This comment really struck me as a Toastmaster. This is exactly why I joined and stay in Toastmasters. When I joined I was a good speaker, but a poor communicator. I find, and I am sure many of you would agree, that most people come just to be better speakers. Once they are more comfortable speaking they often leave and use their new skills. So few stay and refocus their efforts on being better communicators.Why can't we, as Toastmasters, communicate this part of the mission of the organization? When I talk to people about being a Toastmaster they assume I went to be a better speaker. They are often surprised to hear me talk about the communication skills I have learned.
An issue that has been much on my mind lately (as I watch District 27 Toastmasters spend all its energy on organization and alignment and ignore leadership development and program quality). Follow the link for development of the thought and video example from Jon Stewart.