Pros: The most professional toastmasters out of the four I have been a guest to, imo. Biggest plus for me is it's fully in person. The average speech quality is quite high though not intimidatingly so. There is a mix of very strong speakers and beginners. The evaluations are generally very helpful for learning and not afraid of criticism. Attendance is high with a lot of diversity in member backgrounds, such as nationality and profession, and a wide range of speech topics. There are personal stories, history, science explainers, comedies, political speeches, persuasive speeches, and more. The only club I've seen that has Google forms to leave feedback and vote on the best speaker, lots of props, and a videographer. There are a lot of roles per meeting but they're all filled by the time it starts. The table topics can be creative, sometimes experimenting with new formats like jeopardy. The break in middle is a great opportunity to talk to other members. The usual meeting space is nice. I also like that there is a social after each session with a decent attendance. We had an annual fun event which I enjoyed. Cons: There is a bit of a backlog in getting mentors. Because there are so many members it can sometimes be a bit harder to find an open speech slot; but that's not really a problem if you sign up one to three sessions in advance. The club doesn't involve most members in officer duties and events much but I think that might be changing recently, plus most people don't care. Doesn't seem to emphasize education and pathways that much. And lastly I am really glad there's a social every two weeks but I wish there were even more social interactions between members. For example a group chat would be nice. read more

Love the learning environment this club provides. I started visiting a few months back, and it's now part of my weekly activities. Every Wednesday, I am there practicing leadership and public speaking skills followed by a social hour! Highly recommend to visit for a fun and inclusive experience. read more

The best toastmasters club in the post-pandemic Bay Area! Biweekly IN-PERSON toastmasters meetings in a great space with great people! I am consistently impressed by the welcoming atmosphere, the diversity of the speakers, and the quality of feedback. Whether you're a novice looking to build your public speaking skills or an advanced speaker, this club offers invaluable opportunities. The members are supportive, encouraging, and genuinely invested in each other's growth. A great place to enhance your communication skills and expand your network. Highly recommended! read more

Great atmosphere, super supportive and fun at the same time! Double bonus as an opportunity and place to meet interesting and nice people.

Highly recommend Golden Gate Toastmasters for anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills. Love that it's an in person meeting. Meetings are fun thanks to a very welcoming and diverse member base. Suitable for all levels - the club has beginner level members and seasoned Toastmasters who have been involved in clubs for 20 years. read more

As I wanted to improve my public speaking skills after the pandemic, I joined Golden Gate Toastmasters I'm October 2022. It has been a great club with other members who are working on this art of speaking. They have been welcoming and supportive. Feedback is a big component of this experience and I know I can lean on any of the members here to help me hone in my craft. I particularly enjoy the educational component and content to help you craft your journey in many different ways-coaching, leadership, comedy, story telling, and much more. I honestly think this is the best thing I've done recently to gain new skills and build a supportive network. read more

As one of the few IRL and weekly Toastmasters in San Francisco, Golden Gate Toastmasters provides a supportive environment to improve your public speaking and connect with others. Hosted in the gilded Chamber of Commerce boardroom in an opulent downtown building, Golden Gate Toastmasters is not only friendly and welcoming but also orderly and disciplined, ensuring the two-hour long meetings remain on time and on topic. read more

Well organized. Everyone is there to help each other improve their public speaking or leadership skills, while appreciating and respecting each person's authentic selves. read more

I joined GGTM in Jan 2022 and my speaking, confidence, and leadership skills have grown exponentially over this past year. I love the environment, the support and the feedback provided by members and guests alike. read more

This is the best toastmasters club I've attended. There are members from all over the globe and their backgrounds is a great source to pull from for speeches. And as you can imagine, the speeches from this club are always interesting and engaging. For example, a member gave a talk on how ChatGPT works. Another speaker spoke about her trip to the Galapagos islands while one member incorporated a whole dance routine into her speech. There are also functionary role incorporated into the meeting that serve to keep the meeting on schedule and provide feedback to speakers. What I love is that the feedback is honest and doesn't only focus on the negative. For example, the grammarian role, a person who watches for creative uses of speech as well as confusing or inappropriate phrases, acknowledges each speaker's unique style in the way they assemble words into stand out phrases. Furthermore, feedback is given to speakers in multiple formats such as video, written, and through speech. I highly recommend anyone interested in improving their public speaking skills to visit (and join!) this chapter. read more

Golden Gate Toastmasters is an amazing way to step up your speaking game. Everybody is friendly, the mentors are top-notch, and every session is informative and entertaining. I highly recommend anybody to try it! read more

Golden Gate Toastmasters was one of the best decisions in my life for 3 reasons. 1 - Community 2 - Communication development 3 - Confidence building Try it out, what do you have to lose? read more

Love this club! so happy to have found this amazing group of people. what a place to better your public speaking skills and confidence.

