The London Speaker

New Online Oxford English Dictionary Launched Today

According to The Telegraph "The dictionary's online version has from today a sort of turbo-charged, warp-factor set of devices that cut through its six million or so quotations to pinpoint the very one you want."

On Radio 4 this morning, editor and co-author of The Story of English, Robert McCrum referred to the online OED as "a cathedral of words" that we can explore in new ways.  For any word you can click though to the online Historal Thesaurus and delve into its history and synonyms.

"OED Online also reveals that if Prince William had proposed to Kate Middleton three hundred years ago, he might have asked her to "join giblets" with him, or suggested that they "buckle," a word used by poet John Dryden in 1693 meaning to unite oneself in wedlock." (read more in Reuters report).

With lots of people staying at home in the cold weather the site might be a bit slow today but am sure it will be a great resource for all Toastmasters and other weavers of words from now on.

Monday 6th December - St Paul's Speakers Wish You A Merry Xmas!

 

Now we all know that Toastmasters love to talk, listen... and boy do we like to clap... a lot! But we also do enjoy a good knees-up too.

 And the folks over at St Paul’s Speakers are putting on a cracker (sic) of a night to celebrate the culmination of another fantastic year for the club. Combining a traditional Christmas 3-course meal (first drink included) with a specially adapted meeting format, this festive event is typical of the fun, relaxed environment promoted at St Paul’s Speakers.

To whet your appetite, the billing for the evening is set to include amongst others:

Hilary Briggs - Division Governor of the Year

Adolfo Tunon - Division B Contest Winner & District Finalist

Rory Marriott - District Council Executive Member

“How much for this evening extravaganza?”, I hear you ask. The reply is an all-inclusive cost of £20, payable in advance.

Our regular venue, The Spectator, will be open from 6pm for a 6.45pm start. Places are limited, so be sure to book early.

The event is open to all - so bring along your fellow club members, friends, relatives, pets... even strangers you met in the pub!

To reserve your place, and to arrange payment, please contact the event organisers at [email protected]

Ho-Ho-Hope to see you there!

 

Free Storytelling Workshop Wednesday 1 December 2010

Great speakers are great storytellers.  One of the best ways to help your audience remember what you've said is to illustrate key points with short anecdotes or stories.  We all inuitively know that this is true and cognitive psychology tells us that our gut feeling is correct! 

Storytelling also provides great entertainment, humour and pathos.  Whatever style of stories you enjoy or want to tell come along and join in at the interactive workshop being held at Riverside Communicators on Wedesday 1 December 2010.

Workshop leaders Dorothea Stuart and Sue Kennedy look forward to sharing proven storytelling methods, tips and insights with you next week...and to hearing some great stories!

When? 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Ends 9.30pm

Where? The Terrace Room, York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA. Close to Twickenham Station. A short bus ride from Richmond. Parking available at York House. Click here for more location info.

If you are coming it would be a big help if you could let us know so the room is set up with enough chairs. Please email club President Laura Shimili if you are planning to attend. Click here to email. Many thanks.

For the future...

Riverside Communicators holds its unique club storytelling contest The Cooper Cup for Storytelling on Wednesday 19 January 2011. We'd love to have you in the audience to listen and vote for your favourite story.

Run an entire Toastmasters Meeting Backwards?

It can be done!  Keith Gautier, DTM is masterminding a Backwards Evening at London Athenians on Tuesday 7 December 2010.  It will be what Keith calls "an evening of fun, frivolity and mayhem" as all the roles take place in reverse order. Club President Julian D'sa will begin the evening by...closing the meeting.  Evaluators give their evaluations before hearing the speeches and topic speakers answer before hearing the question.

As well as being fun the evening is of course a great test of listening skills.

Please come along and join in. The evening is FREE to all members and vistors.

When? 7pm for 7.15pm start

Where? The function room, The Hop Poles, 17-19 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9HR (close to Hammersmith underground station and bus station).

