30 Jan

Thursday 24’th of January saw the Speakeasy Toastmasters Club at the midway point of their meetings for 2002/03. President, Pat Sexton who welcomed the 34 members and guests, opened the meeting and congratulated Club Members, Micháel Dineen and Ellen Broderick who recently got engaged. Pat introduced the Toastmaster for the night, Michael Cronin who was himself completing a Toastmasters, Advanced Manual Project on Chairing a meeting. Topics Master for the evening was Joan Lenihan and Timekeeper was John Holmes.
The speeches got underway with new member, Ann Buckley giving her Icebreaker Speech. The Icebreaker is the the first speech that a member gives in a Toastmasters Club. The title of Ann’s speech was “Lifelong Learning”. “To state that Irish Society is changing rapidly is to state the obvious” said Ann. “We are surrounded by change” “Years ago children could learn from their grandparents all the knowledge and skill that they needed to live their own lives successfully”. She pointed out that no matter what our former skills and training were, we need to constantly update our skills. Ann herself took a career break and updated her skills by learning computer skills and is now in Toastmasters learning speaking skills.
Sean Corcoran evaluated Ann’s speech.
Following Ann was Michael Buckley from the Crusaders Club in Cork City with a speech entitled “Retirement”. Michael pointed out that when most people retire they settle down to life without taking part in any physical activity. He then told the story of Mary Harker who single handed sailed from Newfoundland in 21 days in a 30’ft boat and landed in Crookhaven on the 11’th of August 1994. Waiting for her was her family, reporters from various newspapers and local people. Mary wasn’t the first person to sail across the Atlatnic single handed but what set her apart from the rest was that she was 79 yrs old.
Micheal’s speech was evaluated by Micháel Dineen.
The third speaker was Louise Bourke, a Transition Year Student from Schoil Mhuire in Kanturk who is at present participating in a public speaking course and has recently participated in the Cork Mental Health Public Speaking Competition.
The title of Louise’s speech was “It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult”.
Louise began her speech by giving two examples of children being pressurised by their parents for not living up to their (parents) expectations. For wasting their lives even thought they were happy at what they were doing. “Four out of every ten people who attend their family doctor have a physiological aspect to their complaint”, said Louise, pointing out that people must have good mental health as children and children should be encouraged to be positive.
Kathleen Ganey from the Crusaders Club evaluated Louise’s speech.
Pat Duggan EVP, reminded members that the Club Evaluation Contest will take place on 20’th of February and that the Club heat of the International Speech Contest will take place on March 6’th.
Please note that our next meeting will be held in Conference Room No.2 in the Hibernian Hotel.
For further information on the Club contact Sean on 086 6054784 or Pat 087 2364240 or visit the Club’s Website at www.clix.to/speakeasy. Email, speakeasymallow@eircom.net