I joined Golden Gate Toastmasters in November 2018 with the goals of improving my communication skills and learning how to deliver a message that resonates with people. I didn't know what to expect, but after my first visit, the meetings became something I looked forward to every week. My favorite part about GGTM is how supportive and welcoming everyone is. The whole group truly wants you to succeed, and you can feel it when you're up there giving a speech. The encouragement and feedback I've gotten has not only improved my prepared speeches, but has also helped me become a better communicator in everyday life. Additionally, the meetings are inspiring, upbeat, and fun! I love hearing what everyone has to say in their speeches. I'm continuously impressed by peoples' willingness to share their struggles, triumphs, and learnings with the group. I always leave having learned something new and broadened my perspective on life. For anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills and meet an awesome group of people, I highly recommend Golden Gate Toastmasters! read more

Been a Toastmaster for 8 years, have been a member of a half dozen clubs. This is easily my favorite club. The vibe is positive, friendly, and involved. Yet, without compromising professionalism. The skills of the members range from brand new, to quite experienced, with even a couple people with professional speaking experience. If you're thinking about checking out a Toastmasters club, definitely give this one a try! read more

This is a fantastic club that I enjoy for a few reasons: 1) It's a diverse group which allows you to see a wide variety of perspectives. 2) Meetings are well organized. Printed agendas are handed out so you always know what to expect for each meeting. 3) The members are a friendly and social bunch. It's tough to meet new people as an adult, and this group does a great job organizing fun social events for members. 4) Meetings feel like a safe place to fail. As a beginner public speaker this is extremely important to me. I was ultra nervous to give my first speech, and really appreciated the words of encouragement leading up to it, respectful audience during the speech, and feedback afterwards. read more

Golden Gate tostemster is perfect spot to improve your public speaking skills. the value of joining this club is unbelievable. imagine a place where you get to learn from hight class public speakers who are competing nationally, public speakers champions, in very safe and supportive yet fun environment. If you are serious about improving this skill, check out the golden gate tostemster once and see magic. read more

I joined Golden Gate Toastmasters in March 2017 to improve my public speaking skills and to become more confident when addressing a crowd. While I didn't dread public speaking before joining, I was definitely somewhat nervous about it, which prevented me from speaking as confidently as possible. Within 3 months of joining Toastmasters, I no longer had any anxiety from public speaking, and was able to not only give much better speeches, but I also gained the ability to think (and speak) on my feet very comfortably. The club attracts speaker's of all levels (from non-native English speakers who are trying to strengthen their language skills to very experienced sales people/actors with tremendous charisma) and people from all different backgrounds. Most importantly, the club welcomes everyone and is willing to provide patient feedback and constructive criticism to make you a better speaker regardless of your abilities or current level. The group is incredibly warm, social, and fun, and I've made a lot of great friends and contacts through my involvement in it as well read more

Improve your speaking skills while making meaningful connections and have some fun on top of it all! I shopped around for a while before I picked this group and it is hands down the best Toastmasters group I've experienced. The quality of the content is impressive and the learning curve is so useful and helpful to your professional career, and it still manage to keep that unique youthful flare to it. I feel like I overcame my fear of public speaking at least 2 months in as a member and now just perfecting the art of speaking and some important leadership skills. Thank you Toastmasters for an incredible journey of learning and networking! read more

My heart pounded in my chest as I ascended to the 12th floor in the sleek, stainless steel elevator to sit in on my first Toastmasters session. Visiting a meeting had been in the back of my mind for years, and now it was finally going to happen. The nerves were real. Upon entering the room, I was greeted with smiles, handshakes, and welcoming words. My nerves calmed slightly. The meeting promptly started and had a packed agenda. What ensued for the next two hours was truly eye-opening. Never before had I experienced such a supportive, friendly, and warm environment focused on public speaking. I've now been a member since Jan 2016, and have delivered a small handful of speeches. Week over week I'm improving, and the feedback from the group is all constructive and supportive. If you've been considering coming to a Toastmaster's session, visit this club. I assure you it will exceed all expectations. Wanna get to know us a bit better? Great, we want to know you too. There are frequent social events outside of normal club meetings which serve as a great way to connect with others, make friends, and find mentors. Drop in for a visit and come see what Golden Gate Toastmasters is all about. You're looking up this review because you want to get better at the art and craft of public speaking, right? Well now is your opportunity. read more

I joined GG Toastmasters for over one year. I can't say more good things about the club. In every meeting, I learn something, whether it be speech techniques or new, refreshing ideas from fellow toasties, who are always supportive of each other. This is also one of the bigger clubs and so you will always get to speak in front of a biggish crowd. read more

Exceptional club = well organized, safe environment for speaking and I would highly recommend. Check it out, you'll be happy you did.

