The Gifted Gabber

photo by Kat Berkin

Allan Wikman loves to talk. Speaking is his passion; there’s no doubt about it. He focuses on articulation and makes it seem like perfecting an art. Expression is something that is obvious not only through his voice—powerful and confident—but also through his actions. He has been an active member of Toastmasters, an international public speaking club, since 1966, originally joining Manhattan’s Grand Central Toastmasters and later moving through other divisions.

He is, in most every sense, a salesman. When we spoke, he asked if I would be interested in attending Toastmasters meetings. When I explained that I would be relocating shortly, he exclaimed, “Well there’s chapters all over!” When we met, he gave me a recent issue of the monthly magazine that members receive, to give me “a better idea of what the Toastmasters is all about.” He said my name frequently to let me know that I had his attention, and to keep me focused. “You see Sarah…(fill in the blank).” He was trying to sell me, and I was only interviewing him!

Wikman was in the corporate advertising business over 25 years ago, before he moved on to star in television commercials. In one way or another, he’s always been involved with promotion. He likes the feel of success, and he likes to accomplish it by voicing himself. And when he told me that he was looking to begin his seventeenth career, I was not shaken.

His current occupational aspiration is to revolve a career around professional speaking, talking in front of large groups rather than teaching speaking skills individually. Though he hasn’t actually worked for anyone since 1976, Wikman hardly considers himself retired. He’s spent the past few decades campaigning himself as a motivational speaker in various jobs.

“I think I was cut out to be a teacher and a coach,” he proudly explained.
Now a resident of Kingston, Wikman’s next move will be to found a new Toastmasters chapter in Ulster County. He is optimistic, despite the failure of three previous Toastmasters attempts locally, two in Kingston and one in New Paltz.

“We’re going to do exceptional things,” he said of his Toastmasters vision.

Toastmasters is a non-profit club that was founded in 1924 by Ralph Smedley, with headquarters in California. Its purpose is to, Wikman explained, “help men and women more efficiently, and effectively, express themselves.” He described Toastmasters meetings as “laboratories” because these gatherings allow members to practice speaking among friends, and to have fun while doing it.

“I’m a creative character,” Wikman said. “It’s given me the opportunity to experiment.”

Wikman listed some Toastmasters benefits as improving listening, thinking, and leadership skills, training in use of cognitive skills, bettering communication skills to groups and people speaking under pressure, and teaching how to study. He called Toastmasters a “mini-corporation” because meetings are structured to allow all attendants a chance to speak, according to their various levels of progress.
Wikman plans to give his new club a unique Toastmasters name, and would like to take road trips to other clubs and sites in Ulster County where the group would hold meetings. He will videotape sessions, which is uncustomary to the club. He aims to meet twice every month, and hopes to attain around 50 charter members, or newcomers.
Wikman will offer merchandise as a marketing device, suggesting jackets, tee-shirts, and binder covers. The usual Toastmasters dues cover educational and instructional public speaking reading materials, and will cost what Wikman deducted as “less than a lottery ticket a week.” He also looks to attract sponsors to help fund his project.
Establishing a Toastmasters club is nothing new to Wikman. In 1984 he began the first Toastmasters club in Brooklyn Heights, which has since spawned several other branches. He withdrew two years later to start the Wikman Group, a past which he prides himself on for instructing more than 3,000 public figures, such as business managers and CEOs, on how to become more productive in their jobs.
Wikman, a member of the Henry Hudson Toastmasters of Newburgh and the Rhinebeck Toastmasters of Rhinebeck, still regularly attends meetings. When he joined the Grand Central Toastmasters, he sought to practice impromptu speaking for when he was spontaneously called on in business meetings. Years later, he would be commended for his skills and efforts. He recently won first place in both the local and area Toastmasters “Tall Tales” contest, with a prepared humorous speech.
At age 70, Wikman keeps himself busy. He is currently working on finalizing his book Connecting: A Do-It-Yourself Self-Help Anthology, a collection of over one hundred personal experiences describing instances which he felt were generated simply for the sake of making a connection.

Allan Wikman makes his connections by talking to people. He has many subject ideas for his future (and probably not his last) career. He speaks freely because he loves to, and he speaks publicly because he feels it improves the quality of his life and the lives of others.
“I don’t think it matters what I talk about,” he said, “as long as I’m serving a purpose to help people get more joy out of life.”

—Sarah Moskowitz

If interested in becoming a member or sponsor of Allan Wikman’s Ulster County Toastmasters, he can be reached at 331-8684.