Karen is Senior VP for a reinsurance brokerage firm.

I was terrified to speak in public. When my former employer scheduled me to give a 30-minute presentation before a large group, it was my worst nightmare.

I had to grip a pencil to try to keep my hands from trembling, I remember. A couple of minutes into the presentation, the pencil snapped in two and flew into the audience. I wanted a trap door to open up and swallow me!

My husband urged me to find a way to conquer my fear. Today, I have been involved with Toastmasters since 1991, and have taken on various leadership roles within the club as well as on a state level. I’ve come a long way and now I no longer fear speaking. Believe me, if I can do this - anyone can. I still get nervous but have learned how to channel that nervous energy to my benefit in making a presentation.

Karen now also volunteers in the Speaker's Bureau for a local non-profit, Sistercare, Inc., and conducts training for the Speaker's Bureau. She has spoken to groups as large as 150 people. In 2008, Karen was asked to make a presentation to a large convention of insurance industry professionals. With the skills she has learned through her years of involvement in Toastmasters, Karen knew she could pull it off.

The club is geared toward the busy professional who does not have time for extracurricular activities. It’s a very supportive environment. Each new member is assigned a mentor. You can do this at your own pace, depending on how quickly you want to progress.

Not everyone comes to Toastmasters because of a fear of public speaking. Some come to fine-tune existing skills. People realize that in order to progress in their careers, they need to come across as sharp, concise and focused. Toastmasters offers these communication and leadership skills.