North Florida Toastmaster Officials to Visit Cedar Key, Present Charter to First Levy County Club on Sunday, July 18. "We learn best in moments of enjoyment."
(Toastmasters founder Ralph Smedley) Cedar Key`s Toastmasters Club achieves another milestone this Sunday, July 18, when the international organization`s North Florida District governor, lieutenant governor, and public relations officer present the local club a charter recognizing it as the first Toastmasters club in Levy County. The meeting will convene at 4 p.m., upstairs at the Cedar Key Library, and the public is invited to attend.
Longtime Toastmaster and Cedar Key resident Jim Green appeared before the City Commission last week to urge the public to attend any and all regular meetings of the local club, but especially this Sunday`s charter presentation. Mayor Pat O`Neal responded by declaring Sunday, July 18, Toastmasters Day in Cedar Key.
As Mr. Jim noted in his remarks last week, a major impetus for the formation of the Toastmasters Club here was the City Commission`s desire three years ago to see a Gavel Club established in Cedar Key. The Gavel Club is the international organization`s structure for members under 18 years of age.
Establishment of a local Gavel Club requires sponsorship by a local entity (school; library; in Cedar Key`s case, the city) and the existence of a local Toastmasters Club. Recent Cedar Key High School graduate Caely Hibbits emerged as leader of the Gavel Club over its first three years.
The first Toastmaster clubs were established in the 1920`s by YMCA employee Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, who set the procedural guidelines for the enjoyable, mutually-supportive meeting structure, providing growth in public speaking and leadership. From the first clubs established in California by Dr. Smedley in the `20`s, Toastmasters International has grown to a membership of nearly 250,000 in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries (http://www.toastmasters.org).
The Cedar Key Toastmasters Club meets regularly on the first and thirds Sundays of each month. All meetings are open to the public. | 
