A what in a Brewery?

Happy New Year

"Happy New Year” was the greeting from our incoming President Anne Buckley(left), last Friday evening at a special launch for the beginning of the new Toastmasters Year,

This launch took place at Beamish & Crawford in Cork City and marked the beginning of the Toastmasters year which is from September to May

Club Presidents and members/guests from the four clubs in the area attended, Mallow Fermoy Charleville and Mitchelstown including Area 17 Governor Pat Duggan .

We were warmly welcomed by Speak Easy President Anne Buckley who organised the event, and also by Cyril Keane of Beamish and Crawford, who gave us a brief history of the brewery and we were strongly encouraged to sample their products especially the Beamish (which tasted like more).

Anne opened the event with a very positive message to all present and she spoke of Toastmasters as a life changing gift, conquering any fears. She advised us to avail of these opportunities and hoped that we achieve the goals and aspirations that we set out to achieve.

Michael Cronin, club treasurer, was our M.C. for the evening. He is 13 years in Toastmasters and posed the question “why do I keep coming back”?….for Michael it is the memories and the sheer delight of seeing people making progress within Toastmasters.

Fermoy club President Michael Sheehan informed us that his club is the third oldest in the Ireland, It is 37 years in existence. He spoke of his personal experiences in Toastmasters and how it diminished his fears of public speaking.

Emanon Rea, from The Galtees Toastmasters Club described the Galtees as the baby or kindergarten club, just three years old, “we enjoy ourselves we don’t take things too seriously”, he said.

Stephen McKeogh from Fáilte Toastmasters in Charleville spoke passionately about their club theme night last January a tribute to the “Fire in Dromcollogher”and hoped that another theme night among the four clubs in the area will be organised.

Pat Duggan our Area Governor spoke on a very positive note, of the help available in Toastmasters, where we develop the skills of speaking, listening and thinking on our feet not forgetting the brilliant social side to Toastmasters

Sean Corcoran, Public Relation Officer spoke about getting our message across to the public, and that every Toastmaster is a public relations officer for his/her club

Finally President Anne Buckley thanked Beamish & Crawford for their hospitality and everybody for their help and support in making the launch a success.

We then relaxed in an atmosphere of fun and laughter sampling house products and good food. M.B.

There are lots more great nights in store for Toastmasters as we look forward to our meetings which for The Speak Easy Club begin on next Thursday 6^th of September

Are you looking for something different this September? Would you like to learn the art of public speaking in a fun and relaxed atmosphere and make new friends as well?

Of course you would.

So why not come along to our meetings and see for yourself. You will be most welcome and remember, guests at Toastmaster meetings are never asked to speak.

For further details visit our continuously updated website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

Toastmasters International History

Speak Easy Toastmasters

September is almost with us again and Toastmasters from North Cork will be looking forward to returning to regular forthnightly meetings.

Just a reminder on what the Toastmasters International organization is..

A brief history; the Toastmasters organization began in 1924,more than three million men and women have benefited from its the communication and leadership programs. The first club was formed in October 1924, when a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the Santa Ana, California YMCA to form a club "to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members."

The group took the name "Toastmasters."

A year later, a second club was started in Anaheim, California, followed by a third in Los Angeles. By 1930, it was apparent that a federation was necessary to coordinate activities of the clubs and to provide standard methods. After formation of a club in Victoria, British Columbia, the group became known as Toastmasters International.

Growth was slow during the early years, but the number of clubs increased steadily. The forerunner of today's Communication and Leadership program, Basic Training, was introduced in 1942 and has been expanded and updated many times since then to keep abreast of the times and members' needs.

Membership in Toastmasters International increased rapidly after the end of World War II, and by 1954 the number of Toastmasters clubs had approached 1,500.

Today there are over 10,500 clubs worldwide with 200,000 members in 90 countries.

In the Cork, Kerry, West Limerick area alone, there are 22 Toastmasters Clubs with almost 400 members.

To “kick off” the new toastmaster season Speak Easy Toastmasters are hosting launch evening in The Beamish and Crawford Brewery tomorrow evening, 24^th, at 8pm.

Speak Easy Toastmasters meetings will resume on September 6^th in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow at 7.50pm.

Further information from our website www.speakeasytoastmasters.com