Sunday, December 31, 2006

No Mon(ey) No Fun? Oh yes there is, at Speak Easy Toastmasters

Christmas is gone – the pockets are empty, and you cannot afford a night out.

Solution -
You will get for the total cost of € 5.00 - coffee/tea and biscuits ; a warm comfortable room; convivial company; many laughs; the greatest personal satisfaction and sense of achievement when you take part; no hangover; no sore head; no empty pockets; you will make new friends and go home energized. If you can match this offer or you are not happy, we will give you your money back !!!!! Can you find a better offer than that? I doubt it.

Where -
Hibernian Hotel Mallow on Thursday 11th January in the Garden Room at 7.50 pm sharp for the first meeting of Speakeasy Toastmasters Club of 2007

Why -
Because you will learn to

  • Think and speak on your feet through impromptu speaking

  • Prepare and deliver effective presentations

  • Provide constructive and structured feedback

  • Successfully lead and energise meetings

  • Network

  • Build self confidence when communicating in all areas of life

  • These tools will help you to fulfil individual potential in and out of the Work place.

May I clear up some misapprehensions about coming to a Toastmasters Meeting. It is widely understood or should I say misunderstood that you will be asked to speak, and worse still, if you do stand up to speak, you will become asphyxiated, and will have to be resuscitated - NOT TRUE. You may come along as a guest to meetings and keep your mouth shut for as long or as short a period as you wish to do so. However, you will, should you request it, be ‘mothered’ and ‘mentored’ for a limited period. I say ‘limited’ because it would not be in your own interest for you to sit on your pretty little ‘tot’ and do nothing month after month. We are a learning by doing Club. There is a great feeling of achievement and selfsatisfaction when one takes part at a meeting.

So my dear readers take that gigantic step (we will be there should you trip), and come to our next meeting with an open mind. Give us a chance to impress you, and you will be suitably pleased with us. We are ‘awfully nice’ people.

Also feel free to contact our PRO Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to our web page at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

On behalf of all the members of Speakeasy Toastmasters may I wish each and every one of you a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year. May we take this opportunity to thank you all out there who supported our Club by coming to our meetings – without you, there would not be a Club. Please continue to come. We will have the kettle on the hob and we will extend a ‘cead mile Failte to each and every person that takes time out to join us.



Sunday, December 10, 2006

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS, Once upon a time...........

………………………………………in a galaxy far far away a society existed where super human powers were as ordinary as raincoats in Kerry. When the planet was destroyed in a meteor shower only a small number escaped. To preserve their Liberty they have adopted secret identities as mild mannered Speakeasy Toastmasters. Revealing themselves only once every two weeks behind the closed doors of the Hibernian Hotel. Each week they advise us poor mortals on a subject relating to the improvement of our ‘Speech Techniques’ This week they covered a special topic to cure wafflers and those who have acquired the technique of ‘talking’ but saying ‘nothing’. For example those boys up in the Dail. With another election looming maybe they would read this and come all the way to us in Mallow to get cured!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because you are all good attentive readers, I will pass on the words of wisdom of those super human powers, not the politicians to you all. Believe me, this advice is very valuable. If we could bottle it and sell it Speakeasy Toastmasters would become millionaires, and future public speakers would get their message across before the audience eyes became glazed. The words of wisdom are ‘GET TO THE POINT’. As you plan a speech

  • You must know exactly what you want your audience to know

  • Your speech must have a purpose

  • You must decide what information to include; your organization and delivery; in order to achieve your purpose.

  • There are two types of purposes. ‘General’ and ‘Specific’ The general purpose is the broad intent of your speech. Most speeches fall into four general purposes.


    • To inform - when you want your audience to learn about a new subject, develop a new skill.

    • To persuade - A persuasive speech strives to change the audience’s attitudes on behaviours. Sales presentations and campaign speeches are examples of persuasive speeches. Now for my ‘PLUG’ - all you sales executives and politicians out there – you don’t know what you are missing while plying your trade when you have not joined toastmasters. Be consoled – it is not too late. Our portals are always open – ‘tar isteach’

    • To entertain – Here one strives to amuse an audience. Humorous Speeches are the most obvious; however, any speech can be entertaining without being ‘laugh-out-loud’ funny. A few anecdotes thrown in to elaborate on an experience – note – I did say a few – would grasp the audience.

    • To inspire – These speeches ask people to achieve noble goals or ideals or reach their highest potential.

The Second type of Purpose is the Specific Purpose. This is a one sentence statement about what you hope to accomplish in your speech. It should meet three criteria. The Statement should be –


  1. Worded from Audience view point – what do you want them to be able to do having listened to your speech?

  2. Specific - The wording must be precise

  3. Attainable – The specific purpose should be realistic and possible to achieve


Keep the specific purpose clear and concise. The statement should be worded so that after your speech, you could actually test the audience to see if you achieved your specific purpose. Be careful to include only the main points and supporting facts and ideas that directly contribute to your specific speech purpose. The audience wants to know what you are going to talk about, so the beginning of your speech should tell them this succinctly. Knowing your specific purpose and being able to effectively organize your speech to achieve that purpose provide a big benefit for you the speaker. INCREASED CONFIDENCE. You may discover too that when you are interested in your topic, you feel better and more confident about yourself and your speech. And the audience in turn pays more attention to you. When you become totally involved, you forget your NERVES. Your objectives should be –

    • Select a topic, and determine it’s general and specific purpose

    • Organize the speech in a manner that best aachieves this purpose

    • Ensure the beginning; body; and conclusion reinforce the purpose

    • Project sincerity and conviction, and control any nervousness you may feel.


Take these words of wisdom and let them be your inspiration to go along to the next Toastmasters meeting in your area. IF you are fortunate to live in the vicinity of MALLOW – give Speakeasy Toastmasters a visit next THURSDAY 14th. We are having our Christmas Party and a little birdie told me that we are having a few spot prizes too. Maybe they might give me one for my eloquent words of Wisdom. I’ll keep hoping anyway!! The Lord loves a tryer!! So come along, we would love to see you. You can visit our web page www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or contact our PRO Loretto at 087/4118132 any time. Last but not least a very Holy and Peaceful Christmas to each and every one of our readers. Agus go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aris

Monday, December 04, 2006

Speak Easy Toastmasters Cordially invite.....

