The London Speaker

Area 61 International Speech and Evaluation Contests - results

From Coralie Frances, Area 61 Governor

The Area 61 International Speech and Evaluation contest was held on Saturday afternoon in the Manor House Banqueting Hall, Stanmore.

All four clubs in the Area took part. (Croxley Communicators, Harrovian Speakers, HOD Speakers and Watford Speakers.)

Chief Judge was Area Governor Coralie Frances and the contest was chaired by Alan Gillman.

 William Dempster, HOD Speakers, UK and Ireland’s International Speech winner 2013, again emerged the winner of the speech contest in a hotly contested competition, Alan McMahon from Watford Speakers was 2^nd and Gosbert Chagula, Harrovians Speakers was 3^rd.

The awards were presented by the Honorary Alderman of Harrow, Keith Toms. He is pictured here with William Dempster.

Gill Ornstein, also from HOD Speakers won the Evaluation contest, Angela Lansbury, Harrovians Speakers came 2^nd and Gosbert Chagula also from Harrovians came third.

Wanda Garraway from Vale Speakers was the test speaker.

Pictured Alan Gillman and Gill Ornstein

 

 

Keith Toms pictured here with Angela Lansbury and below with Gosbert Chagula.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this first Area 61 International Speech contest such a success and HOD speakers for hosting the event and providing the delicious refreshments. 

Thank you to Angela Lansbury for the photos of Gill, Gosbert, Alan and Coralie and to Trevor Sharot for the  pictures with Keith Toms.

Come and see our winners at the Division L Contests - this Friday 4 April, 7pm, City Temple Conference Centre, Holborn Viaduct.

Two events with International Speech World Finalist Olivia Schofield

From Ayse Lowe

Hi London Toastmasters!!

Are we ready for one of the best speakers' in the world!! After Julie Kertesz's extremely hard work, finally Olivia Schofield decided to come to London! Did you buy your ticket yet?

Olivia Schofield is giving a 45 minute Key Note speech during Division B contest on Saturday 12 April. Here is the link for Division B contest:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrate-diversity-division-b-workshops-contests-tickets-10708909637

Olivia Schofield is also giving a two-hour long workshop "Speak to Inspire" and will share her tips for a great speech on Monday 14 April. This event will be presented by Division B Governor Jacqueline Purcell. Here is the link for Olivia Schofield's Speak to Inspire Workshop:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/speak-to-inspire-with-olivia-schofield-tickets-10926012999

Dont miss out these events!

Area 45 Governor Elect announced + impromptu contest report

From Michelle Cheung, Area 45 Governor

In the quaint and cosy room of the Duke of York pub, the three giants of Area 45 sharpened their senses and honed their wits in preparation for battle to win the title of Best Impromptu Speaking club of Area 45!

The chosen ones representing
- Covent Garden Speakers: Patrick Baron, Ken Essien, Jonathan Mueller.
- Early Bird Speakers: Al Cowie, Dexter Coles, Ian Hawkins.
- Excalibur Speakers: David Marks, Sebastian Boo, Andrew Bennett.

Each team had to select a member to tackle each round of impromptu speech topic, with 5 minutes preparation for a 5 minute speech, timed to perfection by timekeeper Graeme Phillips and sergeant at arms,  Neil Coleman. The topics were conjured up by myself and co-chair, Jill Segal, linking "bat", "sumo" and "Lamborghini" in the sports round, "the proof is in the pudding" food themed round and lastly, a speech about "pot". Three rounds later, the audience judged votes declared a triple first place in a three-way tie!

The area 45 Governor elections voted in Lyn Roseaman as the next leader to support and grow this highly talented area to better and greater success. I wish Lyn all the best in her year as Area Governor (which runs from 1 July 2014). I know she has grand plans and I know she will receive the full support of the magnificent area, as I did this year.

Many thanks to all who came to participate and help out. I look forward to many more Impromptu speech contests all around London!

Picture: Michelle and Lyn

Solve Your Business Communication Issues on 14 April at Grosvenor Square Speakers!

From Lyn Roseaman, Grosvenor Square Speakers

Do you struggle to make your point in meetings? Maybe you are not winning the client or funding pitch, or do you struggle to persuade or inspire your colleagues around you? Do you hate presenting to prospects or colleagues? Have you ever dreaded speaking at a conference? Maybe you feel your voice isn't heard among all those strong alpha voices? Maybe you struggle to succinctly explain what it is that you or your company do? Or possibly you are looking for a job and realise that you aren't selling yourself very well? 

You are not alone. Many people find that it is not talent or knowledge holding them back from greater business success but, rather, their ability to communicate that talent and knowledge.

On 14 April 2014, Freddie Daniells is going to lead an innovative and fun session that will provide you practical tips and answers to help you become a better communicator at your workplace. We will use the collective wisdom of the audience, our learning from Toastmasters and the extensive experience of our facilitator, Freddie Daniells, who has both failed and learned how to be successful in all of the above communication areas. 

Marc Lottig - Area 52 Governor elect

From Jill Segal, Area 52 Governor

In addition to our Area Contests on 27 March the Area 52 Council held the election for our Area Governor for 2014/15.

