The African-American Affairs Commission (AAAC) has
established its new affiliated Toastmasters Club in Waterbury. The
Challengers Toastmasters Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the second
and fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings will take place at the
Grace Baptist Church located at 64 Kingsbury Street in Waterbury,
Connecticut. The public is invited to attend.
The AAAC hopes that people will join the group and take advantage of
the opportunity to gain communication and leadership skills. While
the African-American Affairs Commission is a non-partisan commission
of the Connecticut State Legislature, the AAAC does hope that
Connecticut residents from all backgrounds, especially
African-Americans, will use their improved presentation skills for
personal and community advocacy.
“I think the important thing is for people to feel comfortable in
presenting their views. They need to have experience in doing that,
but first they need to feel supported in doing so. The AAAC is
confident that our Toastmasters Clubs can help do that”, said AAAC’s
Executive Director Vanessa Burns.
Meetings for a Bridgeport Toastmasters Club have also started. The
group meets at Bridgeport City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace, (Wheeler A
Conference Room), Bridgeport, Connecticut on the first and third
Thursday of every month. It is anticipated that a third AAAC
affiliated club will organize later this year.
As a Commissioner on the Waterbury Board of Education and a Vice
President of the Challengers Toastmasters Club, Joyce Petteway
believes in the value of Toastmasters. “I’ve come to realize that
success in whatever field you choose is based on how effective you
are. By participating in Toastmasters, my ability to lead, motivate,
manage and persuade has been greatly enhanced. Toastmasters has
helped me improve my personal and professional life”. Petteway is
also President of the Demosthenes Toastmasters Club in Hartford.
Groundwork for the Challengers Toastmaster’s Club (Waterbury) is
underway. The group already has 20 members. The following officers
were recently elected.
| President |
Kenneth Reeder |
| Vice-President – Education |
Annie Booker |
| Vice-President – Membership |
Agnes Odom |
| Vice-President – Public Relations |
Joyce Petteway |
| Secretary |
Patricia Mayfield |
| Sergeant-at-Arms |
Pam Stewart |
| Treasurer |
LaDonna Blow |
The AAAC is a 13-member commission whose mandate charges it with
responsibilities to:
- Review and comment on any proposed state legislation that
would affect the African-American population in the state,
- Advise and provide information to the Governor on state
policies concerning the African-American communities;
- Advise the Governor concerning the coordination and
administration of state programs serving the African-American
population;
- Maintain a liaison between the African-American community and
governmental entities;
- Encourage African-American representation at all levels
including state boards and commissions;
- Secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments and
contributions of the African-American population of the state; and
- Prepare and submit to the Governor an annual report concerning
its activities with appropriate recommendations concerning the
African-American population in the state.
Additional information regarding the African-American Affairs
Commission (AAAC) and the Challengers Toastmasters Club (Waterbury)
may be obtained by calling (860) 240-8555.
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