30 Jan

Thursday 24’th of January saw the Speakeasy Toastmasters Club at the midway point of their meetings for 2002/03. President, Pat Sexton who welcomed the 34 members and guests, opened the meeting and congratulated Club Members, Micháel Dineen and Ellen Broderick who recently got engaged. Pat introduced the Toastmaster for the night, Michael Cronin who was himself completing a Toastmasters, Advanced Manual Project on Chairing a meeting. Topics Master for the evening was Joan Lenihan and Timekeeper was John Holmes.
The speeches got underway with new member, Ann Buckley giving her Icebreaker Speech. The Icebreaker is the the first speech that a member gives in a Toastmasters Club. The title of Ann’s speech was “Lifelong Learning”. “To state that Irish Society is changing rapidly is to state the obvious” said Ann. “We are surrounded by change” “Years ago children could learn from their grandparents all the knowledge and skill that they needed to live their own lives successfully”. She pointed out that no matter what our former skills and training were, we need to constantly update our skills. Ann herself took a career break and updated her skills by learning computer skills and is now in Toastmasters learning speaking skills.
Sean Corcoran evaluated Ann’s speech.
Following Ann was Michael Buckley from the Crusaders Club in Cork City with a speech entitled “Retirement”. Michael pointed out that when most people retire they settle down to life without taking part in any physical activity. He then told the story of Mary Harker who single handed sailed from Newfoundland in 21 days in a 30’ft boat and landed in Crookhaven on the 11’th of August 1994. Waiting for her was her family, reporters from various newspapers and local people. Mary wasn’t the first person to sail across the Atlatnic single handed but what set her apart from the rest was that she was 79 yrs old.
Micheal’s speech was evaluated by Micháel Dineen.
The third speaker was Louise Bourke, a Transition Year Student from Schoil Mhuire in Kanturk who is at present participating in a public speaking course and has recently participated in the Cork Mental Health Public Speaking Competition.
The title of Louise’s speech was “It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult”.
Louise began her speech by giving two examples of children being pressurised by their parents for not living up to their (parents) expectations. For wasting their lives even thought they were happy at what they were doing. “Four out of every ten people who attend their family doctor have a physiological aspect to their complaint”, said Louise, pointing out that people must have good mental health as children and children should be encouraged to be positive.
Kathleen Ganey from the Crusaders Club evaluated Louise’s speech.
Pat Duggan EVP, reminded members that the Club Evaluation Contest will take place on 20’th of February and that the Club heat of the International Speech Contest will take place on March 6’th.
Please note that our next meeting will be held in Conference Room No.2 in the Hibernian Hotel.
For further information on the Club contact Sean on 086 6054784 or Pat 087 2364240 or visit the Club’s Website at www.clix.to/speakeasy. Email, speakeasymallow@eircom.net

23 Jan

The Speakeasy Toastmasters Club in Mallow resumed their forthnightly meetings on Thursday Jan. 9’th in the Hibernian Hotel (Chapel Lane). The meeting was presided over by Pat Sexton, President and Toastmaster Elizabeth O’Brien who introduced Toastmaster Noreen O’Brien from the Tomond Club in Limerick. Noreen is no stranger to members of Speakeasy and this time her speech was entitled “Which one are you?. Which was the result of research into “The Enneagram” The Enneagram is one of the newest personality systems in use, and emphasizes psychological motivations and is mainly a diagnostic tool of one's emotional outlook on life.
Fiona Herbert evaluated Noreen’s speech.
The final speech on the program was from Micháel Mc Mahon and was from the Interpretive Reading Manual. Micháel read two excerpts from play “A Man For All Seasons” by Robert Bolt in which all influential people in England during the reign of Henry VIII were forced to make a choice about what they believed. It was a time of turmoil, and King Henry VIII was about to divorce his wife against the consent of the pope, in favor of a woman named Anne Boleyn. To ensure that the children of his new wife would be the heirs to the throne, he had an act passed by Parliament.
John Stack evaluated Micheál’s speech.
Topics Master, Michael Donnegan conducted a very lively and entertaining Topics Session where members are asked to speak for two minutes on a subject chosen by the Topics Master of the evening. Some of the topics that Michael choose and the members that were asked are as follows.
“What event in 2002 do you remember most?” Seán Corcoran. “Are you looking forward to any event in 2003?” Jerry Mulcahy. “What do with unwanted Christmas Gifts?” Claire O’Keeffe. “Is there really bargains to be had in the January sales?” Margret O’Regan. “Why should people be inconvenienced by the farmers protest?” Kieran Buckley. “Should Paudi O’Shea resign?” Tony O’Regan.
General Evaluator, Tim Ahern conducted the evaluation session which is the part of the meeting where the speakers receive feedback on their speeches from other Club Members.
President, Pat Sexton welcomed Michael Sexton, Divisional Governor who addressed the meeting. Pat also made a presentation to Club Member, Kay O’Keeffe who recently got married.
The next Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting will be on Thursday 23’rd of January and on the program will be, Toastmaster, Michael Cronin, Topics Master, Joan Lenihan, Timekeeper, John Holms. Speeches will be by, Michael Buckley, Jerry Mulcahy, Tim Ahern, Michael Hyde, Ann Buckley and Grant March.
Dates for your Toastmasters Diary. Feb 20’th. Club Evaluation Contest. March 6’th, International Speech Contest. Divisional Final April 12’th and the Spring Conference in London on May 9-12’th.
For further information on the Club contact Sean on 086 6054784 or Pat 087 2364240 or visit the Club’s Website at www.clix.to/speakeasy. Email, speakeasymallow@eircom.net