The Toastmaster Who is Living Life to the Fullest

In December of 2010, Jim Katula was diagnosed with cancer permanently changing his perspective on life. At this time, Jim made the decision to start living his life with the realization that any day looking down at the grass was better than one day looking up at the roots. One of his dreams was to be a motivational speaker making 2012 the perfect year to actively pursue his dream. He joined Lincoln-Way Toastmasters in February of 2012 to improve his speaking skills and to learn something new at every meeting he attends. Jim stated Toastmasters’ has been essential to teaching him how to prepare a speech and how to deliver maximum impact to any audience, whether it is to his co-workers or a group of high school students. He believes all audiences deserve a performance that will stimulate them to think long after the program. Toastmasters’ has been essential to teaching Jim how to do this. Since 2012, Jim has attained the prestigious level of Competent Leader and Advanced Communicator Bronze and is just two presentations away from his Advanced Communicator Silver. He has served as his club’s Sergeant-At-Arms for two terms and the Vice-President of Education. He has advanced to Area and Division Competitions in the International Speech Contest and the Humorous Speech Contest on two separate occasions each.

Jim works as a teacher in a therapeutic day school for children with emotional and behavioral disorders as his day job as well as a real estate broker during off hours at Keller Williams Preferred Realty in Orland Park. In his free time, he officiates high school sports including softball, football, swimming and basketball. Jim also works hard to break into the world of professional speaking having spoken at several high schools and education conferences in Illinois and Wisconsin and performs around the south suburban area as a stand-up comedian.

The Lincoln-Way Toastmasters is a local chapter of Toastmasters International, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping its members overcome the fear of public speaking, strengthen your communication skills, and build confidence when speaking to other people or groups while also enhancing your leadership abilities. The organization has more than 313,000 members in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries.

Toastmaster’s is open to all individuals over 18 years of age. The Lincoln-Way Toastmasters meeting is held at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at Lincoln-Way East High School. The meetings follow an organized agenda and gives everyone an opportunity to speak and listen more effectively in a fun and supportive environment.

This club is free to attend and membership fees, should you decide to join, are nominal. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Renee’ Perry at 815.474.9580 or check out our website at www.lincolnwaytoastmasters.com.