Speaking Easy Toastmasters Decatur Alabama

07/04/2025

07/27/2021

I have been a member of Speaking Easy Toastmasters club of Decatur. We have 2 DTMs in our group, with many experienced Toastmasters 10 years or more and in the last year we were blessed with 3 new and upcoming Toastmasters who want to be great speakers. Come join us and grow in your communication skills.
Dean Crafton - President

03/19/2018

Due to the bad weather that is supposed to be coming in late this afternoon, Speaking Easy Toastmasters will not be meeting tonight March 19.

02/20/2018

International Speech Contest

01/04/2018

hornswoggleplay
verb HORN-swah-gul
Definition
: bamboozle, hoax

Did You Know?
Hornswoggle is a slang word of some considerable mystery, at least where its etymology is concerned. The word appears to have originated in the southern United States in the early 19th century. The earliest known written record comes from an 1829 issue of The Virginia Literary Magazine in its glossary of Americanisms. The magazine states that hornswoggle came from Kentucky, and its oddness matches nicely with other 19th-century Americanisms, such as sockdolager, absquatulate, callithump, slumgullion, and skedaddle. While the exact point at which hornswoggle entered our language, and the way in which it was formed, may remain unknown, it is a charming addition to our language, joining bamboozle and honeyfuggle as colorful ways to say "to deceive."

12/14/2017

gravamen
noun gruh-VAY-mun
Definition

: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint
Did You Know?

Gravamen is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb gravare, meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective gravis, meaning "heavy." Fittingly, gravamen refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, gravamen is used, synonymously with gist, to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. Gravis has given English several other weighty words, including gravity, grieve, and the adjective grave, meaning "important" or "serious."

12/06/2017

candor
noun KAN-der

Definition
1 : whiteness, brilliance
2 : freedom from prejudice or malice : fairness
3 : unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness
Did You Know?

The origins of candor shine through in its first definition. Candor traces back to the Latin verb candēre ("to shine or glow"), which in turn derives from the same ancient root that gave the Welsh language can, meaning "white," and the Sanskrit language candati, which translates to "it shines." Other descendants of candēre in English include candid, incandescent, candle, and the somewhat less common candent and candescent (both of which are synonyms of incandescent in the sense of "glowing from or as if from great heat"). There is even excandescence, an uncommon word that refers to a feverish condition brought on by anger or passion.

11/29/2017

Word for the day..
NOV 29th
VENTRAL
Ventral [ VEN-truh'l ]
[ noun, adjective ]
MEANING :
1. (adj.) pertaining to the abdomen or belly
2. (adj.) situated on or near the lower, abdominal plane of the body
3. (n.) the abdominal segment of an insect
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
The patient was unable to pin-point the exact location but indicated that the pain emanated from the ventral side of his body.
by Shamli Seth

English Vocabulary Enhance your Vocabulary One Word a day

11/07/2017

We had a good meeting last night, all three of our Veterans gave a speech about their experiences in the military. It was very enjoyable and we learned a lot from therm. Thank you, Dean Crafton, Tim Holmes, and Dave Dunlap for your service.

11/06/2017

Meeting tonight at 5:45 PM, Java Jaays in Decatur, Alabama... VISITORS WELCOME!!!
At Speaking Easy Toastmaster Club, we provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which guest and members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.