From Jacqueline Purcell AC Gold Division B Governor
It was Ralph Smedley, founder of Toastmasters who said: The unprepared speaker has a right to be afraid’ and this rings true for all toastmasters, especially when it comes to contests. The stakes are high and if you are a competitive speaker, you cannot help but feel some anxiety mixed with an unmistakable adrenalin rush.
But why should you care enough to give up an entire Saturday? Because watching speakers compete is tremendously informative. Ralph Smedley said that we observe, not only what works and what doesn’t, but we also learn from a speakers’ choice of, and knowledge of their topic. This makes attending Toastmasters a double learning curve…and when it’s contest time, surely, it becomes a triple learning curve! The reason this is so, is because contestants will showcase the very best that they have to offer, because the stakes are high.
This year the Division B workshops are especially interesting because of the mix of commercial speakers and high profile experts who rarely find the time to attend such functions. You will hear from Keynote Speakers such as Dr Robin Walker, producer of Croydon Television on his topic: The Power of Television. Robin has a special offer, exclusively for Toastmaster audiences, but you’ll have to be at the contest in order to hear the details.
The popular TV personality, Suzanne Parker will tell of her fascinating journey: How I became a TV Presenter. Those aspiring for a TV career should not miss this opportunity to ask her questions.
Julie Kertesz DTM, persuaded workshop speakers such as world class trainer, Joanna Yates to explain why we should Connect with True Stories how it can liberate our personalities and assist us in finding our authentic style. She explains how and not only why. Christopher Howell has a background in Psychology, Organisation Development and NLP. His workshop topic is entitled: At the Service of your Audience with top techniques on how to engage at a high level no matter whether you are speaking to 50 or 500. If you want to know how to connect and be memorable, don’t miss that session. Andrew P Bennett DTM follows with an insightful: Body and Voice workshop that gives speakers a commanding lead when they present. He really knows how to manage a stage!
The ever popular, Freddie Daniells delivers: Seven Insights into Winning International Speeches and he should know because he has seen and learnt from the best in the world.
This year the standard of contestants is exceptionally high with quick thinking and clear points of view from our topics speakers plus humorous speakers who are all very funny. I laughed from start to finish when hearing the amazingly funny stories, well delivered with comic timing intact!
But why should we attend contests? I believe that it’s in order to bench mark ourselves against the best in the business. When we compare ourselves with others we realise one of two things… how far we have come or how far we have yet to go. For the contestants it’s about how well they perform when the stakes are high. This is all valuable information to know.
See you on Saturday 19 October 2013. Prepare to Laugh and Learn!
Date: 19 October 2013 Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venue: Freemasons Hall Address: 60, Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AZ
Nearest Tubes: Covent Garden or Holborn. To book your place, please go NOW to: http://divisionbcontests.eventbrite.co.uk/
