The London Speaker

Speakerthon Report

From Andrew P Bennett, President Berkeley Square Speakers and Area 45 Governor elect

Toastmasters, Timers, Speakers and Evaluators of Berkeley Square Speakers, Area 45, joined forces for the Speakerthon at the Concert Artistes Association Club in Covent Garden on 14 May 2011.

A fantastic 4 hour programme of high calibre speeches and evaluations, presented in a warmly humorous and relaxed atmosphere, has greatly raised the public profile of our club and brought positive feedback on all sides.

We were joined by special guests; Malachi Talabi UK & Ireland (District 71) International Speech Champion 2011 together with his delightful wife Mildred, Chris Boden UK & Ireland Evaluation Champion 2011, Toastmasters Declan Cluskey, Area 32 Governor and Dorothy Margison from Eastbourne and Battle Speakers – each making their own very special contribution to the day’s proceedings.

Run an entire Toastmasters Meeting Backwards?

It can be done!  Keith Gautier, DTM is masterminding a Backwards Evening at London Athenians on Tuesday 7 December 2010.  It will be what Keith calls "an evening of fun, frivolity and mayhem" as all the roles take place in reverse order. Club President Julian D'sa will begin the evening by...closing the meeting.  Evaluators give their evaluations before hearing the speeches and topic speakers answer before hearing the question.

As well as being fun the evening is of course a great test of listening skills.

Please come along and join in. The evening is FREE to all members and vistors.

When? 7pm for 7.15pm start

Where? The function room, The Hop Poles, 17-19 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9HR (close to Hammersmith underground station and bus station).

 

Learning from the Workshop Wizards

From Kate McNeilly, Excalibur Speakers

London Cardinals held their first workshop in 18 months on Monday, 14 June 2010 and devoted the evening to 4 subjects, 30 mins each. I wanted to experience something different, in a different club, so I went along to check it out. Merlin, Gandalf and Dumbledore had nothing on our Toastmaster wizards (and witch?) that night! It was a very entertaining and educational evening.

1. TABLE TOPICS - first to wave her wand was Gilly Cutts, DTM, a Toastmaster since 1994. She shared the following 10 top tips on How to Approach Challenging Table Topics with Creativity and Confidence:

• Don't panic
• Take your time – deep breath, walk slowly to front & go with first thought that comes to mind.
• Three of the Best – eg, beginning / middle / end; alliterations, etc.
• It’s for You – allow your imagination to explore different Table Topics. 
• Be prepared - mentally - to have a go.
• Six of the Best – what, where, who, when, how and why.
• Your Blank Page – eg, if you are serious by nature, ham it up, play around. TM is place to experiment, no one will ridicule you
• Your Personal Story – people are hungry to know more.
• Box of Tricks – you can buy Table Topics cards from Toastmasters International.
• Have Fun!

Of course there was a Table Topics session to allow others to be wizards! The audience had fun watching three lucky people who were asked to speak in a style not their own, using - in turn - Passion (ie, Your Blank Page), Six of the Best and Power of Three.

2. MEMORY – Do you envy those members who can give a talk or evaluation without notes? Me too. Paul Walsh, President, Dale Carnegie instructor and upcoming Area 6 Governor generously shared and demonstrated practical tips to improve memory. He taught us tools to remember names and numbers for lists which have all sorts of uses. It is a process. The belief that you can do it is very important. And so is practice.

3. HOW TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT – Andrew Chuks deftly demonstrated how to turn conflict into resolution in all relationships by using just 3 strategies for: (a) Calmness; (b) courage; and (c) communication (not surprisingly, the most important). You had to be there to experience the effect. Next best thing is to get Andrew to conduct a workshop at your club.

4. LOVE AT WORK – Nigel Cutts wanted us all to win and succeed because the great thing about winners is that they help others and in that way they become great leaders - something much needed in Toastmasters and in life. Several excellent stories (never knew Nigel was a water skier) to show that preparation leads to opportunities.

What a wonderful way to spend an evening at Toastmasters in a high-learning environment with skilled people facilitating appropriate subjects.