………our club members and all their friends to the next meeting on Thursday l4th December, 2006. It is our Christmas Party. We will kick off with mulled wine to loosen all the tongues and then Michael Walsh will take the podium and conduct an entertaining and light hearted Topics Session. So take your Santa Hats down from the attic, shake out the mothballs and have the ‘hata dearg’ ready to help you enter the Spirit of the Season and the night. I still believe in Santa and fair dues to him I am never disappointed.

Do you recall – last week I promised you a bird’s eye view of the various speech stages in Toastmasters, and the requirements for each stage. This week is stage Two for those of you who are not paying attention. Have you got your butterflies flying in formation. If so, off we go. Sure, I suppose if they can try to tell us that there were aliens flying over Dublin last Friday night, we can put our energies to a more constructive use in the other capital Mallow and keep those butterflies flying in formation, and to our advantage.

Stage Two requires the speaker to organise his/her speech into an introduction; a body; and a conclusion. Well organised speeches have several benefits. They are :-


  • Easier to understand

  • Easier to remember

  • More credible - Speakers who organise their presentations are perceived as more knowledgeable and believable than those who waffle.

  • More enjoyable – audiences appreciate presentations that are thoughtfully crafted

Planning also helps the speaker to give an effective presentation. The first step in creating a speech is to choose what you want to speak about. You have inspiration all around you. The sky is your limit. You can speak about anything - from the sublime to the ridiculous. There are great possibilities and mountains of material available in Libraries and on the Web. However, always remember the simplest speech ever written and delivered and remembered to this day was Getteysburg Address given by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Despite being President of the United States his trade mark was always simplicity.

Another thing – if you know what you are talking about – you are halfway there. When you are constructing a speech think of a CIRCLE. Start with a strong opening to grab the attention of the person who has nodded off in the back row. (back rows should be banned really !! everyone up to the front !!) Build up the body of the speech and then select a memorable conclusion which should link up to the introduction. There you have it - a full circle which comes to a logical end. Otherwise you will be like the train track to Galway – going on and on and on for ever.

Now I will take a drop of my own medicine (i.e advice – incase you might think I am on the bottle) and I will draw this sermon to it’s conclusion, bearing in mind the three important S’s in every speech –

STAND UP SPEAK UP SHUT UP

Slan libh. Contact our PRO Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to our up to date web page at speakeasytoastmasters.com. You don’t have to R.S.V.P. my ‘invite’ to our next meeting Dec l4th. Just come along – Your valuable presence is all we require and don’t forget Guests are NOT asked to speak.


Thursday, November 30, 2006

‘Come into my parlour said the Spider to the Fly’

Since September I have been inviting you into the Speakeasy Toastmasters Club Parlour to view the operations for your self - very altruistic on my part. However for the next few weeks that I have left wearing the P.R. Hat I am planning a different approach. They say give a man a fish and he is fed for a day – show him how and he is fed for life. So for the next few weeks I am serving you up life long food for thought. And a really useful weapon for everyone to have – ‘the gift of the gab’

I will start by telling you how to get your butterflies flying in formation. Call it what you will – nervousness; speech anxiety; stage fright; platform panic. It is known by many names, but it is a problem every speaker - even politicians - must confront. Actually feeling nervous before giving a speech is healthy. It shows that your speech is important to you and that you care about doing it well. But unless you learn how to manage and control nervousness – it can keep you from becoming an effective speaker. So here are a few suggestions to make your butterflies fly in formation.

KNOW YOUR ROOM - become familiar with the place you will speak in. In advance stand at the lectern and speak into the microphone (if you use one)

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE - say ‘hi’ to people as they come in - then some of your audience will be familiar to you

KNOW YOUR MATERIAL – lack of knowledge is the greatest cause of insecurity in all aspects of life. So if you are not familiar with your material – your nervousness will naturally increase. Practice your speech and revise it until you can present it with ease.

RELAX. - You can ease tension by doing breathing exercises or by doing physical exercises.

WORK ON THE ‘AS IF’ PRINCIPLE - when you stand at the lectern. - Look around you and then say to yourself - ‘Yes – I’ve done a great speech’ and believe it. Then begin calmly from the heart and the head - while the poor knees are doing River Dance - no pun intended.

Having dealt with the nerves – now let’s move on to the actual programme. There are Ten Stages in the first Toastmasters Programme. But like climbing a ladder you can only take ONE STEP AT A TIME. The first step is called the ICE BREAKER. This speech should have a clear beginning, body and conclusion. The purpose of this stage is to introduce the speaker to the audience. You do not have to give your life history or the balance of your Anzbaacker Account. Just a few well constructed details of what makes you ‘tick’. The objectives of this speech are 1. To begin speaking before an audience. 2. To discover speaking skills you already have, and skills that need some attention. The Club is known for it’s caring and sharing attitude and members are always ready to mentor any prospective speaker, if he/she so desires.. Watch this spot – next week the hints will be for Stage 2.

On Thursday 30th November we are having our next Club Meeting. We are having an Icebreaker that night and a very full programme which promises to be entertaining. Come along – be brave- don’t leave all your resolutions to the New Year. Start now, and you will be on time for our Christmas Party Meeting which promises mulled wine, etc, etc. Bring your Santa Hat that night – the ‘craic’ will be mighty. See you all on Thursday. The kettle is on the hob. Enquiries to Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to speakeasytoastmasters.com P.S. I nearly forgot. Speakeasy heads are swelled from all the congratulations and commendations received from The Schools Contest Successes Thank you one and all –it is very nice to get all those good wishes.






