The London Speaker

London Communicators launches new website!

From Nicola Schmidt, London Communicators

We're very pleased to announce that we launch of our fantastic new website this month. 

The site has a new and improved look and feel including some new features that will make visiting the site a quicker, easier and more interactive experience. We have links to our social networks, a new and improved contact us form, a search facility, a gallery, RSS feeds to the latest goings on at The London Speaker, a new google diary showing our meeting schedule and a members area. 

We hope to add more functionality to the site in due course, like a new online payment system, a forum for members and more dynamic imagery.

We hope you will enjoy the new website and we would love to hear what you think. Take a look around, there is lots to see. londoncommunicators.org.uk

London Communicators meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. Come and visit.

Area 6 Contest results

From Margaret Kramarz, Area 6 Governor

The Area 6 International Speech Contest is always a memorable event and 26 March was no exception; an evening full of entertainment, laughter, but also reflection and inspiration.

Nigel Cutts (DTM) as the Contest Chair and Peter Goodwin (CC) as Chief Judge were in charge of the contest hosted for the first time by our youngest club, Phoenix Speakers.

Eight contestants representing four clubs inspired the audience with their wonderful speeches. Some made us laugh, some moved us to tears.

The Mystery Speaker was treated to eight insightful evaluations.

The winners of the Area 6 International Speech and Evaluations Contests are:

International Speech Contest : Shane Snow, ACS - Phoenix Speakers

Evaluation Contest:  Simon Bucknall CC,CL - London Cardinals

Congratulations to the winners and a huge thanks to Phoenix Speakers and their team for organizing such a superb contest.

The next round of the contest is Division B on Saturday 20 April.

Area 52 Contest Results

From Ash Sethi, Area 52 Governor

Area 52 , Division B held their International Speech and Evaluation contest on Monday 25 March to a packed audience at the Cumberland Hotel, home to Grosvenor Square Speakers.

Area 52 Governor, Ash Sethi opened the proceedings with Michelle Chung President of Imperial College Speakers as Contest Chair.

After a thrilling competition with the 5 club winners from Grosvenor Square Speaker, Berkeley Square Speakers, Imperial College Speakers, Polish Your Polish and Kings Speakers giving their all the Area winners were announced: Andrew Bennett of Berkeley Square for the Evaluation contest and Taz Virdee of Grosvenor Square for the International Speech contest.

Pictured is Jakob Pawłowski (Division B Governor) , Hiliary Briggs (Lt Governor of Marketing, UK & Ireland), Taz Virdee, Andrew Bennett, Ash Sethi and Michelle Chung.

Both winners will now go ahead to the Division B final on Saturday 20 April. 

AREA 35 International Speech and Evaluation Contest

From Joe White VP PR, Croydon Communicators

Croydon Communicators will be hosting the AREA 35 International Speech and Evaluation Contest on Saturday 13 April  from 13:45 to 18:00 at our venue, Mind in Croydon, 10 Altyre Road, Croydon, CR0 5LA - Just 2 mins walk from East Croydon station. 

Look here for a map: Fairfield House

You are invited to join us for this special occasion, as contestants from Bromley Speakers, Speakers of Croydon, Croydon Communicators and Purley Speakers compete with each other for the bigger prize!

We hope you can make it and look forward to see you there! Will be a great night to remember!!!

Or if you want to take part… we are looking for more JUDGES, USHERS, TIME KEEPERS, BALLOT COUNTERS.

If you’re interested in taking on a role please let us know… 

Contact:

Area Governor David Longley - click to email

Joe White CC VPPR - click to email

Speakers of Croydon have a new venue

From Adrian S Moore, Speakers of Croydon

From 2 April 2013, Speakers of Croydon will be moving to a  new venue. The move to the new venue coincides with our International Speech Contest and Evaluation contest. We'd love you to come and visit us then or for one of our regular meetings

The address for our new venue is:

Conference Room, CVA Resource Centre, 82 London Road, Croydon, CR0 2TB MAP

The CVA Resource Centre is on the London Road, about two minutes’ walk from West Croydon station. The club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month. We assemble at 19:15 for a 19:30 start. 

Area 6 Contests Tuesday 26 March - please join us!

From Alex Hood, Phoenix Speakers

What are you doing on Tuesday?

That's right, you're coming along to help support the contestants in the Area Six contests for the International Speech Contest and the Evaluation Speech Contest.

Time: 7:30 - 10:15 Venue: Myhotel Chelsea, 35 Ixworth Place, London, SW3 3QX near South Kensington tube station

It's the cheapest evening you'll have all week. It's practically free - although we are asking for entry through donation to help allay the costs. (Thank you in advance.)

