Bell Tower Toastmasters:

Club History

 

Bell Tower is a chartered club of Toastmasters International, a world wide organization dedicated to the enhancement of speaking and leadership skills. Our chapter was started in early 1983 when Will Towne, a local toastmaster , was working to obtain advanced recognition from Toastmaster's International. To that end, he organized a group of about 7 administrators and directors from UNC Hospitals to come to a demonstration of a toastmasters meeting. At that meeting, his brief presentation more than convinced the administrators of the value of toastmasters. One person at the demonstration meeting said Mr. Towne: "is the best speaker I have ever heard". That praise was hard won for the former "Ahhh Champion" of the Chapel Hill club , a title granted to the most frequent user of "Ahhhs" in the course of any speech!

On March 25, 1983, the Bell Tower Toastmasters Club was official chartered by Toastmasters International. The original members were all from the hospital and most were all high-level managers.Today the Club is open to all. It currently has members from the hospital, the University and the community at large. The members include students and professionals, young and not-so-young. When you come to visit one of Bell Tower's meetings you will receive a packet of materials that still includes a copy of the Toastmaster Magazine article that Mr. Towne handed out in his original demonstration meeting.