Mission Statement
WSSA formed SpeechAnxietyMasters Club (SAM) to provide those with speech anxiety a place to gradually become accustomed to addressing groups and to further WSSA’s primary objective and Cause: Remove stuttering and speech anxiety from the planet. At present, SAM is open to all who request an invitation. Meetings typically last around one hour.
General
- SAM will not share participants' contact info with anyone for privacy reasons.
- At the participant's request, identities may be hidden, including using pseudonyms and first names and/or having their faces blocked out.
- Participants will be gently encouraged to speak but never required and only called upon when requested.
- Participants can give speeches, comment verbally, chat, or audit (watch silently).
- Speeches or “talks” will be anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes on a subject matter of the speaker’s choosing. Volunteers will be asked to come prepared.
- The meeting moderator will call upon participants who wish to provide “constructive comments” on the talks given. Comments must be framed positively and with encouragement.
- Participants should mute their audio to block out background noise when not speaking.
- Participants that wish to provide comments or speak in any manner should use the “Raise Hand” button in Zoom. The moderator will recognize the request and attempt to call upon that participant at the appropriate time.
- Respect others. All language used, whether oral or written, must be professional and courteous. Anything considered offensive, obscene, racist, sexual, or discriminatory will not be tolerated.
Meeting Roles
- Host – The person who calls the meeting, sends the invitations and updates to same, and who opens and closes the meeting, explaining WSSA’s sponsorship, its Cause and services.
- Moderator – A Certified Speech Coach or PWSS that coordinates and conducts the meeting, has participants introduce themselves (or introduces those who do not wish to do so), and acts as a moderator.
- Speaker – 1 to 3 speakers may be selected in advance to give presentations on various topics. Speeches, or “talks”, will run 2-5 minutes. Extemporaneous talks may also be provided by participants at the direction of the Moderator.
- Evaluators – Initially, this will be the Moderator (one of our Certified Speech Coaches or a PWSS). The Moderator will ask volunteers for feedback to provide the speaker with fair and supportive evaluations and suggestions.
- Timer – Confirms the length of the speeches being presented before the start of each meeting, times each one, and provides warning indicators to assist the speaker in finishing in the allotted time. The Host or Moderator may serve as Timer.
- TopicsHelper – This person will help participants select topics for their upcoming speeches, offering a list of original or creative topics for consideration. The Host may serve in this capacity as well.
