Dancing at the Crossroads

Speak Easy Toastmaster’s meeting on May 19th 2011 was another in which members enjoyed themselves, it was Speak Easy Toastmaster’s final meeting for 2010-2011.

Joining President Margaret O’ Regan at the top table was Bridie O’ Connell, Topics Master and Loretto Barry, Toast Master.

First to the lectern was Cait Murray with a speech entitled ‘Good Times’. Cait gave an informative speech on how to manage our time including setting goals as well as maintaining a to-do-list as part of a time journal. She stressed that it is important to check the journal after 30 days as it gives one an awareness of how one is managing their time. Cait reminded the audience that procrastination is the thief of time.

Following Cait was Angela Sheehan with a speech entitled ‘Brain Food’. Angela gave a thought provoking speech on breakthroughs in medicine and science since the 16th Century to the present day. She highlighted to the audience the power the media can have on the success of a product.

Next to the lectern was Mary Buckley with a speech entitled ‘There is hope’. Mary’s speech was enthralling and emotive. Mary recounted a story, which spanned 12 months, from her own life. She shared with the audience the lesson she learnt from the experience ‘there is always hope, there is no situation hopeless’.

Following Mary was Anne Buckley with a speech entitled ‘Dancing at the Crossroads’. Anne relayed the fun and sociable activities happening at Laharn Crossroads on a Sunday evening from May to September, 8pm-10pm. As part of her speech Anne gave the audience a historical insight into the tradition of dancing from pre –famine to present day.
Next to the lectern was Jerry Mulcahy with an interpretative reading from a speech given by Mary McAleese entitled ‘Their Deaths rise far above the Clamour’. Jerry’s choice of speech on an historical subject was stimulating and gathered the attention of the audience.

Finally it was the turn of Liam Flynn with a fact finding report on ‘Japanese Knotweed’. Liam in his interesting report provided a description of the weed, the aggressiveness of the species as well as ways of controlling it. Liam stressed to the audience that vigilance is required at all times to ensure properties, roadways and streams are not affected by this plant.

Congratulations to all the members who achieved milestones in their Toastmaster career tonight or during the year.

The topic session for the evening was conducted by Topicsmaster Bridie O Connell. Bridie kept members on their toes with a well thought out range of topics for members to practice their speaking ‘off the cuff’ skills.

Timekeeper Noel O’ Connor reminded speakers/people contributing to topics when their allocated times were up while grammarian/ah counter Marie Fitzpatrick gave feedback at the end of the meeting on how the group performed regarding the use of ‘crutch words’ and ‘fillers’ e.g. um’s and ah’s. Marie encouraged the use of the word ‘incumbent’ which means ‘needing to be done/obligatory’ during the course of the meeting

Pat Duggan, conducted the General Evaluation Session and conducted the part of the meeting in which speakers received feedback from their assigned evaluators who were Mary Moynihan, Jean Sayers, Pat Sexton, Bridget Breen, Ray Ryan and Michael Cronin. The Sergeants at Arms for the meeting were Liam Flynn and Jerry Mulcahy.

At the end of the meeting the President Margaret O’ Regan welcomed the incoming President for 2011-2012 Toastmaster Tony O’ Regan.

Speak Easy Toastmasters Club would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading its Articles over the last year and to wish you an enjoyable and safe Summer.

The Area Tall Tales will be held at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Friday June 3rd 2011 at 7:50PM. Why not come along to hear an interesting tale.

Speak Easy Toastmasters first meeting for 2011-2012 will be held at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Thursday September 1st 2011 at 7:50PM. 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 or why not follow us on Facebook

‘Toastmaster Awards’

The 2010-2011 Season for Speakeasy Toastmasters is drawing to a close. At the next meeting, which is scheduled for the 19th of May 2011, 6 members of the Club will be achieving educational awards, based on the number of manual speeches delivered. This will be a big night for these members as they will all be reaching milestones in their speaking careers.

The Competent Communicator award is bestowed on Toastmasters who complete the Competent Communicator manual which consists of ten speeches. Subsequent educational awards are based on completing advanced manuals, with five speeches in each manual. The Advanced Communicator Bonze is awarded for completing two advanced manuals, the Advanced Communicator Silver is awarded for completing a further two advanced manuals and the Advanced Communicator Gold is achieved when another pair of advanced manuals is completed.

Organizational achievements are acknowledged by leadership awards. The Competent Leader award recognises members who have performed meeting duties, such as timekeeper, the Advanced Leader Bronze recognises Toastmasters who have served on the Club Committee while the Advanced Leader Gold recognises Toastmasters who have taken up leadership positions outside of their Club. Toastmasters who have achieved both the Advanced Communicator Gold and Advanced Leader Gold are eligible for the Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM).

