I saw a top ten list of fears recently, fear of death was number seven, fear of public speaking was number one.

Lindy Edgett is committed to helping people overcome that number one fear. She also works hard to help those who have a variety of other fears, fears such as entering a room full of strangers, chairing a meeting, making that first sales call, or being captain of a team in a work or volunteer situation.

In short, Lindy Edgett is committed to helping people strengthen their communication skills, and by doing so; improve their self-confidence and self-esteem

As Marzena Banks said in her nomination form, "Lindy has touched, empowered, and motivated many people who have become not only better communicators but also better human beings."

Edgett wants to help because she's been there.

Nine years ago, she couldn't walk into a room full of people, strangers or not. The thought terrified her.

"I had low self-esteem," she says. "I thought people would be using words I wouldn't understand and I wouldn't want to admit I didn't know them. I also didn't think that what I had to say would be important so who would want to listen to me anyway.

"Now I feel comfortable in any group," she says. "I listen, laugh and join in the conversation. It's great."

This improvement in confidence and communication skills has affected her career too.

She used to be a person who felt she needed to be behind the scenes. Now she is Administrative Assistant to Volker Grady, Manager of the Coast Bastion Inn. This is very much an up front position.

This unfolding of a fully charged, confident person didn't happen overnight however. In fact her fears were so great, that even after she decided nine years ago that she really had to do something, there wasn't much movement over the next five years.

In 1992, she took a six-session course at Malaspina University-College called, "Speak With Confidence." At the end of the program, she was encouraged to join Toastmasters.

Although she knew it was a good idea, it took two years before she could summon up enough courage to go to a meeting. Then, two more fear-filled years passed before she tried again.

This time she actually joined a club and her life began to change.

Although it took five months before she actually spoke in front of the club, she quickly began to assume other responsibilities; timing talks, counting "ums" and "ahs", coming up with the vocabulary word of the day and so on.

Then opportunities began to surface for her to take on executive positions at the club, district and provincial levels. She also entered and won an impressive list of speech contests.

In fact she has accomplished so much that she has become a "Distinguish Toastmaster" or DTM, the highest educational accomplishment in the organization.

Edgett also teaches "Speech craft" courses to various community groups such as the Nanaimo Youth Services Association, the "Leaders in Training" and "Questers" groups at Parks and Recreation in Nanaimo and now Ladysmith as well. She also works with women job seekers at the Assessment and Referral Centre, finds the time to judge young cadets' speech contests, and she keeps an eye on at least three Toastmaster governors throughout the year.

If you have fears similar to the ones Lindy Edgett faced nine years ago, she suggests that you to check out the Toastmaster's web site at www.toastmasters.bc.ca or call her directly at 754-0896.

If you can find the strength to make that call, it could change your life.

Although it took a five-year daily battle with fear for Lindy Edgett to really get started, there's no doubt that Toastmasters has made a huge difference in her life.

She's like to pass on the favour and perhaps help you take that first huge step a little more quickly than she did.