The ESCA Toastmasters Club (ESCA TM) welcomed the start of a new calendar year last July 1, 2007. This is also when the calendar year begins for all Toastmaster clubs all over the world. ESCA TM is part of Toastmasters International, a collection of TM clubs in different parts of the globe, but all originating from the first TM club started in 1924 in Santa Ana, California, USA. It has since grown into an international non-profit organization whose aim is to help people be more comfortable and competent when speaking in front of an audience, and give its members countless opportunities to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Already in its second year, ESCA TM was started by SSFM International, a long-time business partner of ESCA, for the further development of ESCA employees within the SSFM group. However, there are also a handful of members from outside the SSFM group. The club started its meetings in the early part of 2006, and was chartered on April 24, 2006. Typically, ESCA TM members come to their weekly one-hour meeting assigned to a specific role. The meeting usually includes an impromptu speaking session, prepared project speeches, and an evaluation portion in which club members analyze and provide positive feedback to fellow TMs in everything from grammar to a comprehensive review of a speech.

                The beginning of a new calendar year also ushered in newly elected club officers. The current roster of ESCA TM officers includes Jesse Morales, President; Jaime Bartolome, Vice President-Education; Crystal Abenoja, Vice President-Membership; Marcelino Valera III, Vice President-Public Relations; Claire Castillejos, Secretary; Cora Clemente, Treasurer; and John Eric Cusi, Sergeant at Arms. These officers will serve as leaders of the club until the end of the TM calendar year on June 30, 2008, at which time a new set of members will hold office. This system gives every member an opportunity to serve as officer. As part of their responsibilities, the new ESCA TM officers attended an induction ceremony on July 20, 2007, and an officers’ training session on July 21, 2007, both held in the National Transmission Company (TransCo) compound in Diliman, Quezon City.

                A recent speech heard in ESCA TM was given by TM Gene Magnaye. TM Gene delivered his third project speech, in which a member has the task of preparing and giving an organized speech. TM Gene captured his audience’s attention as he spoke of his life as a diabetic while displaying his ability to mix serious talk with lighthearted humor.