The London Speaker

Join us for a Table Topics Marathon Wed 12 Dec 2012

From Adam Straker, St Paul's Speakers

I remember it well. The year was 1990 and the orange double-decker buses of my native Manchester were all adorned with the slogan Welcome to the 90s: as though they had been there all along while the rest of the world stubbornly insisted on getting the 1980s out of the way first.

It seemed that the world was changing and not for the better. I don’t know the exact month in which it happened but my childhood was dealt a telling blow when Marathon – the popular chocolate bar – metamorphosed into Snickers. Questions: who was responsible? How did this happen? What has this got to do with Table Topics. Answers: I have no idea!

I suppose it’s about following a train of thought. This particular train saw the words Topic and Marathon in the title and immediately, and glutinously, began thinking about chocolate; it could happen to anyone. Have I come any closer to explaining what this is all about? No! Have I enjoyed myself You bet!

But let’s cut to the chase: on 12/12/12, St Paul’s Speakers will be hosting a Table Topics Marathon.

Over two breathless hours, we will have four Table Topics Masters bring you brilliantly conceived, and ingenious, Table Topics sessions whereby each speaker has 30-45 seconds to evaluate the person who spoke before them and then a couple of minutes to riff on a subject of the Topics Master’s choice. Appalling amounts of fun will be had by all.

How do I book my place? Email Helen Mahony  Click here to email – First Come First Serve

Where is it? City Temple Conference Centre, Holborn Viaduct (closest tubes Chancery Lane and Farringdon)

What date: The last one of its kind for 89 years (I’ll leave it to you to work out why) 12/12/12

What time? 18:15

Give your friends a present - bring them to Toastmasters!

From Dorothea Stuart

The survey on The London Speaker has now been completed by 600 people.

We asked: how did you first learn about Toastmasters?

49% from a friend

20% via the internet

11% through my company

Although the internet % has been increasing slowly it shows that spreading the word by talking to your friends about Toastmasters is important.  Encourage more people to come along to a Toastmasters club in 2013!

Congratulations to NZICA Bank Speakers

From Andrew Pratt, President NZICA Bank Speakers

NZICA celebrated their 5^th Birthday in style with special guests Freddie Daniells (UK & Ireland District 71 Governor) and Greg Ross (London Division L Governor) along with NZICA founding member and first president Justin Ryan. 

Justin gave an inspiring talk about joining Toastmasters in New Zealand and deciding to give back the gift of Toastmasters to others by starting a new club.  Justin said he ‘brought two children into this world and a toastmasters club’. 

After a round of ten table topics everyone could relax and enjoy the prepared speeches.  We had an Ice Breaker, a No 5 speech and ended with a No 10 Speech so were truly entertained by the range of speakers.  Elizabeth Graves was awarded for completing her CC and Janice Chan the CL.  At the close of the meeting we cut the lovely chocolate birthday cake and drank some more wine. 

NZICA Bank Speakers meeting on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7.30AM, Gresham Street EC2. Please email if you would like to visit (Click here to email). Our next meeting is on 6 December 2012.

Picture Left to Right: Greg Ros (Div L Governor), Andrew Pratt (5^th and current president of Bank Speakers), Donna Hicks (4^th President and current Area 33 Governor), Simon Christley (2^nd President), Justin Ryan (1^st President and founder of Bank Speakers), and Freddie Daniells (D71 Governor).  Unfortunately Shelley Des Forges our 3^rd President could not make it.

Thank you to Chee-Hoong Wong for the photos.