Members of a new Toastmasters speaking club in Northeast Portland are issuing an open invitation to all interested community members to participate.

The Tall Tales Toastmasters club meets from 6-7 p.m. each Tuesday at Whole Foods Market, 3535 N.E. 15th Ave., Portland. The meetings are conducted upstairs in the Mount Bachelor Room.

“Having just formed this club, we are excited about drawing in new members who want to improve their public speaking skills and gain self-confidence,” said longtime Toastmasters member Kyle Dukelow. “I’ve seen Toastmasters change lives, and I know Tall Tales will do the same.”

The club is part of Toastmasters International which teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Toastmasters International has more than 345,000 members in almost 16,000 clubs in 142 countries. The organization, founded in 1924, is headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

The registration and membership cost is $51 and includes helpful speaking manuals. Membership renewal is $51 every 6 months thereafter.

Visitors are welcome, and there is no obligation to speak. For questions, contact Kyle Dukelow at 503-720-3413 or kbdukelow@msn.com.

By Kyle Dukelow and Katie Essick