Why am I in Toastmasters? by Noel O'Connor

Noel O’Connor has been in Speakeasy Toastmasters from the start and is still enjoying it. Why am I in Toastmasters? I joined Speakeasy Toastmasters when it started in Mallow 20 years ago. The time has really flown but as the saying goes time flies when you are enjoying yourself and that is true in Toastmasters. Toastmasters is really a fantastic social outlet. There are members from all walks of life from farmers, students, and retired people to every role that you could think of. We have members from Castletownroche through Mallow back as far as Boherbue and Millstreet and as far south as Blarney. Not forgetting the natives of the Kingdom of Kerry who are very valued members. The meetings last for two hours starting at 8pm and finishing at 10pm which is suitable for people who have to get in baby sitters as they know it will be over at 10pm every night. At every meeting you have a different Toastmaster and topics master and four or five different speakers. This gives great variety to the meetings as the speeches can be about any thing from the humorous to the educational to story telling. In the second half of the meeting topics are given out by the topics master and members try to talk on the subject for two minutes with no preparation, during this a lot of banter goes on adding to the enjoyment. When a person joins toastmasters their first speech is normally about themselves after this they can pick any topic but try to carry out some criteria like hand gestures or persuade people to do something. People can come as guests and enjoy the meetings without becoming members. If you join toastmasters it will give you more confidence to speak even though it may be nerve wrecking at the time. Afterwards there is a great sense of achievement.. After a person gives a speech another member evaluates them and gives them ideas on how they might be able to improve. It is this method of helping each other that makes toastmasters so great. So if you get a chance come and see what happens at Toastmasters and enjoy a good night out. Speakeasy toastmasters next meets at 8pm Hibernian Mallow every other Thursday, next meeting is on Nov 1st. Guests are most welcome and are never asked to speak. Contact Jerry 0863752895,or Noel 0872427485. "Follow us on Facebook "Speak Easy Toastmasters", on Twitter "@speakeasytm" and on our blog "http://speakeasytm.blogspot. www.speakeasytoastmasters.com