“Our session tonight was terrific!” “Our hosts (especially Jan)
made our meeting far from dull – in fact, the whole meeting was
lots of fun!” “There was so much variety in this meeting, and
the participants were full of enthusiasm.”
”Excellent Chairing of a very good meeting by Ruth.” “Be sure to
Highlight Ruth’s humorous approach to discussing the theme (Self
Discipline) and its various definitions. I liked her wry wit!”
“Her commentary was very thorough, incisive, directly pertinent
to the theme and infused with humour to attract our attention at
the appropriate moments. Her bridging was good, and she was
clearly prepared in her introductions.”
Participants in the lesser speaking roles were praised: “The
warm welcome of guest tonight embodies our affable club.” “I
very much like having new Words each meeting.” “Wendy’s
well-used and easy-to-pronounce Word of the Evening, ‘affable’,
was a well chosen Highlight,” “it was used extensively and
people obviously enjoyed it.” “This Word was very appropriate,
especially if one considers the improvement in the weather we
had on this day!” “I took a moment to ponder Stuart’s
observation (in his Inspiration) that self-discipline can help
us live longer. Good advice!” “Elena evoked ready laughs with
her joke which mocked people who justify their refusal to learn
a foreign language. It had a good punch line!”
“Hilary’s very thought-provoking Table Topic Session was a hit!”
“She handled her session in such a calm, cool manner, with
superb bridging!” “I admire her relaxed manner and her ability
to roll with the punches with a wonderful sense of humour.” Of
herself, Hilary said “I enjoyed the theme. It gave me food for
thought, and opportunity to reflect on my octopus on roller
skates style.” “Her Table Topics were great!” “The questions
posed were largely about how we use, and in fact develop,
self-discipline in various facets of our lives.” “They were
challenging enough for speakers to really have to think on their
feet” and “everyone did a fantastic job with them.” Even the two
Guests “spoke without much difficulty.” Ie. “Nahid’s topic about
procrastinating on a big written project was well-delivered. She
demonstrated confidence and a great ability to think well on her
feet almost until the red light went on! Well done!” And of the
other guest, Tamara: “I loved her discussion of how the journey
of self-discipline ends in an enjoyable and fairly effortless
habit” “She had wonderful gestures and eye contact – terrific in
a guest!” “Wendy had us laughing and thinking as she decreed
that ‘addictions are good if used in the right way!’ and if that
wasn’t enough, she also told us ‘It’s easy to overcome an
addiction … just replace that one with another!!’ Great twists;
great fun!” “Very much liked Dave S.’s topic, which spoke to the
real-life dangers of e-mail messages sent on impulse.” “Loved
Elena’s image of people dangling huge carrots in front of
themselves for self-encouragement!” “I especially liked the
question Hilary gave Don, re: talent without discipline being
like an octopus on roller skates.” (Can’t you just see it??)
“The image of an octopus on roller skates was very colourful and
imaginative! Don spoke on the topic with considerable comfort
and ease – he handles such humorous imagery very well.” “We saw
the pictures he painted in our imaginations, but the Award for
Best Table Topic was tangible evidence of our appreciation for a
performance well done.” “Pam’s relaxed and accurate observations
in her Table Topic Evaluation, were thorough and delivered with
humour,”
“I found it amazing that both of the speeches related to the
topic of air travel!”
“Jan – Toast-maker, Speaker-introducer was a wonderful
Toastmaster for this session. I especially thought he did an
exceptional job with his bridging! Hilarious – a sharp mind! Ie.
‘Boy the air industry took a beating tonight!’ and re Kate’s
Monster Fear: ‘In Scandinavia there were gods and there were
monsters. The monsters still remain. I know, because one of them
lives in my computer!’”
“I very much enjoyed listening to the Speakers.” “The dramatic
delivery of Li Ying’s speech, both with regard to gestures and
vocal variety were excellent. So was her advice: ‘It is better
to be lost somewhere than nowhere.’” “Li Ying’s speech was very
good – especially for a speaker who had lost part of her voice!”