Monday, November 20, 2006

Schools Contest


SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS

Set the ball rolling


The song says ‘and it’s all over now’. Allow me to tell you - IT IS NOT. Speakeasy Toastmasters have just planted the seed and every year it will come to fruition. There will be another and another and another Public Speaking Contest. The precedent has been created. The first contest took off with a ‘bang’ last Thursday night. Nine contestants – three schools - what a fund of knowledge and expertise on a wide range of topics. Each contest was eloquent and entertaining, and in reality all contestants were winners. There were nine judges and they had quite a task. Unfortunately there can only be one first. The best individual speaker prize went to Emma Nyhan. And the team/school prize went to St. Mary’s Secondary School Mallow. All contestants got a Certificate of Participation. The individual and team winners got plaques.


That was not all. Mallow is a town which cares for, and fosters its youth – believing in the maxim that the youth of today are the adults of tomorrow. Speakeasy Toastmasters were extremely lucky in getting generous sponsors. The major sponsor was MALLOW CREDIT UNION. They presented a beautiful Perpetual Cup which was presented to the winning team by Mr Liam Sampey a member of the Credit Union Committee. A great big thank you to Mallow Credit Union. The next Perpetual Cup – another beautiful silver piece of art – was donated by the HIBERNIAN HOTEL, MALLOW. This cup was presented to the individual winner by Mr Shane Shortall, Manager of the Hibernian Hotel. Also thank you to our other sponsors. A hundred thousand thanks to the schools who presented the participants. The Sponsors; and President Mary Buckley and all the club members who made it all possible. The Perpetual Cups have just gone on the first leg of their long journey. Next year a new team of pupils will contest the Public Speaking Competition. A big ‘buala bas’ to everyone involved.


Now back to the housekeeping - yes – we will have another action packed meeting on Thursday 30th November. We have an interesting programme including an icebreaker. Please come along and hear for yourselves. There will be a ‘cead mile failte’ and a ‘cupan tae’ to lubricate the vocal cords. Guests please note – you will not be asked to speak unless you wish to do so. Further details from our PRO Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to our up to date web page at speakeasytoastmasters.com

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Boys and Girls Night Out

BOYS AND GIRLS NIGHT OUT

At

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS

A hundred thousand welcomes to the nine brave contestants from our three Schools in Mallow Town.

We have the silverware polished and the plaques chosen and the kettle boiling.


Do come along on Thursday l6th at 7.45 pm to the Hibernian Hotel and you will not be disappointed.

The students and teachers have been working hard on the prepared speeches, so fellow students and parents and families leave the warm log fire, button up your coats and hit the road running to the Hibernian Hotel to listen to the students of today who will be the future of our country. They are a great bunch of enthusiastic boys and girls.

We are waiting to greet you, and make you feel at home. We will provide sustenance in the shape of tea/coffee and biscuits on the night. Members of the public are also welcome. A great night guaranteed. Any further information may be had from Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to speakeasytoastmsters.com

Conngratulations Pat.

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS

Congratulate Pat Sexton

He has done it - yes he has done it not once but twice. In 1996 and again in Nov 2006 Pat has taken the coveted first prize in the Table Topics Contest at Toastmasters International District 71 Conference.

There were competitors from Ireland and Great Britian. Pat has come first on both occasions doing himself and his Club proud. We congratulate you Pat. You were absolutely outstanding.

The Conference was held over three days. There were two contests - Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest. Of course it was not all hard work - we had great crack too, and I don’t mean “drugs”.

We were hosted by the Nenagh Toastmasters Club at the Ormonde Conference Centre in the Abbey Court Hotel. Also a big thank you to the Manager - Ray and his great staff. We were wined and dinned and entertained. The great Tipperary musical tradition come to the fore, but being from Cork I must say the Piper who hailed from Boherbue was a dream to listen to also. To borrow a great Tipperary cliché - “it was the best”. “The icing on the cake “was when Pat was presented with the beautiful first prize trophy designed in Nenagh by a local craftsman.

Late nights and early mornings - where we attended work shops; guided tours; and retail therapy has exhausted my brain so I will move on to the next item on Speakeasy Toastmasters agenda - THE SCHOOLS PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST - we are extending an open invitation to everyone to our meeting on Thursday l6th November at the Hibernian Hotel Mallow where the youth of Mallow Town will be walking in the shoes of veteran toastmasters and getting a taste of Speaking in Public.

When their turn comes to speak at oral examinations, or making oral presentation at Third level Institutions or doing a speech at their off springs wedding (the years do fly) as father or mother of the bride - yes mothers are coming to the fore at weddings and saying the “cuapla focal” too - they will not have to start their speech by saying “ Unaccustomed as I am to speaking in Public”.

Instead they will think – thank you Toastmasters – I can now speak for myself. That is all for now… See you all on Thursday next. Any further enquiries may be made to Loretto at 0874118132 or by logging on to speakeasytoastmasters.com. We are the best, long may it last.




Friday, November 03, 2006

A BUSY TIME FOR SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS CLUB


Halloween has come and gone but Toastmasters go from Challenge to Challenge. Two big events coming up for us. We have the Autumn Conference in Nenagh Co Tipperary on l0lth to l2th Nov. This includes the final of the Humorous Speech Contest and The Table Topics. We are proud to say our club member Pat Sexton is representing our club at the Table Topics Contest and we will be there to wish him well. Good Luck Pat.

The meeting of November l6th at the Hibernian Hotel at 7.45 pm will be our SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST. Each contestant will speak for 5 – 7 minutes. This is a new venture in our Club and we are all very excited about it. We will have the three Mallow second level schools participating, and in all we will have nine speakers. We are presenting a really fabulous Perpetual Cup to the winning school and an individual best speaker plaque to the individual best speaker. Bring your friends and families to support you. We will greet you all with a cead mile Failte. It is our ambition to give the brilliant successes that can be achieved as members of a Toastmaster’s Club a local platform, and who better to introduce our club to, than the youth of our Town, who in this electronic age will need to be able to sell themselves in the work place. We hope this will be just an introduction to a long and fulfilling career.

