German Speakers Association

A bit more than one year ago, I couldnt find any information about a professional organization for speakers in Austria, so I went on and created one: This was the birth of Speakers Bureau Austria. Also known as the “SBA”, the Speakers Bureau Austria serves as the pool for advanced Toastmaster Speakers helping them get stage time outside the regular Toastmasters Setting. The SBA is the “right arm” of the Vienna Toastmasters Club and also functions under the leadership of the Vienna Toastmasters Club President.

This spring I googled again the “professional speaking organizations in Austria” and to my great surprise landed at a very professional website. This was my first touch with the “German Speakers Association“, also known with the abbreviation “GSA”, and furthermore I learned that GSA had recently started “Chapter Austria” on its own. I immediately decided to join. In my endeavours of becoming a better speaker and leader, I believe being a member of a professional speakers association, will be of a great benefit and challenge and at the same time a wonderful opportunity to work with and to learn from the best in the speaking business. The GSA organization includes the “German speaking Europe” and it is an official chapter of the IFFPS (international federation for professional speakers). In the United States the comparable to GSA (and very well known worldwide) chapter is the “National Speakers Association” also known as the “NSA” in the United States.

In July I attended Austrian GSA Chapter meeting and it was an honour to get to know some of the best speakers and trainers in Austria.

Here is a photo from that Chapter meeting, me being on the far left. (Photo Credits: Arno Fischbacher)

I am very much looking forward to attending the GSA convention in Salzburg later this year wchi features not only some of the best speakers in the German speaking Europe, but many internatioanl profi-speakers as well.