Speak Easy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Thursday May 19th 2011 at 7:50PM. Why not come along and join us for a taste of toastmasters in what promises to be a great evening. Remember 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 follow us on Facebook

‘Should I stay or should I go?’

Speak Easy Toastmaster’s meeting on May 5th 2011 was another in which members enjoyed themselves, it was Speak Easy Toastmaster’s AGM.

Our AGM night began with a regular meeting with speeches, evaluations and topics. Joining President Margaret O’ Regan at the top table was Noel O’ Connor, Topics Master and Liam Flynn who was Toast Master.

First to the lectern was Bridget Breen with a speech entitled ‘Some people cannot handle the truth’ Bridget gave an informative speech on how one can tell whether people are telling them the truth or not through body language including nose wrinkles, eye movements and mouth curls. People sometimes may be economical with the truth but their body language always tells the truth.

Following Bridget was Bill Martin with a speech entitled ‘Should I stay or should I go’. Bill gave a very philosophical and optimistic speech about emigration. At this time of recession Ireland needs people to emigrate in order to soften the blow. Emigrants will return and bring back expertise with them. He reminded the audience that Ireland needs to look to the future to sustain employment.

Finally it was the turn of Jean Sayers with a speech entitled ‘A day to remember’.
Jean gave the audience an insight into Alzheimer disease, the work the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland does as well as urging the audience to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day events in their Neighbourhoods.

The topic session for the evening was conducted by Topicsmaster Noel O’ Connor. Noel kept members on their toes with a well thought out range of topics for members to practice their speaking ‘off the cuff’ skills.

Timekeepers Claire O Connell and Tony O’ Regan reminded speakers/people contributing to topics when their allocated times were up while grammarian/ah counter Joe Hassett gave feedback at the end of the meeting on how the group performed regarding the use of ‘crutch words’ and ‘fillers’ e.g. um’s and ah’s. Joe encouraged the use of the word ‘mores’ which means ‘customs or conventions regarded as essential to or characteristic of a community’ during the course of the meeting

Jerry Mulchay, conducted the General Evaluation Session and conducted the part of the meeting in which speakers received feedback from their assigned evaluators who were Marie Fitzpatrick, Sean Corcoran and Pat Sexton. The Sergeants at Arms for the meeting were Liam Flynn and Jerry Mulcahy.

After the tea break it was time for the AGM and after the minutes of the last AGM were read and matters arising were dealt with, each member of the committee gave a report to the meeting.

In her President’s address, Margaret O’ Regan outlined the activities of the club over the past year including the social activities of the club, successful contests and achievements of members and also what being President of Speak Easy Toastmasters meant to her personally. She thanked her team of committee members for their work during the previous year.

Then followed the election of the new officers for the next year and they are as follows: President, Tony O’ Regan; Educational Vice President, Jean Sayers; Vice President Public Relations, Noel O’ Connor; Vice President Membership, Cait Murray; Secretary, Mary Moynihan; Treasurer, Bill Martin; Sgt at Arms, Bridget Breen, Ray Ryan and Liam Flynn.

Speak Easy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Thursday May 19th 2011 at 7:50PM. Why not come along and join us for a taste of toastmasters in what promises to be a great evening. Remember 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 OR or why not follow us on Facebook

5 tips to sound more....

Should you ever find yourself in the following situations namely having to speak in public, make a presentation or just ensuring that you are heard, I set down hereunder 5 tips which may assist:

1. To Sound More Intelligent:
Speak just a bit slower to allow yourself to select your most appropriate vocabulary and to give the impression of thoughtfulness.

2. To Sound More Powerful:
Use short, simple declarative sentences. You say what you mean and you mean what you say. Cut out any useless connectors, adjectives and adverbs, especially superlatives.

3. To Sound More Polished:
Never answer a question with a blunt 'yes' or 'no.' Append a short phrase of clarification. For example, "No, I did not see it." "Yes, I know Mary."

4. To Sound More Articulate:
Make a special effort to pronounce the final sound in a word and use its energy to carry over to the following word. Pay special attention to the final 't' and 'ng.'

5. To Sound More Confident:
Carry your body up. Hold your head as if you had a crown on it. Don't let your arms and legs have side to side motion when you move. Keep your elbows and knees close to the midline of your body.

With the above in mind why not come along to the 2nd last meeting of Speak Easy Toastmasters and see for yourself how we practice the skills of prepared speaking, speaking “off the cuff”, listening, and leadership.

Speak Easy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Thursday May 5th 2011 (Club AGM) at 7:50PM. 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 or why not follow Speak Easy Toastmasters on Facebook?