andrew’s Anglican Church Hall, 11 Steyne Avenue, Plimmerton. Meetings run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Visitors are welcome to attend without any obligation to join or speak, and many people attend several meetings before deciding whether to become members.

For more information, visit spinnakertoastmasters.org.nz or email spinnaker@toastmasters.org.nz.