Johnstown Toastmasters

08/22/2026

This might surprise you…

When you are giving a speech, project update, or delivering a presentation… your audience is NOT just listening to your words. They’re watching how you communicate.

Facial expressions and gestures help people understand emotion, emphasis, and intent. Research in nonverbal communication shows that people use facial and bodily cues alongside spoken words to interpret a speaker’s meaning and emotional state.

But here’s the catch: your gestures should support your message, not compete with it.

A raised eyebrow. A pause with a look. An open hand. A deliberate movement.

Small signals can make a message memorable and resonate with your audience. This is true regardless if you are speaking to 100 people, a small group of 4-5… or even a single person.

Next time you speak, don’t just ask, “What am I going to say?”

Ask: “What will my face and hands say while I’m saying it?”

Want to learn how to put this into practice? Come see it in action at our next Johnstown Toastmasters meeting.

Tuesday, August 25 | 6:30 PM
Social Hall, Arbutus Church of the Brethren
1201 Erickson Drive, Johnstown, PA

Guests attend free. Come curious. Leave with a few new tools for becoming a more confident, compelling speaker.

08/07/2026

Join us this Tuesday, August 11, at 6:30 PM as the Johnstown Toastmasters Club hosts our Club-Level Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest. These contests will take place in the social hall of the Arbutus Church of the Brethren.

We encourage guests to arrive a few minutes early to get to know us before the contest kicks off at 6:30 PM.

Toastmasters contests showcase some of the club’s most entertaining and inspiring speakers while challenging participants to think on their feet and communicate with confidence. It’s a fun, high-energy evening that demonstrates how Toastmasters helps people become stronger speakers and leaders.

Guests are always welcome. Come see what Toastmasters is all about. You just might discover the confidence you’ve been looking for.

07/28/2026

Your Next Step Starts Tonight!

07/25/2026

"Growth requires intentional effort." Welcome to the club, Matthew!

06/22/2026

“I didn’t join Toastmasters to become a speaker. I joined to become confident enough to speak. I’m still grateful I walked through that door. Maybe it’s your turn.”

Dave Jones
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)

05/16/2026

Congratulations to Toastmasters member TJ Rose, DTM, on earning 2nd Place in the District 13 International Speech Contest.

This advanced-level competition featured some of the finest speakers representing nearly 60 Toastmasters clubs across western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western Maryland. Reaching this level reflects exceptional dedication, preparation, and skill.

TJ delivered a deeply personal and inspiring speech about his journey from childhood into adulthood while navigating life on the autism spectrum. His message highlighted the perseverance and determination that helped him overcome challenges, along with the lasting impact of a caring mother, supportive teachers, counselors, and mentors who believed in his potential and encouraged him to keep moving forward.

Equally impressive was the discipline and commitment behind the speech itself. Advanced-level competition speeches require extensive preparation, refinement, rehearsal, feedback, and continuous improvement. TJ’s performance reflected not only an impactful story, but also a tremendous investment in mastering the craft of communication.

Johnstown Toastmasters has a proud tradition of excellence in high-level competition, and TJ’s achievement continues that legacy in outstanding fashion. We are incredibly proud of how he represented our club, his message, and the spirit of perseverance that inspires others to push beyond perceived limitations.

Congratulations, TJ, on an extraordinary accomplishment and for sharing a message that truly mattered.

05/16/2026

There’s something powerful about sitting in a room full of people committed to becoming better leaders, better communicators, and frankly… better humans.

Attending the Toastmasters International District 13 Spring Conference in Pittsburgh and finding tremendous value in Richard Peck, DTM, Past International Director’s keynote, “The Future Is in Your Hands.”

One reminder hit especially hard: the future rarely belongs to the most talented person in the room. It belongs to the person willing to keep growing after everyone else gets comfortable.

That’s the magic of Toastmasters. Ordinary people making extraordinary decisions to improve themselves one speech, one evaluation, and one uncomfortable stretch at a time.

Also, let’s be honest. Any conference where people voluntarily stand up to speak in front of strangers before coffee deserves respect.

Grateful for the lessons, the leadership, and the people who continue to inspire growth.

04/30/2026

🌟 Johnstown Toastmasters Club Meeting Recap 4/28/2026 🌟

We had another great meeting that truly reflected who we are. A welcoming space where guests feel comfortable, members lift each other up, and real growth happens every time we meet.

👏 Leadership Roles:
Sergeant at Arms: Amy Shaffer
President: Dave Jones, DTM
Toastmaster of the Day: Melvin Fees
Club Success Moment: Katie Belis-Lowry
Word Master and Joke Master: Amy Shaffer
Word of the Day: Bamboozled
Timer: Dave Jones, DTM
Grammarian: Katie Belis-Lowry
General Evaluator: Rachel Gorzelsky

🎤 Prepared Speeches:
Tina Dallape delivered our first project speech
Amy Shaffer delivered our second project speech
Luke Ream gave his Icebreaker speech and kicked off his Toastmasters journey

🗣️ Evaluations:
Evaluator for Tina: Tony Utnik, DTM
Evaluator for Amy: Joe Silva
Evaluator for Luke: Dave Jones, DTM

💬 Table Topics:
Table Topics Master: TJ Rose, DTM
Speakers: Tina Dallape, Joe Silva, and our guest Mickayla

🌟 Buy Some Time:
Introduced by Barb Zablotny
Tony Utnik, DTM delivered a 5 to 7 minute speech during this time
As always, we continue to grow together through encouragement, constructive feedback, and a lot of fun along the way.
Guests are always welcome to join us!

📍 We meet at Arbutus Church, 1201 Erickson Drive
🕡 6:30 PM
📅 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month
Our next meeting will be on May 12, 2026. Come see what Toastmasters is all about!

✨ Rise, Speak and Lead the Johnstown Way! ✨

04/30/2026

04/25/2026

You keep saying, “someday I’ll check out Toastmasters.”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth… someday is just procrastination dressed up in a tuxedo. Really? Come on… put that aside.

Confidence isn’t built in the future. It’s built on a Tuesday night when you decide to show up anyway…and put your anxiety on hold for an hour and a half.

Join us at Johnstown Toastmasters:
• Tuesday, April 28, 2026
• 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
• Social Hall, Arbutus Church of the Brethren
• 1201 Erickson Drive, Johnstown, PA

No pressure. No cost. No one handing you a microphone the second you walk in. Just real people, getting better one conversation at a time.

The only thing standing between you and stronger communication skills isn’t talent. It’s . And hesitation has a terrible track record of improving lives.

So here’s the deal: stop negotiating with “someday” and show up this Tuesday instead.

Because the version of you that speaks with clarity and confidence?
It doesn’t live in the future… it shows up at 6:30.