The Bellingham Business Journal

Barkley Village is coming together to form a Toastmasters Club and employees at Moss Adams and other Barkley businesses are working together to get the club off the ground.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational program that helps people develop communication and leadership skills. There are more than 12,000 Toastmasters Clubs around the world in 106 countries.

Wendy Wixson, Moss Adams senior manager and club initiator, said the Barkley Toastmasters group is open to anyone in the area who is interested.

“Toastmasters interested me because presenting has never been one of my strengths and I believe Barkley Village is home to many professionals that may be interested in a club like this,” Wixson said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for people in the Barkley area to network and improve their speaking skills.”

The Barkley Toastmasters group has several goals for its members including: building self-confidence in public speaking, sharpening organization and delivery skills, improving grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, and incorporating effective body language and facial expression.

Toastmasters International requires a 20-person minimum to officially charter the club. The Barkley group will meet at noon at Moss Adams LLP on the first and third Friday of every month.

For more information about the Barkley Toastmasters, call Wendy Wixson at 360-685-2284.