The London Speaker

Thoughts on storytelling from a master

From Dorothea Stuart

Cheer up a raining weekend with this TED talk on storytelling from Andrew Stanton (Toy Story, A Bugs Life, Finding Nemo etc etc etc). Well worth watching.

 

David Mark's video impressions of the Division B mini-conference

From Dorothea Stuart

Thank you to David Marks for his impressions of the London Division B Toastmasters contest finals and workshops on 21 April 2012. You will hear his dulcet tones in the background sound track....

 

Croxley Communicators Is Born!

From Andrew P Bennett Area 45 Governor ( Berkeley Square Speakers)

The London Toastmasters community is proudly celebrating its newest addition. On Tuesday April 24 2012 at 13.00 Croxley Communicators, a corporate club for financial software company GBST employees was born. Weighing an impressive 28 Members the club is applying immediately for Charter Status.

Amazingly it was only at the beginning of March that Toastmasters Anne Lo (Berkeley Square Speakers) and David Marks ( Earlybirds, Covent Garden, Russian/English Speakers) joined me in my role as Sponsor for the demonstration meeting. It is thrilling to see the result with Founder President Kath Bartley settling wonderfully into her new functions.

The action packed one hour launch meeting revealed some real speaking talent. We were treated to three Ice Breaker speeches- 'A Greek in the UK,' 'Ancient History' and 'A Good Question?' from Toastmasters Olga Kortsaloudaki, Lisa Bowman and Andy Moorley.

The club was delighted to welcome its Mentors Coralie Frances (Watford Speakers) and Nick Wilson  Berkeley Square Speakers) who undertook the roles of General Evaluator and Table Topics Evaluator respectively. Distinguished Guests were Rob Cox , Mandy Davis and Jessica Moss from Watford Speakers. Best Wishes were anounced on behalf of London B Division Governor Paul Walsh, President Sandra Lawes (Watford Speakers) and President Chris Dunn ( Berkeley Square Speakers.)

If you would like to help nurture the newborn then visits from adoring Toastmaster Aunts and Uncles offering presentations from The  Better Speaker/ Better Club series will be gratefully received over the coming months. Croxley Communicators meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 13.00 to 14.00. Venue details can be obtained by contacting VPE Esther Bray  team-uk-toastmasters-executive@gbst.com

A London Toastmasters contest day to remember...

From Paul Walsh, London Division B Governor

What a day! On Saturday 21 April 2012 we held our London Division B contest finals and workshops.  The lecture theatre at Cass Business School was filled to capacity with an audience of 180 and our workshops in the morning were fully subscibed.

Our winners will go on to compete in the UK & Ireland finals in Wexford 11-13 May 2012.  Pictured below are Lynne Cantor and Jakub Pawlowski with Trevor Jones (Chief Judge), Paul Walsh and Luanne Kent (UK & Ireland D71 PR Officer).

A big thank you to all our contestants for giving such a thrilling and interesting afternoon. A big thank you to our workshop presenters and to Felix Kaufmann for getting them signed up.

An event of this kind takes a lot of people to play their part.  Thank you to our two contest chairmen Andy Pape and Andy O'Sullivan, all our out of Division judges, our mystery speaker for the evaluation contest Belinda Yare from Aylesbury Speakers and everyone who took a functionary role.  Thanks also to Kate McNeilly Area 33 Governor and Amber Raney-Kincade President of Cass Toastmasters for providing the venue.

Our contest day this year represents the end of an era. At the UK & Ireland conference 11-13 May we will vote on the proposed changes to the structure of our Division. London Toastmasters' success means that we now have so many clubs that the proposal is to create three Divisions in London to accommodate our future growth. Assuming the proposal is accepted we will have three Division finals within Greater London next year.

Thank you again to everyone who was there on Saturday. It was dazzlingly high quality in Venue, Organisation, Workshops, Contest and ‘Joie de Vivre!! What a way to end one era and start three others!  Your individual and collective contributions made the day what it was!

Photos by Chee-Hoong Wong.

From Toastmaster to Professional Speaker - Workshop 9 May 2012

Wednesday 9 May Excalibur Speakers presents: “From Toastmaster to Professional Speaker”

A workshop led by Distinguished Toastmaster Bob Ferguson.  Bob, who has won three out of the four UK & Ireland Speech Championships, has been on his own journey into professional speaking over the last five years. Bob will share the tips he’s gleaned to help speakers make the transition from Toastmaster to Professional Speaker.