Our Nov. 2nd meeting was well attended. We had four speakers. Three from our own club and we were delighted to welcome Joan Crowley from the Muskery Club Macroom. Joan not alone tried but actually convinced us that a night at a Daniel O’Donnell’s Show was a must. We look forward to seeing her back again. Denis Taylor – a new member since Sept gave his icebreaker speech. He was both interesting and witty. We look forward to his next speech soon. The topic session was conducted by Tim Ahrene. His topics were original, funny and got a great response. That is all for now. Do pencil the 16th Nov. for the Schools Contest. You will not be disappointed. A great night is guaranteed. Further enquiries to Loretto our PRO at 0874118132 or log on to our website speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Halloween is coming



Hello Mams and Dads out there - Yes - it is Halloween and you have been bonding with your offspring, and if my guess is correct – you are by now sending up silent prayers of thanksgiving for the stamina of the teacher who will be in charge for the rest of the term.



I have a solution to your dilemma - an enjoyable night out where you can sit back, be served a cup of tea or coffee, and best of all – should you desire to speak – you will be both heard and listened to - you have guessed - an evening at Speakeasy Toastmasters Club. Our Halloween meeting is on Thursday 2nd Nov. and no - you do not have to borrow your children’s costumes. Come as you are.



An enjoyable night is guaranteed. Our Vice President of Education Ann Buckley assures me that the programme promises to be good. That is one thing worth pointing out. The officers change for every meeting. Also the speakers vary, thus giving a chance to everyone who wishes to assume the different roles, and gain experience to get a fair chance.



Another item which I will touch on briefly is the forthcoming Schools Public Speaking Contest. The pupils at the three schools are working away at their speeches by now, and we are all anticipating a great night. This Contest is the brainchild of our President Mary Buckley. The members of the club are really enthusiastic about this event. My Granny had a theory – if you start young – be it music, dance, sport, or public speaking - you will have a better chance of succeeding; and she was right.

This Contest is being held on Thursday 16th November at 7.45 pm at the Hibernian Hotel Mallow. We are offering this magnificent chance to today’s teenager - who will be the adult of tomorrow, and on whom the smooth running of perhaps home, club or government will depend. The sky is the limit to anyone who wishes to aim high. The Schools competing are DAVIS COLLEGE; PATRICIAN ACADEMY; AND ST. MARY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL. May I take this opportunity to invite parents, fellow pupils and teachers to come along and cheer your favourite school along? Pencil the 16th Nov. into your diary and you will not be disappointed.



I now want to issue an “ INVITE” to past members; present members and future members to come along on THURSDAY - November 2nd. We have something different to offer every night. Guests - you will not be asked to speak unless you volunteer. A little bit of good news – THREE of our guests SINCE SEPTEMBER ’06 HAVE BECOME MEMBERS. That is the litmus test of any club – new members. Cead mile Failte roimh. If you need any further details phone Loretto at 087/4118132 or log on to our website www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Thursday 19th of October

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS MALLOW
Club Meeting

On Thursday l9th October the club hosted an exhilarating meeting. There were twenty five members and seven guests. There were both speeches and topics. The topics covered ranged from Mr & Mrs Michael Flatley to Steve Staunton to sumo wrestling. There were lively contributions from the floor. While the success of the Topic Session depends largely on the questions researched and posed by the Topics Master, it is the contributions from the audience that makes it really come alive. The set speeches were extremely interesting. All were delivered by experienced speakers. There was a great welcome for Caroline O’Connor – a guest speaker from the Middleton Club.

Caroline kept us riveted to her every word. Gary Sander a Toastmaster from a Club in Suffolk, England was the general evaluator. His evaluation of the Clubs performance was both complimentary and positive. Our next meeting is on Thursday 2nd November. Do come along - we would love to see you there. A warm welcome is guaranteed, and may we remind future guests that while we would welcome your contribution during the topic session, YOU WILL NOT BE ASKED TO SPEAK. Enquiries to our PRO Loretto at 0874118132 or log on to speakeasytoastmasters.com

TOASTMASTERS DIVISION FINAL

Humorous Speech and Table Topic Contest

On Saturday 21st October all roads led to the Great Southern Hotel, Cork Airport to the Division Final of the Humorous Speech Contest and the Table Topic Contest. The contestants hailed from West Limerick; Kerry; and Cork. The supporters come from all over Munster. They were suitably impressed, and entertained. A few guests went home all fired up to join their local Toastmasters Club, and take part in their programmes. They agreed that while as a guest, one can if one chooses, contribute. However as members their challenge would be greater. Who knows, perhaps we will meetthem next year as contestants.

Like all competitions there can only be one winner. The judges were very pleased with the high standard of the Contestants. The results are as follows –

Speech Contest 1st Place - Michael O’Donnell
2nd Place - Michael Cronin

Table Topics Contest 1st Place - Patrick Sexton
2nd Place - Orla Fitzgerald

A sincere and hearty congratulations to all from Speakeasy Toastmasters Club Mallow

 

Monday, October 16, 2006

Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest 14th Oct

The Contest was held in the Hibernian Hotel Mallow last Saturday night. Clubs from Charleville, Fermoy, and Mitchlestown joined the Mallow Club to Contest the Final. A really entertaining night was experienced by all who attended. The Speeches were ALL superb, and we extend a hearty congratulations to all contestants and particularly the winners. . The judges had great difficulty in choosing a winner. There was an army of Judges – well experienced toastmasters themselves. I did not envy them their job. However as the “cliché” goes we can only have one winner, and one runner up. The winner in the Humorous Speech Contest was Michael Cronin from SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS CLUB, Mallow, with a speech entitled “Life Long Learning” and the runner up was Mary Bradford from FAILTE TOASTMASTERS CLUB in Charleville. Her speech was “A Job Well Done”



Next came the Table Topics Contest. Each speaker got two minutes to speak

on the subject “ Were you disappointed that you were not invited to Michael Flatley’s Wedding” Here again the contestants were both original and spontaneous. Pat Sexton from the Speakeasy Toastmaster’s Club Mallow came first, followed by Jason O’Riordan from the Fermoy Toastmasters Club as runner-up.



