The London Speaker

Division B Humorous Speech and Table Topics - Results

From Jakub Pawlowski, Division B Governor

On Saturday, 20 October 2012, we held the Greater London Division B mini-conference. The full day program consisted of the morning session of workshops followed by Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests in the afternoon. Everything happened in one of the most prestigious Toastmasters venues in London, Freemasons' Hall, the home of Early Birds and Covent Garden Speakers. I'm really grateful to those clubs for helping with organisation because (and they confirm it) if I relied only on my organisational skills the whole day definitely wouldn't  have been such a great success.

Attendees could choose from three exceptional workshops:

• Master Memory Techniques (Paul Walsh)
• Powerful Presence (Richard Stacey)
• The Brilliant Communication Skills of Highly Successful People (Richard Fallon)

But the tension sky-rocketed when the Contest Chair, Tazud Miah started the Humorous Speech Contest. We had 5 fabulous contestants:

Ronn Fraser (Epsom Speakers), Glen Savage (Riverside Communicators), Paul Thomas (Early Bird Speakers), Andrew Stead (Berkeley Square Speakers) and Jessie McNeil-Brown (London Cardinals)

Laura McCracken, gracefully led us through the Table Topics Contest. Again we had 5 contestants:

Ronn Fraser (Epsom Speakers), David Jones (Excalibur Speakers), Gosia Górna (Polish Your Polish), Surinder Walia (Trojan Speakers) and Atul Patel (Phoenix Speakers) 

Judges had a really tough job as the standard in both contests was extremely high, but they decided on the following order:

Humorous Speech Contest:

1st place Andrew Stead, 2nd place, Glen Savage 3rd place Ronn Fraser

Table Topics Contest:

1st place David Jones, 2nd place Gosia Górna, 3rd place Surinder Walia

Before the results were announced, Harminder Dhillon (Trojan Speakers) was awarded the title of Division B Toastmaster of the Year for his efforts as well as successfully setting up the club Kings Speakers and getting to the chartered status. Pedro Casillas from Grosvenor Square Speakers was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation. 

We had an inspiring speech from DLT representative, Lt Governor Marketing, Hilary Briggs and the presentation from Taz Virdee who is Division B coordinator for the Youth Leadership Program.

Congratulations to Andrew and David who will go to represent our Division in Ireland during the UK & Ireland  District 71 Conference in Cork, 9-11 November 2012. I hope that many people from Division B will come to support them!  Read more and book here: http://cork71.com/

Pictured above left to right: Jakub Pawlowski Division B Governor, Andrew Stead, David Jones. Thank you to Julie Kertesz for the photograph. 

 

Area 31 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests - Results

From Jeanne Kruger, Area 31 Governor

Area 31 had a great contest evening with our new clubs participating fully and having much success!

The results were as follows:

Humorous Speech Contest

1. Pauline Miller (State Street London Speakers)

2. David Marks (Russian English Speakers)

3. Paul Coulson (Speakeasy @ CreditSuisse)

Table Topics Contest:

1. Colm Doherty (Russian English Speakers)

2. Nicky Kruger (Canary Wharf Communicators)

Unfortunately Colm has had to withdraw from the Division Contest, but we are delighted that Nicky Kruger will participate as the Area 31 representative in the Division K contest.

Get yourself on the guest list for the Division K contests on Thursday 25 October 2012. Click here for more information http://divkcontest2012.eventbrite.com

Area 34 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests - Results

From Aaron Wood, Area 34 Governor

A thrilling contest hosted by Bloomsbury Speakers gave Area 34 its new King of Grins and Emperor of Extempore.  A great night led with aplomb by Femi Asaolu and Gary Shaw saw the Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest fought to determine the brightest lights in Midtown.
 
It was a night of laughs and warmth and saw the following crowned:
 
Humorous Speech winner:  Glen Long
Table Topics winner:  Chris Boden
 
Area 34 sends on its champions with great gusto to Division level, and looks forward to seeing a great battle there!

Book your free place at the Division L Contest now at http://london-toastmasters.eventbrite.co.uk/. It's on Friday 26 October 6.30pm-8.30pm. Cass Business School, EC1 close to Old Street and Moorgate Stations.

---

Purley Speakers Demonstration Meeting Sat 27 Oct

From Dave Longley, Area 35 Governor

Join us at Purley Library on Saturday 27 October, when Purley Speakers will be holding a Demonstration Meeting

Doors open 1:00 pm, and the meeting will start at 1:30 pm

With prepared speeches, table topics and lots of evaluations, there'll be plenty of opportunities to participate, or simply sit back & enjoy the event!

Purley Library is in Banstead Road, Purley CR8 3YH. It's a short walk fron Purley Station (plenty of trains from London Bridge & Victoria). Click here for a map.

For more info contact Dave. Click here to email. Look forward to seeing you there!

Improve your evaluation skills at Tube Talk this Wednesday

From Mildred Talabi, VP PR Tube Talk  

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of an evaluation you will know that there is a right and a wrong way to give feedback.

The right way can greatly enhance your Toastmasters experience, your work life, and even your personal .relationships; the wrong way can have devastating consequences for all of the above!

