Is Toastmasters a social or drinking organization?
The name “Toastmasters” is a holdover from the founding of the organization, when one of the main types of public speaking a member of society would engage in was after-dinner speaking, a.k.a. toastmastering. It is rare that formal drinking and toasts take place, and these are usually at major banquets, or conferences. In general, though, you’ll find two types of clubs: those that have a meal with their meetings and those that don’t. Most clubs do *not* have meals with their meetings. Quite a few clubs meet after dinnertime in a public meeting room, library, community center, or church. Clubs that have a meal with their meeting may charge their members for the meals in advance and pay the restaurant in one lump sum, or may have members order off the menu. Since breakfast and lunch clubs are popular with the business community, you can often kill two birds with one stone by joining Toastmasters: educating yourself and having a meal with business associates. You’ll also find some clubs a