The two winners will now go forward to the DIVISION FINAL which will be held at the Great Southern Hotel, Cork Airport on Saturday next 21st October. So on Saturday night let all roads lead to Cork Airport to cheer on the contestants from Mallow. Good Luck gentlemen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The next item on the agenda is our Thursday Night Club Meeting which will be held at 7.50 p.m. at the Hibernian Hotel in l9th Oct. This will be an action packed meeting. We have great speakers lined up and again we are extending a hand of friendship and welcome to all those visitors who honoured our meetings since September, and to all who are thinking about coming - let next Thursday be the night. We gurarantee you a Cead Mile Failte, and a Cupa Tea with lovely biscuits. So do accept our invite for Thursday. Guests will NOT BE ASKED TO SPEAK unless they wish to do so, and then we will welcome their contribution. Further information can be had from our PRO Loretto at 087/4118132 or at our website speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

Friday, October 06, 2006

Meeting of October 5'th 2006

The big day has come and gone, but we will remember the witty Speeches and the clever replies to the Table Topics form all the contestants for a long time.

There could only be one winner in each section. The Humorous Speech Contest was won by Mike Cronin with a very very funny speech about Adult Education Classes.
Loretto Barry took second place. The Table Topics Contest was won by Pat Sexton.
Mary Buckley was in second place. Those that were not taking part sat back and enjoyed real comedy and humour.

Some new members expressed a wish to be able one day to stand up and be as good as the competitors. An insurmountable objective they thought.

However each speaker was once a guest looking in awe at how good previous Toastmasters were. Yes, you’ve got it – it is like roller blades – you look at them for a while and then you step on and you find that balancing is not impossible.

And to paraphrase Tiger Woods –the more you practice on them the better you get. We also had a Topic Session during the meeting which was very entertaining. We had contributions in this from three new members who volunteered to join in.

The topics ranged from Ladies Boxing to Would the modern wife polish her husband’s shoes just like her mother or grandmother. These generated a lively response and lots of laughter. Next date for your diary is Saturday, October l4th 2006 at 7.45 p.m. at the Hibernian Hotel Mallow.

Please note change of night – the reason is that this is the Area Final where the winners from Mallow Fermoy Mitchlestown and Charleville go forward.

A really good and funny night is guaranteed. Do come along and meet all the contestants and enjoy a cuppa and biscuits. Guests always very welcome, and they are not asked to speak unless they wish to do so. 

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Meeting of October 21st

Were you at their last Meeting ??? I was, and it was fantastically enjoyable.

The topics session conducted by Vivienne Buckley was a full seventeen minutes of laughter. This Thursday they are having their Club Final of the Humorous Speech Contest and the Topics Contest.

This should prove a great night. Humour is or should be our sixth sense. It is what takes us through life’s wet and windy days. There are four contestants in each Contest. All experienced – all there with one aim – to come first and to represent their Club in the Area Final, and then to the Regional Final. The Club has got to the International stage before so here’s hoping and wishing each contestant the very best.

A note for your Diary - the Area Final will be held in Hibernian Hotel on Saturday 14th October, at 7.45 p.m, where the Speakeasy finalists will meet the Fermoy Toastmasters; The Galtee Toastmasters of Mitchlestown; and Failte Toastmasters of Charleville.

Speakeasy will be delighted to meet guests from all these regions and to show them their “Mallow Hospitality”.

They are looking forward to seeing you there.


Further details may be had from their PRO Loretto at 087 4118132

Or log on to their up to date website - www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Speak Easy Demonstration Meeting

SPEAK EASY TOASTMASTERS.


The Ryder Cup was not the only prime happening that was affected by the tail end of Hurricane Gordon last week. Speakeasy Toastmasters held their open meeting where the public were welcome to experience

The Meeting first hand and see that it is great fun as well as, learning skills that will always be an asset. The meeting despite the wet stormy weather kicked off with an attendance of thirty three people.

Eleven of those were guests, who told us they liked what they saw and would be back again - great news. It is in the interest of the future of any club to attract a percentage of new members each year.

President Mary Buckley opened the meeting and gave all a ‘cead mile failte’ . Then Pat Duggan took over as Toast Master.

The speeches took off with a great start. Kieran Butler gave a very entertaining speech on his trip to Rome. It was a very well constructed and well delivered speech, and was both informative and humorous.

He was followed by Helen O’Sullivean who told us a fairy tale and then posed the question what was the moral of the story.? Very cleverly done. She had our undivided attention and she was well received by all.

Next came Mike Cronin who needs no introduction. A couple of weeks ago he delivered a short story on 103 FM and got such a response that he took the floor again last week with a witty speech on speed dating and had the audience in stitches.

Then it was Jerry O’Callaghan’s turn. Jerry needs no introduction as a toastmaster. He has gone one step farther than Mike – he once appeared on Television on A Speakeasy Toastmasters Club programme televised in Mallow . His speech was about his first date. He is a brilliant story teller and had everyone in hysterics.

Finally Angela Sheehan gave a stage from the storytelling manual. She told us about the Kerryman Tom Crean who went on an expedition to the South Pole. Angela recalled his experiences in great detail, and revived our memories of him and many other explorers whose courage and bravery we sit at the comfort of our firesides and admire.

Our next meeting is on 5th October, and promises to be as entertaining because it is a Humorous Speech Competition. Come along and enjoy the fun. We will meet you and greet you at the Hibernian Hotel at 7.5O p.m and in the meantime if you have any questions ‘phone our PRO Loretto at 087 4118132 and she will be delighted to help or try our up to date web site at www.speakeasytoastmasters .com

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Speak Easy Toastmasters Open Night


Thursday September 21st we are hosting what we like to call a ‘DEMONSTRATION MEETING’ where everyone is welcome to come and observe first hand what fun we have, while at the same time achieving the goals we set for ourselves. The Topic session generates most of the laughs as demonstrated by Marie Fitzpatrick’s Topic Session at the last meeting. She had a variety of light themes from “Why do ladies love getting flowers” to “Roy Keane’s exploits”


Thursday 21st Vivienne Buckley will be in Marie’s seat. Vivienne is an experienced and humorous speaker, so another fun night awaits us all. We also have five speakers. So don’t be late - come along and we will offer you a coffee and a chat at the break. The Meeting is at the Hibernian Hotel at 7.50 p.m. See you there. Further information about our Club may be accessed on our website www.speakeasytoastmasters.com


Saturday, September 09, 2006

Meeting of September 7'th 2006

SPEAKEASY TOAST MASTERS CLUB MALLOW has set sail for another exciting year with Mary Buckley President at the helm, and an enthusiastic crew.