On Wednesday 24 October 2012 we’ll be holding a very special meeting at Tube Talk where we’re turning over the entire second half of the evening to evaluations.

We’re absolutely delighted to have the current UK and Ireland Evaluation Champion, Lynne Cantor, join us to deliver an hour-long workshop on how to give effective evaluations. In this exciting session, Lynne will cover:

• How to prepare for an evaluation
• What to look for when evaluating
• How to structure an evaluation
• Special tips and tricks of evaluating
• ...and much more!

So if you’ve ever struggled to give feedback or longed to deliver better evaluations at your club meetings, then come down and join us – all are welcome (you don’t have to be a Tube worker!).

We meet at 6pm for a 6.15pm start at Templar House, 81-87 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NU.

You must confirm your attendance, so please email our VP Education Ola Aralepo - Click here to email Ola

And if you’re on Facebook, join us on our newly formed Tube Talk page for up to date news and behind the scenes pictures and videos from club meetings! Click here to ‘like’: www.facebook.com/TubeTalk

See you Weds 24 Oct! Remember - email Ola now!

Please Tweet at the Division B workshops & contests today

From Jakub Pawlowski, Division B Governor

For the first time ever, we'll cover Division B using social media. We encouraged attendees to share interesting quotes, updates on what's going on and your thoughts from the workshop and contests by using the following hashtag: #DivBContest.
If you cannot attend, please search for that hashtag and wait for updates.

Also please follow our account: @LDNToastmasters.

If you don't know what a hashtag is, have a look on this tutorial:

http://www.hatchedit.com/blog/Twitter-Tutorial-How-to-Tweet-A-Conference.htm
https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309-what-are-hashtags-symbols

Please also like our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/londontoastmasters

After the contest we'll upload there some photos and you can tag yourself on those pictures. Those who attended will be able to relive the experience, those who couldn't come will see what they missed. Let's have a social media fun today!

Distinguished Toastmaster at Experience French - Mon 22 Oct

From Rafael Tselikas VPPR

Andrew P Bennett Distinguished Toastmaster and District 71 Youth Leadership Advisor will be the Toastmaster for the third meeting of Experience French on Monday 22 October 2012. 6.15 pm for 6.30 pm prompt start, Thiman Room, City Temple , Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DE.

Andrew lived in France for 15 years and worked in French Opera Houses. He still makes regular trips across the channel for concerts which help to keep up his linguistic skills.

We look forward to welcoming you to our meeting. Tell your French speaking friends about Experience French!  Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/experiencefrench

Division B contests finals/workshops 20 Oct book by Friday morning!

BOOK, BOOK, BOOK your tickets for the Division B Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest finals on Saturday afternoon...AND...the morning workshops.  A fun day in the heart of London. http://2012-autumn-divisionb.eventbrite.com.  You'll find all the details on this evenbrite link.

YOU MUST BOOK YOUR TICKET BY 11AM ON FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER.

Click to book http://2012-autumn-divisionb.eventbrite.com

Halloween Debate Tues 30 October - please join us!

From Amber Raney-Kincade, Area 58 Governor

Broadgate Speakers and City Speakers will be having a joint Halloween debate evening on Tuesday 30th October 2012. There will be 3 prepared debates and for these we need 3 teams of 3 people (6 debaters plus 3 reserve debaters). The topics will be communicated to the debating teams before the event. However, people will only know whether they will be debating for or against the premise of the debates on the evening.

At the end of each debate people from the audience will be able to stand up and add their ideas to the debates. So, we will all have the opportunity to speak.

Where - Trident Bar and Restaurant on 27-29 Mitre Street, EC3A 5BZ

When - Tuesday 30^th October at 6.30 p.m. for a start at 6.45 p.m.

Please let Lilly know by Monday 22nd Oct if you are coming and whether you would want to be one of the debaters. Email Lilly Click Here Otherwise, do come along and provide an audience for these debates! Will you be routing for City Speakers or Broadgates Speakers?

To celebrate Halloween, at the end of the meeting, stick around to have some nibbles and a drink. See you soon and may the best team win!

Area 53 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests - Results

Last night Epsom Speakers Club hosted the first Area 53 contests which were enthusiastically  attended by members of all three clubs in the area, with the added excitement of our present Division B governor, Jakub Pawlawski, and our former Division H governor, Richard Murray, gracing the occasion!   Our chief judge was our neighbouring Area 14’s Area Governor, Vanessa King.

The winner of BOTH contests, and therefore going through to Saturday’s glittering Div B contest is Epsom’s own RONN FRASER.  The talent and awards were spread across all the clubs. The runners up in the Humorous Speech Contest were Deborah Crate of Mole Valley Speakers and Anjana Roy of Epsom.  The runners up in the Table Topics contest were Fiona Harrison from Mole Valley and Karl Miller from London Borough of Merton Speakers. 

The picture shows Jakub and those placed in the speech contest, Ronn, Anjana and Deborah.  Big Ronn’s grin says it all! Good luck on Saturday to you, Ronn.

Book your ticket for the Division B contests/workshops in Covent Garden, Saturday 20 October http://2012-autumn-divisionb.eventbrite.com