Cat Kipling efficiently called our latest Excalibur meeting to order.
Our President Lynne “Lindy Hop” Cantor, shared a story about her recent dancing exploits highlighting we are here at Excalibur to learn and practice in a safe environment and are open to anyone who has completed 10 Competent Communicator speeches.
Our 12 guests joined us from London Clubs 104 London Debators, Olympians, Athenaeum, Women in Business & Finance and even as far flung as Aberdeen.
Simon Cooper, our “running lawyer”, took charge as our Toastmaster of the evening, reminding us at least 20 times that we were short on time! But he admirably led us through the very packed agenda and we finished with seconds to spare! With help from the audience he introduced the Words of the Day: dynamic, dynamism and dynamite.
Timer Marcin Tolysz continued the theme and reminded us how important it was that we had time for the pub afterwards!
David “don’t talk about politics!” Lennon hosted the Table Topics session with a distinctly political feel! Cat Kipling was Cherie Blair supporting her husband Tony Blair, Marc Lottig was Trump sharing Twitter messages to the UK, Anne Bingham was French Presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron’s wife giving three reasons as to why it’s good to date a man 24 years younger!, and Monica Swiderska described handbags at dawn between Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May!
Well done to joint Table Topics Winners Cat Kipling and Monica Swiderska.
Errol Williamson, Paul Carroll, Freddie Daniells and Odile Facih gave instant evaluations, while Lynne “what’s the improver?!” Cantor ensured no-one sat down until they had given a specific recommendation!
Our first prepared speaker was our Division Speech Contest Winner Simon Bucknall, practising his powerful competition speech “To Be Perfectly Honest”. This was expertly evaluated by Katja van Koten who finally won Best Evaluator for her efforts.
Our next and Best Speaker of the night was new member Marc “expert ager” Lottig, repeating his captivating Icebreaker from The Competent Communicator manual #1 on “Middle Aged Tenderness”. Errol Williamson was his evaluator.
Odile Facih spoke about “Brave New World: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” from The Technical Presentations manual #5 ‘Enhancing a Technical Talk with the Internet’. She was evaluated by Karthick Venugopal.
Monika Swiderska competently facilitated the speeches Open Feedback session so every speaker received commendations and recommendations from the floor.
Paul Carroll then kindly delivered an Educational Workshop on the art of debating. Paul Andreas and Joann Walsh proposed the motion “This house believes globalisation benefits all”, which was opposed and won by Suzi Fish and Alan McMahon.
What a jam packed, dynamic and enthusiastic meeting we had tonight – thank you to everyone who came and participated and well done to Odile Facih who has now completed her Advanced Communicator Silver!
Dates not to be missed!
Club Elections will be held at our next meeting on Wednesday 10th May, 6:45 for 7pm prompt start at The Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, W1W 6DL. We ask that everyone attends to ensure we are quorate.
To make our VPE Freddie Daniells’ job easier, especially as he’s busy preparing for the District contest!, kindly let us know if you are attending and accept your allocated roles via Easyspeak. Members of other clubs are welcome to experience Excalibur at any time and we are always seeking guest GEs. Contact us at excaliburspeakers@gmail.com.
The District 91 2017 Spring Conference for the International Speech and Evaluation Finals will be at The Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton on 5-7th May 2017 and features our Division L Contest Winners, Simon Bucknall and Freddie Daniells! Please support them by booking your ticket now!
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