Is this something that your club could do some time to meet the educational goals of your club and members for the benefit of all?

Practice your impromptu Speaking with open air Table Topics and Debate

From Robert Cole, Broadgate Speakers

CALLING ALL BUDDING POLITICIANS!
 
Ever wanted to speak to a crowd? Thought you could handle hecklers? On Sunday the 20th June at 2pm, Broadgate Speakers and the 1st London Toastmasters will host a joint table topics event at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park (Cumberland Gate, W1K 7TY). This is an open air event, and will be a great opportunity to see if your speaking skills can work in a different environment.

There will be a variety of different topics including a debate, contemporary issue questions, and for the very brave humorous questions!

It will be a fun event -as we're in the park why not bring a picnic?

All toastmasters and their guests are most welcome.

If you would like any more information please contact Robert Cole Email here

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Learning to gain and manage an audience

From Tom Weller, Early Bird Speakers

Toastmasters Clubs around the world create a positive supportive learning environment where we, Fellow Toastmasters, develop oral communication and leadership skills. What learning opportunities are created when a team of Toastmasters leaves that environment?

On 3 June 2010, Early Bird Speakers (EBS) sent out just such a team into the wild London jungle. We walked from our famous post-meeting breakfast, with our colleagues from ACCA Breakfast Club, to the River. The sun was blazing. It was a beautiful half term day, and we were wondering if we could raise a crowd!

Out on the open there is no prepared supportive crowd. A room with a vested interest in public speaking provides such. We had to build our own from passers by. Learning how to speak and lead in a very different and exciting context. Uniquely, working in an environment such as this, where the experts are the street performers, the leadership and the speaking function are deeply intertwined, even inseparable. If you do not use your body and speech to lead, and hold your audience with your structure, content, tone, level, and pace, then you will not win an audience in the first place. Our team won an audience.

Speaking in public takes on a very different meaning when people are walking by, waiting to be entertained. We were able to draw in people, and they stayed to watch, though they paused but a short while.

We were treated to an evaluation from an experienced street performer.  His points were articulate, perceptive, and accurate, and apropos our desire to build a sustained audience. He recommended we think crowd control. We must find a new way of combining speaking and leading if we are to reach our full potential in the great outdoors.

This experience has given us many ideas for innovative speech and meeting structures which we will be trying in our next adventure. We can only recommend: if you have an idea for something different, embrace the fear, trust your team, see it through, and the learning opportunities will blow you away!

Editor's note:  another opportunity for outdoor speaking is being provided by Broadgate Speakers and 1st London on Sunday 20 June at Speakers' Corner.  More info to follow shortly.

N.B.  Remember if you are planning an outdoor event (other than at Speakers' Corner) you should check if you need official permission to use the space e.g. from the Local Authority

Tall Tales Contest Friday 4 June 2010

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

Yes, it's happening again!  After last year's success Marlow Orators are organising the second Tall Tales Contest - this time it will be even bigger and better with up to 20 contestants (one per club).  Speakers will beguile and intrigue with their own particular brand of speechcraft.  In addition to the highly entertaining and suspense-filled tales there will be a keynote speech from Bob Ferguson, DTM.

When? 7.30pm on Friday 4 June 2010

Where? All Saints Church Hall, The Causeway, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2AA MAP  (between a cake shop and the Geoge and Dragon pub).  Plenty of parking close by at Court Gardens Leisure Centre SL72AE.

How much?   £5 contribution.  A FREE glass of wine and refreshments and snack will be available during the evening. 

For more information call 07802 936 738 or email [email protected] to book your place.  Advance booking recommended as places are limited.

Is someone representing your club in the Tall Tales Contest? If not organise this right now!

Growing your Toastmasters club

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

When President Ken Adjei and his committee took office City Speakers had a membership of 18. It now has 40. How have they built the membership in a few months?

Our success is largely due to recruiting committee members who are team players, who want to the club to succeed and grow.