 

London Division B winners - 2010 UK & Ireland Table Topics Champion again, and again and AGAIN

From Liz Hobbs, Asssistant Division Governor - Education and Training

London Division B is up there again!! David Jones wins UK & Ireland Table Topics Contest

Dr. Jones, Dr. Jones, Dr. Jones – jolly well done for an outstanding performance - winning the UK & Ireland Table Topics contest for an unprecented third time!

Like Hilary, your bookshelves at home have probably had to make way for all your trophies. I can recommend e-books if you have to get rid of many more books!

The topic that David tackled with such skill, at the UK & Ireland District 71 Inspire Conference in Dublin last weekend, was... “What would your legacy to humanity be?”

London Division B winners - UK & Ireland Division Governor of the Year

From Liz Hobbs, Assistant Division Governor - Education and Training

London Division B is up there again!!!

 

Well, what can be said – we need to ask Hilary what next?

Not content with having previously won Area Governor of the Year, Hilary Briggs has now added Division Governor of the Year to her ever growing array of District 71 trophies.

Although many within the Division are well aware of Hilary’s contribution to us, it is great to see wider recognition.  Hilary is pictured here after receiving her award at the UK & Ireland District 71 Inspire Conference in Dublin last weekend.

Well done Hilary on a much deserved award and thank you for all your efforts on our behalf.It is much appreciated.

Free Exibition for lovers of the English Language

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

The British Library has a wonderful exibition - Evolving English: one language, many voices.

The blurb says:

In this ground-breaking exhibition, the roots of Old English, slang dictionaries, medieval manuscripts, advertisements and newspapers from around the world come together - alongside everyday texts and dialect sound recordings. Follow the social, cultural and historical influences on the English language... and see how it’s still evolving today.

Find out more at the British Library website http://www.bl.uk/evolvingenglish/index.html. Exibition runs until 3 April 2011.

Friday Toastmasters Meeting in London - join us!

Get your weekend off to a good start ...join us for a short Toastmasters meeting at London Business School this coming Friday 19 November 6.45pm to 8pm (close to Baker Street station).

The London Business School Public Speaking Club holds regular meetings every Tuesday during term time. It's proving so successful that students who come to London for weekend lectures wanted to participate. As a result the club held its first Friday meeting on 5 November - with 30 plus people attending. The first Friday Toastmasters meeting in London - ever!

Club President Xavier Gastaldi and the club committee would love you come along and share the fun including quick fire table topics this Friday. 

Venue: London Business School, Sainsbury Wing, Regent's Park, London NW1 4SA. Entrance on Park Road - a short walk from Baker Street station.  Map click here. 

Arrive a few minutes early as the meeting will start promptly. Hope to see you there!

London Public Speaking events week commencing 8 November

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

Monday 8 November Cass Toastmasters is hosting a special evening of two workshops including how to leave a lasting and memorable impression as a speaker. How to book and more information click here.

Tuesday 9 November - a non-Toastmaster event.  A debate with an impressive panel of speakers - The Great Female Debate. Do women speak too much or too little? Book your free place and read more click here. Venue: The Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ

London Toastmasters Educational Awards October 2010

From Liz Hobbs, Assistant Division Governor - Education &Training

Area 6 has come up trumps this months with 5 Competent Communicator Awards shared between members of Polish Your Polish and London Cardinals.  Congratulations to each and every one of our new CCs.

Competent Communicator

Glenn Jones. London Cardinals. Area 6

Anna Jurek. Polish Your Polish. Area 6

Alison O'Mahony. London Cardinals. Area 6

Anna Polak. Polish Your Polish. Area 6

Andrew Smith. London Cardinals. Area 6 

 

Educational Awards	Last Year 2009/10	October 2010	Division B year to date
Competent Communicator	73	5	14
Adv Comm Bronze	18	-	1
Adv Comm Silver	2	-	-
Adv Comm Gold	3	-	-
Competent Leader	27	-	7
Adv Leader Bronze	12	-	3
Adv Leader Silver	6	-	-
Leadership Excellence	5	-	1
Distinguished Toastmaster(DTM)	7	-	-
Total	153	5	26