We were honoured to have Lieutenant Governor Education and Training, Hilary Briggs and Division B Governor, Jacqueline Purcell present as Marc Lottig, currently VPE at Berkeley Square Speakers, was elected the next Area 52 Governor. Marc will take office on 1 July 2014.

Jill is pictured here with Marc.

 

Photo credit: Malgorzata Skibinska

Area 52 International Speech & Evaluation Contests: Clash of the Titans

From Jill Segal, Area 52 Governor

Area 52 clubs, hosted by the hospitable Kings Speakers, had a nail-biting evening on Thursday 27 March. When the pick of Berkeley Square Speakers, Grosvenor Square Speakers, Imperial College Speakers, King’s Speakers and Polish Your Polish took to the stage we could feel the excitement and anticipation. Silent admiration was almost as loud, metaphorically, as the applause was tumultuous.

Presided over by Area 52 Governor Jill Segal the contests were slickly conducted by contest chair Lyn Roseaman and Chief Judge Andrew Bennett. Al Johnson was the Surprise Speaker – or at least a mystery to our evaluation contestants and a surprise to himself. At 36 hours notice he stepped into the breach created when the arranged speaker stood down to cope with a family emergency. 9 anonymous judges had the difficult task of deciding the order of 5 fantastic speakers in each contest. They rose to the occasion.

 

The results for the International Speech contestt were:

1. Gene Tavener  2. David Salamons 3. Pedro Casillas.

 

 

 

 

 

In the Evaluation contest they were:

1. Cat Kipling 2. Pedro Casillas 3. Monika Kraska.

 

 

A must for the diary: Division B guest speakers and contests AM and PM on 12 April 2014 at Freemasons Hall Eventbrite -Celebrate Diversity

Photo credit: Jacqueline Purcell

Area 34 Governor for 2014-15 elected

From Graeme Phillips, Area 34 Governor

I am very pleased to announced that David Marks is now our Area 34 Governor elect. David will take over the Area Governor role from 1 July 2014.

David is an experienced Toastmaster. His many contributions include founding Russian English Speakers.

He will be a great support to our area and an asset to London Division L.

Area 59 Governor for 2014-15 elected

From Katy Woolcott, Area 59 Governor

As the seasons progress, so do the new opportunities arise, and we are at that time of year where we look for the incoming committee members to take over roles for the new toastmaster year commencing 1^st July 2014.  Likewise the same process has been taking place at Area Level too, and after the area conntests, in the Area Council meeting we elected my replacement for the role of Area Governor  next year who will be Ajit Kulkarni.  I am delighted that Ajit takes this role, he has been a real asset to the Area this year as my  Assistant Area Governor.  Ajit Kulkarni is also the current president of Citi Criers.  It is nice to know that I will be handing my role over to a safe pair of hands.  Ajit is in the centre of the picture below next to Darren LaCroix.

With regards to the Area 59 Generally, we continue to excel 80% of the clubs in our area already have Distinguished Club status and above, and we hope to have all clubs up to this threshold by the end of the year.  Well done to all the committee members who have delivered these fine results in serving their club members  so well. 

Area 59 International Speech & Evaluation Contests - results

From Katy Woolcott, Area 59 Governor

What an energy filled night we all had!The evening was made by the high number of attendees from all the clubs in the area, and also outside the area too!

The standard of prepared speeches and evaluations was excellent.We had drama too! Our mystery speaker had us on the edge of our chairs as to whether indeed we were going to have a speech! What a tease,all part of the fun though. As we only have four Areas in our Division we are permitted to send our 1^st and 2^nd place contestants both for the speech and the evaluation to the Division Contest , which is to be held at MLP Speakers, Ernst & Young, 1 More Place, SE1 2AF on the 25 April. Hope as many of our members will be there to support them (Flavia, Kayus and Wayne)!

The results of the Area 59 International Speech and Evaluation Contest were:-

International Speech Competition

1st Flavia Gordon (Lewisham Speakers)

2nd Kayus Fernander (Citi Criers)

3rd Stephen Edun  (Meridian Speakers)

Pictured L to R: Flavia, Katy, Kayus, Stephen

Evaluation Competition

1st Kayus Fernander (Citi Criers)

2nd Wayne Hannaway (London Trustmasters)

3rd Julia Mundy (Meridian Speakers)

Pictured L to R Julia, Katy, Kayys and Wayne

Thank you to Julie Kertesz for the photos.

Area 34 International Speech and Evaluation Contests - results

From Graeme Phillips, Area 34 Governor

A big thank to all our contestants, chief judge, judges, functionaries and mystery speaker and our enthusiastic audience for making the Area 34 contest evening such a success. Thank you also to Tube Talk for hosting at their corporate HQ. The results were as follows:

 

Evaluation contest

1st place: -  Liz Hobbs

2nd place: - Kaveh Pourvand

3rd place: -  Carl Rodrigues

Pictured L to R: Graeme Phillips AG, Liz and Simon our Chief Judge

 

 

 

International Speech contest

1st place: -  Janet Tarasofsky

2nd place: - Joy McElroy

3rd place: -  Sandra Mighty

Pictured L to R: Graeme, Janet, Simon

Janet and Liz go forward to the Division L contests which take place on Friday 4 April at 7pm, City  Temple Conference Centre, Holborn Viaduct EC1A 2DE.  Hope to see you there.

Thank you to David Marks for the photos.