When I became president I looked at what was going well in the club and at our problem areas. We decided as a team what to tackle first. I also sought advice from senior TMs like Christopher Hall and Andy O’Sullivan, who suggested helpful ideas.

Each problem was handled systematically by gathering data from committee members. For example, we realised a challenge for the club was our lack of new members. We devised a strategy: As President I start and end meetings by mentioning the CC and CL manuals. I give a brief explanation of how they work and their benefits. I emphasise using Toastmasters as a safe place to practice. I encourage people to talk to our VP Membership; I point out Sally or ask her to stand up. Our SAA Ed and other committee members John, Tracey, Ola, Bill and Karen all contribute by ensuring that guests and members feel welcome.

Another area of weakness in the club was a lack of culture, energy and enthusiasm. I am by nature a very energetic person so I felt that adding this element would make the club more enjoyable.

We printed some literature about our club for people to take away with a membership form. We have started a club newsletter which comes out every two months and is emailed to all members. We also send an occasional email to members and past guests as a reminder of the benefits of Toastmasters.

We encourage members and guests to bring friends/family/co-workers who may be interested in Toastmasters.

The overall effect of the above has been a gradual monthly growth of our membership. I hope this helps other clubs who maybe facing challenges. If you would like to know more please email me.

Please visit us on our TWO contest nights. Evaluation Contest Tuesday 2nd March and International Speech Contest 30th March. City Speakers (more info).

Recession Busting Sales Skills

Polish your Polish is an innovative Toastmasters club.  As part of their PR club President Luke Szyrmer and sales professional Joanna Bolec have written an article entitled "Recession Busting Sales Skills". 

The article provides interesting information on communication in selling and also encourages sales people to visit Toastmasters and use our public speaking clubs to enhance their skills and careers.

A good piece of niche marketing for the club.

You can find the article by clicking HERE.

Cooper Cup for Storytelling

Posted by Dorothea Stuart

On Wednesday 20th January 2010 Riverside Communicators is holding it's first  Cooper Cup for Storytelling contest. We hope you'll join us!

Many of you know Jean Cooper who was a stalwart member of Riverside and a Toastmaster who contributed to clubs across ondon. After celebrating her 80th birthday with us she moved back to Sheffield where she is now a member of a new club.

Among Jean's many talents is her ability to tell stories - whether in prepared speeches or off the cuff in Table Topics.  Because of this Riverside as decided to hold an annual club contest in her name and help us to emulate her storytelling prowess!

If you would like to come along as our guest we would love to have you there.

When: 7.15pm for 7.30pm start on Wednesday 20th January

Where: Terrace Room, York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA  MAP.  Close to Twickenham station and a short bus ride from Richmond Underground/overground station. Car park next to York House.

London Athenians Backwards Evening

From Keith Gautier, ACG,  London Athenians

To be held at The Hop Poles, 17-19 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9HR in the upstairs bar, Tuesday 1st December 2009. 7pm.

Ever wondered what it would be like if a Toastmaster’s evening ran in reverse order?

Well now is your chance!

This is a fun night, the whole of the evening’s programme will be run in reverse. The evening starts with the President closing the meeting and ends when he opens it. The evaluations will be given before we’ve heard the speeches, the topics will be given before the questions have been set and general confusion and mayhem will reign.

For example, the Table Topics Evaluator will evaluate and name the Table Topics speakers in the order of appearance and may even give a clue as to what they will be talking about! The timekeeper will give the times before you speak. The Table Topics master will have to set the question after the topic has been given so will need to decide what question needs to be set in order to elicit the answer that we just heard.

The lights have to given in the usual order of green/amber/red otherwise we will go over time. There are no holds barred and you can collude with whomever you wish in order to really set someone up to maximise the effect and the inevitable laughter. Don’t forget to heckle if someone gets lost or forgets to do something they have been set up to do.

If you get lost and confused then don’t worry, you’ll be just like the rest of us!

Come along and see whether the title of the evening refers to the meeting or Keith Gautier who put it together it! Come and join the London Athenians for a fun night out. Admission FREE