06/05/2025
. Elk County Toastmasters has been notified by world headquarters that its status has been “suspended” due to a decline in membership. Toastmasters International decided that in order to ensure quality meetings and club functions a minimum of 12 members is required. Elk County’s club had seen a member base as high as 18 and as few as 6. As a result of Covid, Toastmasters Int. has seen a 30% decline in membership. Digital communication has become the norm while personal communication subsides even through online meetings have opened clubs to any part of the world. The Elk County club boasts of a very friendly and comfortable venue in which anyone can become a better version of themselves while being entertained in the process Elk County and the surrounding area is about to loss a vital club which has helped produce many civic and industrial leaders. Civic leaders like Norb Arnold, Jim Auman, Don Bleggi, Earl Buchheit, Jeff Buchheit, David Caruso, Dick Dornish, Father Alfred, Doug Gaffey, Bob Leslie, Bob McBride, John Piccolo, Leo Simbeck, Lori Skok, Dan Surra and Anne Grosser(first female member) are just a few of many former members of the local Toastmasters club. Chartered in 1953 as the St. Mary’s Toastmasters Club # 1309, had a huge success for many years until a decline in membership led to an inactive status which resulted in a loss of its charter in 1974. Resurrected in 1992 the Elk County Toastmasters club #5494 has been serving the area ever since. Throughout the years Elk County Toastmaster members have partnered with many organizations to improve themselves and the community. Boy scouts, DECA, 4H, IU9 and the CEC have all benefitted from toastmasters programs that helped to shape both youth and adults within the surrounding area. Many members have accelerated their professional and political careers by becoming a better version of themselves, which in turn creates a better community to reside in.
What is Toastmasters? The opportunity to build more than 300 unique skillset competencies through six specialized learning paths during twice monthly meetings. The opportunity to organize and conduct productive meetings, set agendas, manage people, deliver presentations and most importantly express ideas and opinions with confidence. Learning to communicate through finding and controlling your voice. Toastmasters is a professional development program which focuses on public speaking, their moto however is “Where leaders are made”. Individuals and companies can spend thousands on a professional development course which are excellent curricula but lack one thing, repetition. Without repetition any skill acquired will eventually fade. Celebrating 100 years of making leaders.
Elk Conty Toastmasters is seeking individuals who would like to become a better version of themselves. You can visit www.elkcounty.toastmasterclub.org or call 8148858465 for more information about the organization. It would be a shame to lose such a vital club to this area. The clock is ticking.
Cory Straub author.