Of course she will be welcoming guests and new members aboard also. Our first meeting of the year was held last Thursday in the Hibernian Hotel at 7.50 p.m. There was an excellent attendance of members, and we were delighted to welcome guests als

Mary Buckley presided, and Mike Cronin was toastmaster of the night, Marie Fitzpatrick was topics master. Marie’s choice of topics engendered lively debate and everyone present enjoyed a good laugh. That is another advantages of becoming a toastmaster. You are guaranteed laughter, which is said to add years to your life.

Anne O’Sullivan opened the speech session with a speech entitled ‘Foot ball Crazy’ She equated football living. Without passion in both one cannot be successful. She was entertaining and witty .

Next came Pat Duggan doing a speech form the Speciality Manual. He read of the humorous memories of an undertaker in a small town in America. Pat’s presentation with it’s black humour was well received.

John Dillon our third speaker chose a speech form the story telling Manual. John is a brilliant storyteller . This time he assumed the roll of servant to the famous Robert Bruce and took us on an eight year journey with the famous Scot for 1308 to 1314 .


The last speaker of the evening was Pat Sexton who choose to recite ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service. Pat who is a talented speaker gave a beautiful rendition of this poem, using all the tools at his command – pitch; pace ; and emphasis.

Angela Sheehan was general evaluator, and gave all the officers of the night the ‘thumbs up.’
Before our President closed the meeting Margaret O’Regan – the Area governor gave us a synopsis of her role for the year. Her primary function is to visit all the clubs in her area, inform Clubs of the various happenings and organise meetings and stimulate interest in the Clubs. She had a very simple but profound message i.e. always look for quality.

The next meeting is on 21st Sept. promises to be a good one so do come along. Bring a friend.
Any further information may be had by logging into – www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Speak Easy Toastmasters Club Press Release 5'th Sept


Whatever your goals in life may be, your success depends on your ability to communicate.
Individuals who can express their ideas so that they are heard, understood, and acted upon, possess one of the primary qualities of leadershop.
To day we have numerous means of developing our confidence and assertiveness through week-end seminars and personal development courses.

By joining Speakeasy Toastmasters Club you will cover the same issues in a sociable ‘fun’ way. In fact you will be embarking on a programme that will multiply your communication and leadership skills.
Over two million people have benefited from participating in Toastmasters. You will gain those same benefits. You will at your own pace learn to overcome the initial nervousness everyone feels when called to speak before an audience. You will learn how to organize and present your ideas logically and convincingly. You will improve your listening skills.

You will develop self confidence that will radiate in every situation involving other people. Club members have a wealth of experience to offer each other. Lots of different areas are covered - Public Relations; Technical Presentations; Speeches by Management. Remember all stages are taken at your own pace- no pressure but plenty of support. In the warm friendly atmosphere of the club, members find that they overcome nerves, gain confidence, and assertiveness. They are able to inspire and motivate their fellow workers and clients.

A Toastmasters Club is not a class room.

It is a work shop in which you will develop communication and leadership skills among a group of friends. There are two parts to the two hour meeting . First the speeches, then a break for a coffee and circulating among members exchanging ideas and building new friendships. We have had a few weddings over the years also !! The second part of the meeting contains the topic session.

This is the fun part - the topic’s master of the night asks members of the audience to speak off the cuff for two minutes on a subject.

This is usually very popular and generates a lot of laughter. Needless to mention GUESTS are NEVER asked to speak, unless they volunteer to do so. Where else could you develop life enhancing; presentation; communication and leadership skills in a friendly outgoing atmosphere?

Only at Speakeasy Toastmasters Club, MALLOW. New season started on Thursday 7th September, at the Hibernian Hotel, at 7.50 p.m. We meet alternate Thursdays. So come along and we will give you a ‘cead mile failte’ when you arrive, and a cup of tea

Do remember the Toastmaster of today was once at the stage you are now. For further details phone our P.R.O. Loretto at 087/4118132



Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Speak Easy Toastmasters Club return on Sept 7'th

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS CLUB

MALLOW.

Are you afraid of speaking in Public?
Does the thought of your next presentation send shivers down your spine.
Surveys show that presentation skills are crucial to success in the work place.

The person with strong communication skills has a clear advantage over tongue tied colleagues, especially in a competitive job market.
Many people pay high fees for seminars to gain the skill and confidence necessary to face an audience.

Speakeasy Toastmasters is a Public Speaking Club that helps people develop life enhancing presentation, communication, and leadership skills.

We meet every two weeks from 7.45 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the HIBERNIAN HOTEL MALLOW. The atmosphere is friendly; supportive; and inspiring. You are welcome to join us as a guest or as our next new member.

You are not asked to speak as a guest, unless you wish to do so. New members can be assigned a mentor to advise them for as long as required.

Speakeasy Toastmasters Club is first and foremost about learning in a friendly and fun environment.

The Club is a learn by doing workshop We are extending you an invitation to attend our next meeting on Thursday 7th September as our guest.

All you will have to do is sit and listen and enjoy.

We will even serve you coffee.

Do remember that every member in our Club was once at the level you are now.

Our P.R.O. Loretto will provide you with any further information.