Anyway, it's at myhotel Chelsea (35 Ixworth Place, London, SW3 3QX) so super easy to get to.  South Kensington tube station is on both the Piccadilly and District Lines.

Did I mention that Hugh Jackman is going to be there?  And for the men Anne Hathaway too?  They're doing a duet from Les Mis apparently.

Detailed directions and a map are available here: Myhotels-Chelsea

Nigel Cutts, past Area Six Governor, is our contest chair so that's reason enough on its own to go. Plus there'll be eight amazing speeches, a mystery speech from a mysterious speaker and a further eight insightful and eloquent evaluations.

Hope to see lots of you there.

World Champion of Public Speaking Darren LaCroix in London!!

From Jakub Pawlowski, Division B Governor

I got an e-mail a few days ago saying that Darren LaCroix, World Champion of Public Speaking 2001, is coming to Europe and could stop over in London.

After exchanging numerous e-mails with Greg Ros and others, including Darren and his PA, we've settled on the date and venue for what will be a fantastic event.

http://darren-lacroix-london.eventbrite.com/

When? Monday 8 April 6pm-8.30pm Where? Freemasons' Hall, Covent Garden. Click through to Eventbrite to read all the details. You'll want to be there!

Judges and Keynote Speaker required 11 April

From Joe White, Croyon Communicators

Croydon Communicators will be holding our club International Speech and Evaluation Contest on Thursday 11 April  from 6.45pm our regular venue, Mind in Croydon, 10 Altyre Road, Croydon, CR0 5LA - Just 2 mins walk from East Croydon station. You are invited to join us for this special occasion to watch our members compete with each other for a place at the Area 35 Contest, which will also be held at out venue our club on Saturday 13 April (Start 13:45 to 18:00).

We hope you can make it and look forward to see you there! It will be a great night to remember!!!

We are looking for more Judges, a Keynote Speaker  …….

If you are interested in a role or if you can be a Judge then do please let us know…Contact our Club VPE – Cheryn Bloom via email at: click to email

For more information about our club please visit: www.croydoncommunicators.org. Or follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/CroydonToast

 

Excalibur Workshop. Becoming a professional speaking coach. Led by Simon Bucknall

From Dave Sellman, VP PR Excalibur Speakers

Excalibur Speakers, Fitzrovia Community Centre, 1 Foley St, London W1W 6DN. Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:45 for 19.00 start to 21:00. Book now at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/5953907297

At Toastmasters we learn many of theskills required to be an effective speaking coach - not only by speaking toaudiences but by evaluarting and mentoring fellow speakers. Making that transition can be challenging.

Drawing on first-hand experience, Simon’s session will help you to explore the professional speaking world beyond Toastmasters, with particular emphasis on speaker coaching.
 
Issues which Simon will cover include:
 
The marketplace for speaking coaches and how to decide whether this might be for you, full or part-time
 
What relevant skills you will get from Toastmasters and what skills you may need to develop separately
 
How to develop new business & top tips for business planning
 
How to make the jump from Toastmasters to paid (or unpaid) coaching commissions. 

There will be a £5 admission charge to cover venue and other expenses.

Simon Bucknall, twice winner of the UK & Ireland International Speech Contest and former President of Excalibur Speakers, took these skills to embark on a career in leadership communication coaching through his company, The Art of Connection, which helps high-achievers to connect, influence and inspire through the spoken word. 

New Member Chinkata Okpara scoops up awards at Advanced club!!

From Simon Cooper, President Excalibur Speakers

At the Excalibur Speakers contest members and guests were thoroughly entertained by 6 inspiring
speakers and informative evaluators.

The speeches were in turn inspirational and moving, drawing from personal and family experience. These ranged from the uplifting tale by Andrew Bennett about a mysterious “Good Friday boy”, Sue Mannering’s story of how a bad personal experience led her to discover her true friends, and a moving speech by Jennifer Zou about family relationships that had some of the audience in tears. The winning speech was delivered by new member Chinkata Okpara who recently completed his 10^th CC speech (pictured here with Area Governor Jacqueline Purcell and Simon Cooper).

In the second part the evaluators had the challenge of giving feedback to guest speaker Christopher Bell from Elvet Speakers in Durham who gave a well-crafted speech with tips on overcoming the terror of public speaking! Most of the speakers commended the content and structure of the speech, but gave varied recommendations. Possibly the most original comment came from Chinkata who said he appreciated Chris’s reminder that it’s OK to lose! Despite this Chinkata also went on to win the Evaluation contest.

The next rounds are the Area 45 contests will be held at Masonic Hall Covent Garden on Tuesday 9 April 2013.  Going forward to represent Excalibur are Chinkata Akpara and Andrew Bennett for the International Speech Contest, and Chinkata and Errol Williamson for the Evaluation Contest.