Calling all farmers!

Speak Easy Toastmasters Club: Calling all farmers!

The silage is in the silo.

The straw is in the shed.

The cows are all gone dry.

What are you going to do instead?

You could mend the fence.

You could mix the feed.

You could do an awful lot indeed,

But do it in the morning if you need!

Impress at the IFA.

Be a marvel at the mart.

Conquer at the co-op

Make speaking your art!

Farmers avoid the disaster

Of becoming tongue tied.

Attend Speakeasy Toastmasters,

And deliver your speeches with pride!

Farmers if you have time spare this winter, we would be delighted to see you at Speakeasy Toastmasters.  Many of our distinguished toastmasters work as farmers. Several of our past presidents come from the farming community; Margaret & Tony O’Regan, Michael Cronin, Pat Sexton and Noel O’Connor, to name but a few.

With changes to the quota system on the horizon, it is important to be able to express yourself and your vision for your business clearly.  Speakeasy Toastmasters is the place to perfect this skill. It is also the place to relax and enjoy the banter.  I’m certainly willing to bet that we’re the only club in Mallow to write you a “poem” this week!

Speakeasy Toastmasters Club, Mallow, at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, at 8.00 p.m. We meet alternate Thursdays. Next meeting: 11^th December. For more information go to www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

 or contact Liam on087 6380053 or Marie 087-9746947

What a night

What A Night!

The great thing about a Toastmasters meeting is you never know what will be treated to. Tonight’s program had a great mixture between new speakers and experienced speakers. New member Paul McCarthy gave his second speech entitled, “The aerodynamics of flying.” Anne Buckley evaluated his speech.  Bridie O’Connell, a great favourite with our club, gave a speech entitled, “A memoir of Maeve Binchy” which Michael Cronin evaluated. Margaret O’Regan, former club chair, gave a much anticipated speech entitled, “Instinctive or learned behaviour,” which was evaluated by Ray Ryan. Pat Sexton delivered another distinctive speech, “Behind closed doors,” which was evaluated by Marie Fitzpatrick. Brendan Foley rounded out the evening nicely with his speech, “Visualize a new you,” which was evaluated by local poet Tom O’Connor.

Anne O’Donovan made the role of Toastmaster her own, with David Frawley as her timekeeper. Tony O’Regan as topicsmaster provided a varied and interesting impromptu public speaking session. Angela Sheehan, who herself is an experienced toastmaster, dispensed words of wisdom, advice and praise as General Evaluator. She awarded the prizes to Jerry O'Callaghan, (best table topic), Margaret O'Regan  (best speech) and Anne Buckley (best evaluation.) 

Schools Contest Update

The standard of the entrants at the Speakeasy Toastmaster's School Competition was very high. Speakers were confident, entertaining and informative. Congratulation to St. Mary's Secondary School Charleville on winning the "Best School's Award." Congratulations to Caitlin O'Fylnn of St. Mary's Secondary School Charleville who won 1st place, Nicole Mannix of St. Mary's Secondary School Mallow won 2nd place and Marie Murphy Scoil Mhuire Kanturk won 3rd place. 

Jerry O'Callaghan  Credit Union Rep. Presenting a cheque to Liam Flynn Speakeasy Toastmasters president.

Jerry O'Callaghan of Mallow Credit Union who sponsored the event, gave an inspiring speech on the importance of young people being able to express themselves and speak out.The competition is the brain child of Mary Buckley. Thanks to our four schools coaches; Marie Fitzpatrick, Tony O'Regan, Pat Sexton, and Michael Cronin. 

Liam O'Fynn chaired the competition with Marie Lynes taking on the demanding job of organising the program. Brendan Foley was our Toastmaster with Helsa Giles as Topicsmaster . Rona Coghlan took care of P.R., Michael Cronin- time keeping, Margaret O'Regan and Anne O'Donovan - sign in, Tony O'Regan, Noel O'Connor, Kieran Butler and David Roche who were a great help.

Múineann Gá Seift (necessity is the mother of invention)

This evenings toastmaster was Marie Boyle with Marie Fitzgerald as general evaluator. Claire O'Connell took on  the  role of time keeper.

David Frawley gave a speech entitled, "Whiskey." Whiskey is  by  far the  most  common  remedy that won't  cure  the  common  cold. This speech gave the  history of  whiskey. It was  evaluated by Brendan Foley. 