Phone her at 087 4118132.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Monday, May 29, 2006

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their final meeting of the 2005-06 season on May 25th.
Pat Duggan was presiding Toastmaster while Pat Sexton was topicsmaster. While the final meeting is always devoted to members completing communication awards, our last meeting also featured a new member completing her first speech. Elaine O’ Connell completed the first speech from the basic manual, which is a speech introducing oneself to your fellow club members, and we welcome Elaine to the club.
The basic manual guides one through the basics of speech-making, and the final project in the manual is to deliver an inspirational speech. Anne Buckley completed this project and congratulations to Anne upon achieving the Competent Toastmaster Award.
After the basic manual, club members can select specialised manuals, which cover areas such as humorous speeches, informative speeches and special occasion speeches. Upon completing two advanced manuals, members are awarded the Advanced Toastmaster Bronze Award.
At the meeting, both Sean Corcoran and Mary Buckley achieved their awards and congratulations are extended to both. Finally, Division A Governor, Tony O’ Regan addressed the club.
Speakeasy Toastmasters wish both members and friends a safe summer. Our meetings will resume in September and check the local press for further details. Further details about the club are available from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters met on April 27th . Anne Buckley was Toastmaster while Michael Cronin was Topicsmaster. Kieran Butler , Anne O’ Sullivan and Helen O’ Sullivan delivered speeches from the basic Manual, while Mary Buckley delivered a speech from the speaking to inform manual, while John Dillon delivered a speech from the Storytelling manual. Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next Meeting on 11th April at 8:00 pm at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. An important forthcoming event is The area final of the Tall Tales contest which will be held on the 9th April at the Grand Hotel, Fermoy at 8:00 pm.

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters met on April 27th . Anne Buckley was Toastmaster while Michael Cronin was Topicsmaster. Kieran Butler , Anne O’ Sullivan and Helen O’ Sullivan delivered speeches from the basic Manual, while Mary Buckley delivered a speech from the speaking to inform manual, while John Dillon delivered a speech from the Storytelling manual. Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next Meeting on 11th April at 8:00 pm at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. An important forthcoming event is The area final of the Tall Tales contest which will be held on the 9th April at the Grand Hotel, Fermoy at 8:00 pm.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters met on April 12th. Toastmaster for the night was Vivienne Buckley while Tony O’ Regan was Topicsmaster. Mary Buckley was General Evaluator. The first speech was delivered by Marie Corbett, a visitor from the Galtee Toastmaster Club. Marie’s speech, which was delivered as stage 9 speech from the Basic Manual, described the recent development and the level of regulation within the child care system. Following Marie was Sean Corcoran, who gave a humorous view of dining etiquette, in a project from the entertaining speaker manual.
The next speaker was Angela Sheehan who told a story which illustrated how personal happiness can be achieved through living in the present moment. This speech fulfilled a stage from the Storytelling manual. Finally, Jerry Mulcahy described his neighbours and native parish in West Limerick in a speech which was based on a stage from the Humorous Speeches manual.
Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on April 27th. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters met on April 12th. Toastmaster for the night was Vivienne Buckley while Tony O’ Regan was Topicsmaster. Mary Buckley was General Evaluator. The first speech was delivered by Marie Corbett, a visitor from the Galtee Toastmaster Club. Marie’s speech, which was delivered as stage 9 speech from the Basic Manual, described the recent development and the level of regulation within the child care system. Following Marie was Sean Corcoran, who gave a humorous view of dining etiquette, in a project from the entertaining speaker manual.
The next speaker was Angela Sheehan who told a story which illustrated how personal happiness can be achieved through living in the present moment. This speech fulfilled a stage from the Storytelling manual. Finally, Jerry Mulcahy described his neighbours and native parish in West Limerick in a speech which was based on a stage from the Humorous Speeches manual.
Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on April 27th. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com

Friday, March 31, 2006

Speakeasy Meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their Tall Tales contest on March 30th. The Tall Tale is a short humorous speech with a twist at the end. All seven contestants, John Dillon, Dermot Meaney,
Pat Duggan, Jerry O’ Callaghan, Michael Cronin, Vivienne Buckley and Mary Buckley entertained the audience with their amusing contributions. The winner of the contest was
Jerry O’ Callaghan, who goes forward to the area final which will be held in Fermoy, while
Vivienne Buckley came second. Ray Ryan Jnr chaired the contest, while Anne Buckley had a varied and interesting selection of topics for those not taking part in the contest.
Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on 12th April. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their regular meeting on March 16th. After Club President Angela Sheehan’s introductory remarks, Marie Fitzpatrick took control of the meeting as Toastmaster. Marie chaired the meeting in her typically capable and friendly manner. Jerry O’ Callaghan entertained the audience with his amusing selection of topics while Pat Sexton was General Evaluator.
The first speech of the evening was delivered by Helen O’ Sullivan, who completed the stage 3 project from the basic manual. Helen’s speech described how personal goals can be achieved by repetitive action over 21 days. The next speech was delivered by Barry McCarthy who completed the reading out loud project from the Speciality Speeches manual. Barry read the opening speech from a Dean Koontz novel. Following Barry was Loretto Barry who completed the bringing history to life project from the Storytelling Manual. Loretto described the life and times of Douglas Hyde and the development of the Irish Language revival movement.
Loretto was then followed by Jerry Mulcahy, who completed a project from the Humorous Speeches Manual. Jerry’s speech described the sectors of society whose livelihood depend on drink. Finally Ray Ryan Jnr delivered an education session which described how to create the best club climate.
Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on 30th March. The Club will hold its Tall Tales contest. Fun and surprises are guaranteed. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Speakeasy Toastmasters Meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their Evaluation and International Speech Competitions on Thursday 2nd March. Sean Corcoran chaired both contests in his typically enthusiast and efficient manner, while Topicsmaster Margaret O’ Regan had an amusing selection of random topics for those club members not participating in the contest.
The international speech contest is a global event, with Toastmaster clubs world-wide participating. The winners of the club contests progress to higher level rounds, culminating in the world public speaking championship which is held as part of the Toastmasters International Conference. Participants deliver a 5-7 minute speech on a topic of their own choice. Taking part in the Speakeasy contest were Michael Cronin,
Vivienne Buckley, Brian McLoughlin, Pat Sexton and Mary Buckley. Vivienne Buckley won the contest with Pat Sexton placed second.
In the evaluation contest, a visiting Toastmaster from another club delivers a test speech. The participants in the contest are given five minutes to prepare their evaluations and are then led individually to the meeting room to deliver their evaluations. The visiting speaker was the long-serving Dublin Toastmaster
Noel O’ Beara. Participating in the contest were Pat Duggan, Angela Sheehan,
Michael Cronin, Brian McLoughlin, Pat Sexton, Ray Ryan and Mary Buckley.
Pat Sexton won the contest with Michael Cronin placed second.
Speakeasy Toastmasters congratulates both Vivienne and Pat on their achievements.
Pat and Vivienne will represent the club at the area finals of the international speech and evaluation contests, which will be held in Charleville on the 23rd April. Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on 16th March. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Speakeasy Meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held another successful meeting on February 16th. Mary Buckley was the capable and welcoming Toastmaster for the evening, and the other officers for the night included Anne Buckley as General Evaluator and Ray Ryan Jnr as Topicsmaster. The meeting also featured an address by the Area Governor, Sean Corcoran.
The First Speaker was Marie Fitzpatrick who delivered an excellent presentation based on one of the Special Occasion Speeches Manual projects. Michael Cronin evaluated Marie. Next was Dermot Meaney who delivered a fascinating speech about the origins of the concertina. Dermot’s speech fulfilled one of the Storytelling Manual projects and was evaluated by Pat Sexton.
Following Dermot was Michael Buckley, a member of the Crusaders Club from Cork, and a regular visitor to Speakeasy Toastmasters. Michael delivered a humorous presentation about the oppressed role of the Irish Male in our popular culture. Michael’s speech was based on a stage from the Entertaining Speaker Manual and was evaluated by Pat Duggan. Another visiting Toastmaster was Paula Kelleher, a member of the Glanmire Toastmasters Club. Paula completed with finesse a project from the Speeches by Management Manual, which inspired the audience to motivate themselves to excel in their work and family lives. Brian McLoughlin was Paula’s evaluator. Finally, Mary Buckley’s performance as Toastmaster was evaluated as Speciality Speeches Manual project by Vivienne Buckley.


Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, at 8;00PM, on March 2nd, when we will be hosting the Club Evaluation and Serious Speech Contests. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Speakeasy meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held another successful meeting on February 2nd. Toastmaster for the evening was Jerry Mulcahy, who chaired the meeting in his usual genial manner. An entertaining topics session was conducted by Jeremiah Roynane.
The first speaker was Anne O’ Sullivan who completed the stage 4 project from the basic manual. Following Anne was Anne Buckley who completed the stage 9 project from the same manual. Anne described the benefits of potato consumption. Following Anne was Michael Cronin who delivered a highly entertaining speech from the Special Occasions Speeches manual. Then Vivienne Buckley completed the abstract concept stage from the Speaking to Inform manual which described the process of “Brainstorming”. Finally Ray Ryan Jnr delivered an education session which described the process of evaluation. After the tea break General Evaluator Sean Corcoran conducted an incisive General Evaluation session.
Speakeasy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, at 8;00PM, on
February 16th. Non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from the Club Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. The activities of the Club over recent years are available from our archive of press releases which can be accessed from the Club Blog: www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Speakeasy Meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held a successful demonstration meeting on January 19th, and the 15 non-members in attendance were introduced to the world of Toastmasters. Toastmaster for the evening was a welcome visitor from Britain, Bob Ferguson, a long-standing member of Toastmaster and a well-known public speaker. Bob chaired the meeting, and explained all aspects of the Toastmaster organisation, with great energy and enthusiasm. The other officers for the meeting included Pat Duggan as Topicsmaster and Michael Cronin as General Evaluator.

The speakers for the meeting represented all levels of the Toastmaster program. The first speech was delivered by Kieran Butler, a Transition Year student from Kanturk. Completing the stage 1 speech from the basic manual, Kieran delivered a powerful account of the emotional and physical abuse suffered by some children. Following Kieran was Loretto Barry. Loretto described a humorous personal incident which fulfilled one of the stages of the Storytelling Manual. The next speaker was Brian McLoughlin, who completed the after-dinner speech project from the entertaining speaker manual. Brian delivered an after-dinner speech with a difference, describing the principals of alternative comedy, complete with two original sketches!

Following Brian was Helen O’ Sullivan, who surpassed her recent impressive debut as a speaker with an innovative stage 2 basic manual speech. Helen described the BEAR principal of coping with nervousness when one is speaking in public, BEAR being B(reathing slowly), E(njoy the experience), A(udience participation) and R(ehersal, plenty of). Helen demonstrated the BEAR principal with the assistance of a Teddy Bear! Finally Pat Sexton completed a stage from the
Entertaining Speaker Manual, delivering a speech which described how slogans and catch-phrases from Film and Television have entered everyday conservation.

While a demonstration meeting is specifically held for non-members in mind, all of our meetings are open to the public and non-members will not be asked to speak. Our next meeting will be held on February, at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow for 8:00PM. Further details about the club are available from the PRO at 086-3675706 and from our club website, www.speakeasytoastmasters.com. You can also follow the Club’s activities over the past three years from our archive of press reports, available at www.speakeasytm.blogspot.com.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their first meeting of 2006 on January 12th. John Dillon was Toastmaster while Mary Buckley acted as Topicsmaster. The first speaker was Noel O’ Connor who delivered the fact-finding report project from the Speaking to Inform Manual. Noel’s report concerned the problem of refuse disposal and possible solutions to this problem. Following Noel was Club President Angela Sheehan who described the mishaps she and her husband Denis experienced in moving to Canada over ten years ago, in a project from the storytelling manual.
Following Angela was Jerry Mulcahy, completing a project from the humorous speeches manual. Jerry described the difficulties experienced with his “friends”: his teeth. Then Loretto Barry delivered an education session concerned with speech organisation. The general evaluation session was conducted by Tim Ahern. Forthcoming events include:
Demonstration Meeting; Our next club meeting, to be held on January 19th 8:00 pm at the Hibernian Hotel Mallow, is a demonstration meeting , especially designed to explain the workings of Toastmasters to the general public. All are welcome to attend, and non-members will not be asked to speak.
Mallow Library; Club members will host a “Taste of Toastmasters” experience at the Mallow Library, Saturday 21st January, 2:30-4:30 pm. A typical speech will be delivered by a club member and club members will discuss the creative aspect of Toastmasters, in particular speech writing.
More information about the club is available from our website, www.speakeasytoastmasters.com.
Or from the Club PRO at 086-3675706.