First Meeting of 2008

Tonight, Thursday 10th, all roads lead to the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, why?

Because it’s the first meeting of 2008 for Speak Easy Toastmasters, that’s why. We are facing a couple of more months of dark and maybe cold evenings and where better to spend one evening every fortnight than with friends, enjoying oneself, having a chat, learning and having fun.

Speak Easy Toastmaster are part of Toastmasters International which is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations.

Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has nearly 220,000 members in 11,300 clubs in 90 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience.

A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. A typical group has 20 to 40 members who meet fortnightly to practice public speaking techniques. Meetings last for 2 hours 8-10pm

Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery. When finished with this manual, members can choose from 15 advanced manuals to learn skills related to specific interests.

Members also learn leadership skills by taking on various meeting roles and serving as officers at the club and district levels, and by working in the Competent Leadership manual and the High Performance Leadership program. In our learn-by-doing approach, we don't lecture our members about leadership skills; we give them responsibilities and ask them to lead.

There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings, serve as officers in various leadership roles and learn rules related to timing, grammar and parliamentary procedure.

Speak Easy Toastmasters in one of many clubs that can be found all over Ireland and was formed in 1993. The Club has approx. 30 members from all walks of life and is gender equal.

Since it’s formation Speak Easy members have won numerous toastmaster contests at both local and district (Ireland and UK) level.

The club are constantly recognised by Toastmasters International by being presented with the “Presidents Distinguished Award” which is the highest award that a club can get.

Further details of the club history and awards can be obtained by logging on to the club’s website, www.speakeasytoastmasters.com.

Over the past few months we, in these notes, have been looking at some of the skills that are learned at Speak Easy Toastmasters meetings and on alternate Thursdays we will be looking at how Toastmasters use these skills.

If you have missed any of our weekly notes, they can be read on our blog which is accessed through our website.

Tonight, joining our President Anne Buckley at the top table will be Toastmaster of the evening, Lorretto Barry and Topicsmaster, Gerry O’Callaghan.

With Pat Duggan as General Evaluator and Timekeeper, Jane Sayers..

Speeches will be delivered by Joe Hassett, Noel O’Connor, Sean Corcoran and Ray Ryan. Evaluators are Pat Sexton, Marie Fitzpatrick, Jerry Mulcahy and Michael Cronin.

So why not come along tonight, Thursday 10^th to the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow.

You will be most welcome and remember that guests at a toastmaster meeting are never asked to speak.

You can come along as our guest as many times as you like and enjoy yourself.

Don’t forget, Hibernian Hotel, Mallow tonight Thursday 10^th at 7.50pm for and 8pm start.

Further information about Speak Easy Toastmasters can be had by visiting our website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or from our PRO Sean at 086 6054784