Liam Flynn gave  a speech entitled, "Presenting An Award." Using Thialand's  system of acknowledging achievements, Liam presented a white elephant to the  lucky recipent. This speech was  evaluated by Michael Cronin.

Bridie O'Connell (best audience member)
  Kieran  Butler (best speech), Marie Fitzpatrick (General Evaluator)

Tom O'Connor gave  a speech entitled,  "Action, Consequence And  Reverberation." The Louisanta and its tragic sinking was the topic of this speech. It was evaluated by  Ray Ryan, who won best evaluator.

Kieran Butler won  best speech for a speech entitled, "Calming The Internal Fires." Mindfulness was  the  topic  covered. Taking control of  our attention is the best way to explain mindfulness. We can train our brain by consciously thinking positive thoughts. This speech was evaluated by Pat Sexton.

Rona Coghlan as topics master quoted Irish proverbs which she than translated into English. Members debated the  truth of sayings such as "múineann gá seift," need teaches resourcefulness, "ní thagann ciall roimh aois," sense doesn't come before age, and "ní neart go cur le chéile" there is no strength like that created by cooperation.  Marrian Oviawe won the best topic award.

Congratulations to Brendan Foley who won the local "Soap Box" competition, held at the library. He  goes on to represent Mallow in  Dublin on  November 12.

Success For Pat

Pat Sexton did his town and his club proud, winning second place in a photo finish at the “All Ireland /England Impromptu Public Speaking Competition.” To the toastmasters among you, this is simply known as the District Final Table Topics Competition. Skilfully handling the topic on mobile phones, Pat scooped second prize and brought the trophy to Mallow.

 

Helsa Giles of Castletownroche was a toastmaster extraordinaire. Local author Ray Ryan provided a creative topics session that made everyone put on their thinking caps. Marie Fitzgerald won best topic for her response to “My Favourite Member Of One Direction.” Marlene O’Mahony gave her first speech entitled, “Knocknagree Wife.” Her evaluator Tony O’Regan complimented her choice of title. Ronan Condon gave his 9^th speech and he sure persuaded us that using “coaching to grow” can be a valuable life skill. Claire O’Connell gave a detailed evaluation of his speech. Marie Fitzpatrick fascinated us with the dark history of clinking your glass during a toast. This used to be used a sneaky opportunity to splash poison into your enemy’s glass. Distinguished toastmaster Noel O’Connor (Area Governor) finished the meeting with a general evaluation session.

How to write a good speech

Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University has been viewed about 8 million times on YouTube. Eleven years after he delivered it, it is still a massive internet hit. The speech is as powerful for its message–stay hungry, stay foolish–as it is for its structure and delivery. “Today I want to tell you three stories from my life,” says Jobs. “That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.” And with that, viewers (and readers) are hooked.

 

 Maire Boyle, Michael Boyle, Anne O'Donovan Marrian Oviawe

As students prepare their entries for the Toastmasters School Competition, here is a little advice to help you on your way.

The best speeches include a clear, relevant message and a few great stories to illustrate it. Forget fancy complicated presentations and loads of data. Instead, keep your speech simple, with a clear beginning, middle and end. Focus on one theme, and eliminate everything else. People don’t remember much of what they hear, so focus and keep it simple.

Use anecdotes. People struggle writing speeches when all they have to do is find a message and a few great stories to prove it. This kind of speech is also easier to deliver because you can recall a story from memory and tell it from your heart. The content has to be inspiring and memorable. It should convey emotion and have a particular point of view. If you have these elements of a good speech, your delivery is halfway there.”

Be relevant to your audience and avoid using abbreviations which your audience might not be familiar with. If you know what your speech is about–and it should be about one thing–you should have an easy time deciding on an opening. Get right into the story and let the audience know what your talk will be about.

Practice your speech beforehand. Articulate your words, regardless of your natural speaking style. Practice replacing deadening filler words like “um,” “so” and “like” with silence. When you are speaking ensure that you are loud enough to be heard by the person at the very back of the room.

Use body language that makes you appear comfortable. Stand up straight, whether you sand in the middle of the stage or stand behind a lectern.  Successful public speaking is all about passion and emotion. If you’re excited, then your audience will be, too.

The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on 13 Nov at 8.00pm. Schools' Competition Wednesday 19^th November. Rona Coghlan PRO. Further information visit our website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

 

  or by contact Liam 087 6380053or Marie 087-9746947