The Golden Gate Toastmasters club is a little different than most because not only do they focus on making you a better speaker but the club is also very social and the members become good friends. They go to drinks after every meeting so members have a chance to chat and get to know one another. They also have a holiday party each year along with a summer picnic and the occasional happy hour outside of the weekly meeting. This is important because the members are much more engaged and interested in helping you and encouraging you to be a better speaker because they really care and want to see you succeed. read more

Do you know what the No. 1 skill that Americans are lacking is? According to Linkedin CEO Jeff Weiner, it is oral communication. Toastmasters isn't just for improving your public speaking skills. Let me take some of your pressure off by saying that you probably won't have a chance to speak in your first time visiting this club. So why should you even come in the first place? To connect with other people who share similar goals in gaining a competitive edge and improving their oral communication. Whether if you're in the job market, or wanting a promotion, at the end of the day, you have to convince the other person of what you bring to the table. And no, you don't have to pay to visit the club. All you need to bring is your awesome self. read more

For anyone who wants to improve their presentation skills, wants to join a highly motivated group of diverse individuals who are serious but fun-loving, run, don't walk, to Golden Gate Toastmasters. After being a guest for 4 meetings, the requirement for membership, I jumped at the opportunity to join. I am so glad I did. This group meets weekly but you aren't required to attend. You will really want to attend. Fun, educational, informative. This is a great community with which to hone your speaking skills. And it's safe. Nobody learns without stepping out of their comfort zone. Here's a fun and safe non-threatening environment where you can learn to take your speaking skills to the next level while connecting with some truly engaged and awesome people. Just do it! read more

This is the first Toastmasters group I've ever observed as a guest - and subsequently joined (Aug 2015). A great group with a wide range of speaking skills. Supportive, friendly people who are always aiming to improve - both as individual speakers and as a collective club. What I love most is how diverse our members are. I'd describe Golden Gate as a Toastmasters club for all walks of life. Meetings are on Wednesdays and I find that on busier days, when I start to consider skipping the meeting, I'm always grateful after I do attend because I walk away energized by new perspectives and new tools to improve my life. I believe everyone should participate in Toastmasters (or something very similar) at least once. read more

Golden Gate Toastmasters is a great group and well worth my time. I joined when I was brand new to the city and looking to improve my job marketability and meet new people. GGT has helped me with so much more than I originally intended! Through GGT, I dramatically improved my public speaking skills, interviewing skills and listening skills. I also have learned a lot about myself in the process. In addition, I have made some great connections by joining the group and become more marketable to employers. GGT is an extremely supportive, well-organized, and encouraging environment, no matter what skill level you are at in your public speaking. It is truly a group that tries to lift each other up and improve as a team! You can go check out the meetings as a guest, before you decide to join. I encourage everyone go check it out! read more

Joining Golden Gate Toastmasters has been one of the best investments I have made in 2019. In 6 months, I have been able to build my public speaking skills (confidence) and build some fruitful relationships with some amazing people. The group has a perfect balance for professionalism and socialization! read more

Joined in February 2017 after I moved to SF from Chicago. Checked out a variety of clubs before deciding on Golden Gate. Was already a good public speaker and this club has made me better. The members give useful feedback and the friendly in club competitions bring out my best. Recommend for both good speakers looking to improve and novice speakers looking to conquer their fear of public speaking. Super supportive, down to earth, and fun group. read more

I visited two others clubs before joining GGTM back in July of 2017. Ultimately you can't go wrong with any club because your speaking skills will improve. However, I do encourage you to check out other clubs to feel which one you like the best. I will outline what I liked about the other clubs and what made me choose GGTM instead. 1st club I visited was Rhinos Toastmaster Their group consisted of top-notch speakers and you will definitely learn from just watching. They also had free food/drinks during the breaks. However, their membership fee was higher to compensate for that. I was planning on joining this club but the wait time was at least 2 months plus before I could join. 6 times to be considered with a wait list people ahead of me. I wanted to join and get going right away. 2nd club I visited was Magic Sunrisers Super friendly and a smaller group. I loved how everyone had breakfast and socialized right after the meeting. They treat their 1st-time guest to a free breakfast. However, 7 am meetings were harder for me to commit to. The reason why I choose GGTM is that I felt that this Club was a good mix of two other clubs I visited. Quality speakers and the club is welcoming/social. 1) Top notch speakers 2) A super friendly group with social events happening all the time. 3) Shorter wait time 4 times as a guest to be voted in). 4) Very spacious meeting room (the other clubs had smaller rooms) 5) A lot of the members go to a bar afterward to socialize. Guest are always welcome! read more

