Meeting Rescheduled!

"I hear hurricanes a blowing,

I know the end is coming soon,

I see rivers overflowing."

The words of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" aptly describe last week's dominant news story - Hurricane Lorenzo. And in Cork, the question behind asked is - are weather warnings more disruptive than the weather?

Acting on the Orange Weather Warning, Speakeasy Toastmasters took the responsible decision to postpone last week's Meeting. It was a more a case of "Meeting delayed not Meeting denied" as we host a rescheduled Meeting in the Hibernian Hotel Mallow on Thursday, 10th October at 8.00PM.

Speakeasy Toastmasters is all about our Meetings. Everything that the Club stands for is exemplified by the Club Meeting. Members are given the opportunity to participate in various roles - each one being equally significant. Members can present prepared speeches which are assigned an evaluator who provides the Speaker with appropriate feedback. Other roles include The Toastmaster of the Evening who acts as Chairperson and introduces each speaker. Moreover, the Topics Session is conducted by the Topicsmaster who is the discussion leader. Each Meeting has a Time-Keeper who ensures that speakers cannot ramble on for too long! And, for those members who haven't an assigned role, they can participate in the Topics Session which is the impromptu part of the Meeting. 

Toastmasters works on the principle that we "learn by doing". Nobody ever learns to swim by walking around the swimming pool. At some stage, they need to get into the water. In Toastmasters, members are encouraged to "dip their feet into the water". And communication is a "learned skill" - the more you do it, the better you become and confidence grows. 

Toastmasters' involvement assists members in several areas of communication and leadership. Our members bring the skills that they learn in Toastmasters into the workplace and into various voluntary organisations.

Anne O'Donovan & Liam Flynn

Speakeasy Toastmasters has a very busy schedule over the coming weeks. It begins with Thursday night's Meeting and continues with the Annual Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests. These will take place at the Club Meeting on Thursday, 17th October in The Hibernian Hotel Mallow at 8.00PM. Down the years, these Contests have provided great entertainment for members and guests alike.

Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings. If you curious about Speakeasy or if you wish to take up a beneficial new hobby. If you feel that acquiring good communication skills can help you at work or in those "Special Occasions", why not pay us a visit? Guests are never obliged to speak unless they wish to do so.

To recap - Speakeasy Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests take place on Thursday, 17th October and our Rescheduled Meeting is on the Thursday, 10th October in The Hibernian Hotel Mallow at 8.00PM.

For more information,please check out our website speakeasytoastmasters.com or on Facebook. 

A Treasure Chest of Memories

"Memories, oh so beautiful and yet,
What's too painful to remember,
We simply choose to forget.
Barbara Streisand.

A treasure chest of cherished memories was burst open during the Topics Session at the last Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting. A simple question from the Topicsmaster, Verna Byrne on childhood memories of Summers long past prompted several recollections of a time when the Summers were always long and warm, children were easily pleased and Telephones hung on walls and weren't considered smart.

Liam Flynn waxed lyrical on Summer days in Wexford with descriptions of Hook Head lighthouse and eating crab meat, which, unlike nowadays, was not considered a valued food. Bobby Buckley recalled a recent stopover in Tipperary and how memories of looking forward to holidays in Thurles and the whole Summer spread out before him. Michael Cronin remembered whiling away the time with "racing twigs down a river", obviously an early prototype of the Duck Race. Far more exciting were the recollections of Gerry O'Callaghan - day trips to Youghal beach and packed lunches where the the word "sandwich" took on an entirely literal meaning and where one child would inevitably go missing.

Childhood ambitions were addressed in the topic - " when I grow up I wish to be". Inspired by the Moon Landings, Don McSweeney dreamed of being an astronaut, which was quite a tall order for someone who disliked cramped and confined spaces! And, for good measure, he wanted to be a cross channel swimmer, which would require the essential first step of learning to swim! Shane O'Donnell wanted to be a man in uniform! Toy soldiers sparked an ambition in Shane to be a soldier, an ambition that receded in teenage years.

"How life would be different when and if we achieved gender equality" elicited a huge response on women and their competency.The example of Joanne Cantwell stepping into a predominantly male preserve like "The Sunday Game" and bringing a skill set that was previously lacking was cited as proof that women can hold their own in all aspect of life.

Topic Sessions enable members to hone their skills of "thinking on their feet" in all sorts of social situations, be it in job interviews, work meetings or in inter-personal communications. Over time, members gain the confidence and the composure to respond to most off the cuff situations and to speak with clarity and coherence on a range of subjects. And, it be good fun, echoing the Toastmasters motto - "We learn most in moments of enjoyment".

To sample the delights of a Topics Session and all other aspects of a Speakeasy meeting, why not pay us a visit at our next meeting on Thursday, 3rd October in The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow at 8.00PM. Guests are always welcome and are never obliged to speak unless they wish to do so.
For more information, please check out our website,speakeasytoastmasters.com or on Facebook. Alternatively, please contact Club President, Theresa O'Reilly - 087-6699156.