“Kate’s speech used props to effect and was very expressive. We
were all entertained. She’s animated!” “It was an exceptional
speech – great words; a potential winner of the Best American
Short Story!” “’Other people’s disaster is my salvation.’ –
Kate’s speech was wonderful – entertaining! Was she pulling our
leg?”
“Don’s evaluation of Kate’s speech covered all the essentials!”
“Dave S. rose to the challenge for Li Ying. Well done!” “His
evaluation for her was honest and well-received by the speaker.
We don’t want ‘white washes’ in the club and he didn’t give her
one.”
“Neville gave a comprehensive and detailed General Evaluation.”
“I especially enjoyed the sense of humour he used in his
delivery.” “When people relax us and make us smile we are more
inclined to hear what they are saying. We are also more inclined
to take their advice to heart. He didn’t give us a white wash by
a long shot – he just got his points across in a very palatable
way.”
After reading the above you may come to the conclusion that this
meeting was filled with fun, humour and a good examples which
enriched the learning of everyone who was there.
Why not join us next Monday – learning through fun and
friendship can be contagious.
Toastmasters holds contests twice a year: In the fall we have
competitions in Table Topics and Humorous Speeches. In the
spring we have competitions for Speech Evaluators, as well as an
International Speech Contest.
This Spring we held our Club Contests last Monday and hosted the
Area ones Thursday:
For the Club Speech Evaluation Contest two of our newer members,
Hilary Mackey and Kate Elliott evaluated a Guest Speaker,
Valerie Arlette, from Cloverleaf Toastmasters in Vancouver.
Their evaluations of this experienced speaker were of a much
higher quality than that of very new evaluators, and Valerie was
particularly appreciative of their positively formed
suggestions. Kate won this competition and the Area competition
as well, which means that she will be competing for our Area in
the Division contests Saturday morning, March 31st at ICBC on
Esplanade. There is nothing better for a competitor than to look
out at the audience and see familiar faces, so if you possibly
can, please come out to support her. There will be speeches and
evaluations from all of the Areas in our Division and there is
no doubt that it will be an entertaining morning, well worth
getting out of bed to see .
For the International Speech Contest Ruth Sol, Don Ekroth, and
Jan Furst were the competitors:
Ruth gave a very informative speech, compelling us to learn
everything we possibly can about global warming, because it is
so imperative for us all to be better educated on all of the
implications and aspects of this topic. “Are We Being Swindled?”
You’ll be surprised! Watch this video and decide for yourselves:
http://video.google.ca/videosearch?q=climate+change or a
slightly shorter version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xttv2c688pU
Don had us laughing from the start, describing all the trials
and tribulations he has gone through over the years to find an
‘audience’ to practice his speeches in front of.
His title, “Turnips”, caught our attention, and the explanation
caught our funny bones. He won this competition, and tweaked his
speech even more, to the delight of the Division Contest
audience on Thursday night. They warmed to him right away, the
laughs were even louder and longer, and he won Third Place in
the Winners’ Circle .
Jan’s speech on “Getting Old” (“I mean Really old!”) was a
wonderful mix of humour and down to earth realities. “I have
wondered how I could be so old in such a short time. But then I
‘dreamt that time was a devil
who I had caught by the tail.
I desperately tried to slow him down
or at least to stop for a while.
But stubbornly he kept speeding along,
seemed faster, the older I got.
So I wondered how in the devil’s name
I could pin him down on the spot.
Then he showed me his face, saying: ‘Listen to me,
My speed never changes at all.
It is the same for the young as the old,
for the short as well as the tall.
It is the same for pauper and king
and nothing can force me to stall.
For the lonely, unhappy it seems to go slow.
In the morning they long for the eve.
Be thankful, my friend that your time goes fast:
You enjoy every day that you live.”’
And he does
The Division Contests will begin at 9:30 a.m. Registration
begins at 8:45 a.m. at ICBC on Esplanade in North Vancouver. Be
sure to puch the intercom button and the security guard will
happily buzz you in. Come for Continental Breakfast (coffee /
tea, juice, muffins, fruit), and settle in for a very
entertaining morning.
Club 1085