It's invitation only because they invite you and then decide if you fit into their judgemental, highly sophomoric clique. If you don't deliver a perfect speech on your first introduction they boot you, had I known that, I would never invested the time in my busy world to be judged by such narrow-minded, self-congratulating, philistines. So forget the idea of coming here to improve your speaking skills. They want high gloss, polished faux game show perfection, and if you don't make the audition to mirror the fake exuberance of your host, you're Toast--masters. read more

I joined Golden Gate Toastmasters in February 2019 with a goal to sharpen my public speaking and social skills overall. I am not exaggerating when I say that having the honor of becoming part of this amazing group of professionals who are authentic and really care about the growth of each member is a once in a lifetime experience. This is a club you want to join if you are a passionate person who is ambitious about wanting to become a great speaker and learn from the best! read more

If you are looking for a place to practice, develop and improve your public speaking, Golden Gate Toastmasters club is the right place for you. I have been a member of the group since September 2015 and I have always found members very supportive. The group is welcoming, uplifting and encouraging. All members are very friendly, social and really invested in creating a great environment for everyone, including guests. The group is very diverse in speaking levels, ages, professions, and nationalities so it has been really fun getting to know everyone at the club. read more

When I first started looking, I set up appointments with a number of Toastmasters clubs all over town. After two visits to Golden Gate Toastmasters, I stopped looking. This club is fantastic. The support is amazing. The room feel like a good place to make mistakes with all of the warm friendly people. The people themselves are incredibly helpful, happy to have a side conversation to go over your performance, or help you through the steps to take on a new role. There is a great mix of long-time members with a lot of experience and new members trying things out for the first time. The meetings are tightly run and well organized. Not only that, but there are continual improvements being made all the time to tweak things for the better. I love the diversity of the club. There are people from all over the world and all walks of life. It's a great opportunity to get to know other cultures. Community building is also part of the structure of the club. We all meet up for snacks and drinks after meetings, and even have outside social events. We are, it turns out, the only Toastmasters group with a VP of Social! It's a great group of people and a really supportive environment to learn and grow. I highly recommend coming by to see for yourself. read more

Golden Gate Toastmasters provides a unique and supportive environment where individuals of all ability levels can develop their public speaking skills. Some members are incredible speakers with experience speaking at large events and others are just beginning to develop their skills. Regardless of your ability level, you can become a much better public speaker by participating in the club. We typically get 20-30 people at each meeting. Where else can you get 20-30 people to help you hone your public speaking skills each week? And mastering public speaking is just one of the benefits of this great club! I initially checked out the club thinking I would do it solely for professional development reasons, but to my pleasant surprise, I found that the meetings were actually a lot of fun and the members in the club are terrific people. If you are reading this review, you owe it to yourself to visit one of our meetings as a guest! read more

I re-joined this club in 2018 with the goal of improving my presentation skills at work. It has helped immensely. I have actually had 3 other coworkers ask to join and they have all said it's been very beneficial. read more

GGTM is such an awesome and supportive club! I've not only become a better speaker but also met and befriended a lot of great folks.

I have appreciated this diverse, accepting and accomplished group of Toastmasters since my first visit as a guest. Like many, I came with the idea of evaluating and comparing but after my second visit, I knew that this was MY place to grow as as public speaker and that these were the people I wanted to support me in my efforts. Grateful for the support, the FUN and the expertise this group provides me as I move forward in my public speaking goals and..,in my lifelong goal of meeting and sharing experiences with GREAT people!! read more

I cannot believe how far I have come as a communicator since joining this group. I'm looking forward to giving more speeches as well as to continue to improve my listening skills. This is a highly recommended group!! read more

I have been a member of this club for 21 years, much less active the past few years due to medical interference, but hubby is 96 & still going. This is an all round education. One learns how to run a timed meeting, start on time & finish in 2 hrs, give formal speeches-general objectives to be met are given but the subject is wide open, learn to give timed evaluations of speakers for the evening & learn how to speak off the cuff for 2 minutes with a wide range of table topics and ways to present it. You are truly only limited by your imagination for your speech & table topic presentations. Each week there are multiple options of how to get up speaking & be involved. There is also a leadership track and opportunity to be a club officer. On top of that we are very social. there is a meeting after the meeting for attendees to quench some thirst and solve the problems of the world-haha. there are also social functions through the year karaoke, hikes, picnics & always a Christmas gathering. The club has attracted a very wide range of people over the years who are interested in being more comfortable getting up and speaking in front of others. Golden Gate offers an incredibly supportive environment and we always end up having fun. I know that if I can get to a meeting, I will go home refreshed & with a smile on my face. read more