Advanced booking is required. Please email Simon Cooper if you would like to attend. Click here to email.

When and where: 7pm - 9pm at the Fitzrovia Community Centre, Foley Street, London W1W 6DN  (NOTE: NOT at the normal Excalibur Venue)

During the evening Bob will be sharing his thoughts on :

• Developing as a professional speaker
• Looking for clients
• Picking your subject
• Marketing your self.
• Assessing your value as a speaker.

The whole session will be interactive, with notes to fill in, so that you can develop your own action plan during the evening. Email Simon NOW to guarantee your place!

Results of the London Toastmasters Contest Finals

For everyone who was unable to attend the excellent day of workshops and contests....the results were:

International Speech contest:

1. Jakub Pawlowski  (Polish Your Polish)
2. Errol Williamson   (Excalibur - Riverside Communicators)
3. Chee-Hoong Wong  (ACCA Breakfast Club)


Evaluation Contest:

1. Lynne Cantor (Excalibur – WIBF City).
2. Chris Boden (Holborn Speakers)
3. Jenny Crossley (MLP London Bridge Speakers)

 Jakub and Lynne will go on to represent London Toastmasters at the UK & Ireland Conference which includes the Finals of the Evaluation Contest and the next round of the International Speech Contest.  Read more about the Conference which takes place 11-13 May in Wexford, Ireland http://www.wowconference.ie/

Half a million secrets. Now there's a story...

From Dorothea Stuart

Here is an example of great speaking: interesting content combined with excellent delivery and storytelling.

"Hello my name is Frank and I collect secrets....."

Thank you to NPR for highlighting this video talk by Frank Warren 

London Contest Finals and Great Workshops THIS SATURDAY!

The London Toastmasters Division B International Speech & Evaluation Contest Finals  

Saturday 21 April 2012 at

Cass Business School 106 Bunhill Row

London EC1Y 8TZ

Get your ticket now!!

We will have four excellent workshops in the morning (click on register button to read full details)  and the contests will be held in the afternoon.

The workshops commence  at 10.00 am. The contests commence  at 1.30pm

The winners will represent London Division B at the District 71 UK & Ireland Contests, on Saturday and Sunday 12-13 May 2012,  during the ‘WOW’ Wexford Conference [www.wowconference.ie/]. Every contestant will need your support!

As well as being a Special Day for Toastmasters, this is an excellent opportunity to bring along friends, relatives, colleagues and guests who have visited your club.  Invite them so they can have an outstanding experience!

To book, all you need do is to go to Eventbrite by clicking the orange button.

Come and hear top speakers at nearby Division Contest Finals

Yes our London Contest finals are on Saturday 21 April 2012 at Cass Business School and we want you all to come along....AND there are great speakers to hear at the other nearby Division Finals that are happening SOON.

Saturday 14 April the clubs in Division G are holding their finals and workshops in Huntingdon Read more here.

Saturday 21 April the LONDON Division B Finals and workshops book your tickets here:

Sunday 22 April the Division J Finals and workshops in Cheltenham Download Div J Contest Flyer April 2012 (4)

Saturday 28 April 6pm-9.30pm the Division H Finals in Oxted, Surrey Read more here

 

Enjoy a Backwards Evening at London Athenians (and hone your listening skills)!

From Keith Gautier, London Athenians

Ever wondered what it would be like if a Toastmaster’s evening ran in reverse order?

Well now is your chance! This is a fun night; the whole of the evening’s programme will be run in reverse.  The evening starts with the President closing the meeting and ends when he opens it.  The evaluations will be given before we’ve heard the speeches, the topics will be given before the questions have been set and general confusion and mayhem will reign. 

The brief is that you can set up anyone who’s role comes after yours.  It is important to listen carefully to anyone that can set you up and then you have to try and incorporate it into your performance when you appear later.

When: 7pm on Tuesday 17 April 2012.  Where: the upstairs function room, The Hop Poles, 17-19 King Street, Hammersmith London W6 9HR (close to Hammersmith Underground and Bus Stations).

Please join us for a special evening!  Download Backwards evening flyer 17 April 2012