It began in 1993. Two Toastmasters moved away from their clubs in downtown DC to a new office in Oxon Hill, MD. When they looked around for another club to join they decided to do it themselves. It took time, planting seeds and talking to friends about how great the meetings were, but in about six months time the PROS Club received its Charter, and submitted their first semi-annual report to Toastmasters International on April 1, 1994. The club had sixteen members then, and become more of a family than a club.
The naming of the Club took a lot of time and thought. It wasnt called PROS because the founders wanted to become professional speakers, but rather because they were all People, Reaching Out for Success!
The PROS Club has been active ever since, and has survived many changes. Members moved on to new jobs in new cities, and the club had to relocate to new office space in New Carrollton, MD.
But through all of these changes the PROS club has thrived. Still located in New Carrollton, the club has nearly thirty members. Most of the original PROS have moved on due to new jobs or retirement, but the PROS today still share the original spirit of their founding members. They learn and develop their public speaking and leadership skills, and reach out for their own success.
Read the story of PROS told by one of our founding members.
So what is Toastmasters? Toastmasters got its start in 1924 in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana California. The first club was formed to provide "training in the art of public speaking, and in presiding over meetings", to quote Toastmasters founder Ralph Smedley.
Today, Toastmasters International has nearly 226,000 members in 11,500 clubs in 92 countries. Toastmasters continues to offer a proven and fun way to learn and practice communication and leadership skills. The PROS club is proud to be part of this long tradition of members helping members learn and grow their skills.
Why should you join the PROS? PROS members are just like you. Our members are business and technical professionals who have come together to learn new skills and practice existing skills in a friendly, fun and supportive environment.
Our meetings are held twice each month during lunch time, and the meetings offer an opportunity to get away from your daily routine and relax and recharge in the middle of a stress filled day. We often have light refreshments which helps add to the feeling of family and fellowship, so you'll learn and practice in a friendly, comfortable environment with people who are there for the same reason you areto become better communicators and leaders.
Meeting Location:
New Carrollton Federal Building (NCFB)
5000 Ellin Rd
Lanham MD 20706
Room A7-190
If you are a guest visiting our club at NCFB, please contact Tanisha L. Simpson-Welch by phone (202) 283-2416 or email Tanisha.L.Simpson@irs.gov. You are also welcome to contact any club officer.
The PROS Club meets every 2nd & 4th Thursday from 12 - 1 PM EST.
The PROS Club is a part of District 36, Area 42 jurisdiction. We'd like to acknowledge our Area Governor Marilyn Mack, ACS/CL for her oustanding leadership, as well as our District Governor Mary Ann Guerra, DTM for her awesome leadership in helping our club to "Shape Our World with Passion, Pride, and Eloquence."
To contact Webmaster, click here.
