Speakeasy Tm First Meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters.
Speakeasy Toastmasters commenced the 2005-06 Season on September 1st, with our
first meeting being opened by the new Club President, Angela Sheehan. Seasoned
Toastmaster Pat Duggan chaired the meeting, which was also attended by members of
Clonakilty Toastmasters.

The first speaker was Anne Buckley, who delivered a speech entitled “Mind your
Language” as a stage 8 project from the basic manual, which was evaluated by
Loretto Barry. Anne described the decline of the Irish language over the past century
and a half, the problems in teaching Irish and also gave some hope for the language in
describing the growth of the Gaelscoil movement. Anne was followed by Sean
Corcoran, who delivered a fact-finding report, a project from the Speaking to Inform
manual. In “Over a Barrel”, Sean highlighted the problem of rising oil prices,
presented some unusual facts about oil supply, and explained how alternative energy
sources can reduce our dependence on oil. After the report, Sean conducted a question
and answer session with the audience. Ray Ryan Jnr was Sean’s evaluator.

The final two speakers delivered speeches based on the Entertaining Speaker Manual.
Ann King of the Clonakilty Club, shared with us some revealing insights about body
language in her speech; “Manwatching”. Among other fascinating details, we
discovered how to tell if somebody is lying by looking at their nose and feet, and
when to kiss or not to kiss somebody! Jerry Mulcahy evaluated Ann’s speech.
Vivienne Buckley introduced us to “Sergi, Liam & Theresa”. Sergi was a disabled
Belarus child abandoned in one of the appalling orphanages in that country. Yet, his
plight brought Liam, a Clare-based Christian Brother, and Theresa, a 74 year-old
grandmother, to alleviate the plight of Sergi and other Belarus orphans. Marie Fitzpatrick was Vivienne’s evaluator. A hilarious topics session was conducted by Topicsmaster Tim Ahern, with Tim asking Club Members who did not deliver speeches to speak on topics of Tim’s choosing for up to two minutes. Mary Rose McCarthy of the Clonakilty club conducted the General Evaluation Session. Finally, the Club’s achievements for the previous year were recognised with the awarding of Presidents’ Distinguished Club Status to Speakeasy Toastmasters.

Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow,
September 14th at 8:00PM. Non-members are more than welcome to attend and will
not be asked to speak. Further details about the Club are available on our website,
www.speakeasytoastmasters.com and from our Blog
www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.