Meeting Report for 22nd January, 2020

We enjoyed a full-house on the 4th Wednesday of the month, (our other meeting being on the 2nd Wednesday of the month).

Desi performed the Meet and Greet role, Simon called us to order before our President Nick took to the stage. Nick warmed the room up with well chosen words before he handed over to our Toastmaster, Ian.
Desi then invited our eight guests on stage, who took turns to tell us a little about themselves.

Ian had prepared a choice of two questions for those performing roles: have you ever had a bad experience that lead to a good experience? Or, have you ever snatched defeat from the jaws of victory? Those who had failed to respond to Ian's email had their answers invented by him!

David, out Table Topic Master then invited members and guests on stage at random to answer (and evaluate) a series of teasing questions.

Then it was time for our formal speeches. Our first speaker was Errol, with "No Bad Language Please!" (Engaging Humour # 1-3  -Education and Feedback - 2). This amusing, barnstorming performance was followed by Debbie, with "Sustainability Plan" (Speaking to Inform #5 - The Abstract Concept). Debbie's elegant delivery addressed the dangers of palm oil, persuaded many in the room to think and act differently in future. Finally our new member, Flemming delivered "Nomophoboa" (Presentation Mastery  #4-3 Building a Social Media Presence). This well-constructed speech explored the impact of losing your mobile phone and the consequences and opportunities that flow therefrom. 

The speeches were evaluated by Cat, Chinkata and Ben before David hosted the Open Feedback session. This is when the audience is invited to contribute three minutes more feedback on each speech, in a commendation/recommendation/commendation format.  

Our guest Hector then took to the stage to deliver his General Evaluation report on the club, addressing people who had been on stage but hadn't been previously evaluated.

It was then time for the awards!

David scooped best Table Topic, the best speech Evaluator was a three-way tie between Cat, Chinkata and Ben and Errol won Best Speaker.

And so ended another constructive, high quality, high energy evening enjoyed by all! 

Our next meeting is at 19:00 on Wednesday 12th February, 2020 at the Fitzrovia Centre, 2 Foley Stree, W1W 6DN. Guests, as always, are very welcome!

Meeting Report for Wednesday 8th January 2020

We enjoyed a lively and fun evening - and the room was near capacity. Ilaria was acting President, as Nick had sustained an ankle injury. She handed over to Ben who was Toastmaster. He introduced an anagram-themed evening, in which members and guests who performed roles had their names "anagrammed". Some of the more successful ones included:

Big Lanters
Ornate Blinks
Bewitch a shark
Addled life resin
Hark captain oak
Rise Mr Enchilada
Hare tensions
Eskimo ink awards
Tinkle claws

For reasons of privacy, the VPPR have not revealed the names from which each was devised, but the reader is encouraged to reverse-anagram them if they can. Answers on a postcard, please.

Lynne was an excellent Table Topics master, inviting people to draw hidden objects from a bag which they they spoke about for up to two minutes. She reminded us of the need to add at least one recommendation and being an advanced club, it had to be something of substance (or they could ask the audience).

Our first speaker was Sonia, with "The Nation's Favourite" (Interpretive Reading #2 - Interpretive Poetry). This was followed by Chinkata, with "Smoking is bad for you" (Interpretive Reading #3 - The Monodrama). Our third speaker was Melanie, with "Our Vegan Cafe" (Speeches by Managment #3 Persuade and Inspire). 

The evening's evaluators were David, Ian and Monika.

Our thanks to Rick, from Grosvenor Square Speakers, who performed the GE role expertly.

Prizes were as follows:

Best Table Topics: Anne
Best Evaluator: Monika
Best Speaker: Sonia

Our next meeting is at 19:00 on Wednesday 22nd January 2020, at The Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, W1W 2DN. Guests are very welcome!

Meeting Report for Wednesday 11th December 2019

Our Christmas-themed meeting started at 19:00 at our Fitzrovia venue, with a few members posing for the camera in their festive costumes.

Ken then called us to order before handing over to our President, Nick, who, after a few inspiring words, introduced our Toastmaster for the evening, Freddie.

Melanie, performing the Meet & Greet role, then invited our guests on stage, who each took a moment to tell us a little about themselves.

Our Timekeeper, Ilaria explained her role before Gosia conducted a Christmas-themed Table Topics session. At Excalibur, each TT is evaluated immediately after it has been delivered for up to 45 seconds by  a member of the audience.  

Our formal speeches then followed. The first was delivered by David: "From Dauphin to Charlemagne" (Presentation Mastery #2-3 Introduction to Toastmaster Mentoring). This was followed by Nick, with "Naughty of Nice?" (Humorously Speaking #4 - Keep them Laughing) and then Simon delivered "Who do you think I am?" (Presentation Mastery #1-2 - Evaluation and Feedback - 1). 

The speeches were evaluated by Latifa, Ian and Cat, before Ben took the Open Feedback session - in which members and guests are invited to add two minutes of commendations and one minute of suggestions to each speech.

Our General Evaluator, Alice then gave her meeting report - in which she explained what she liked about our club and made a few suggestions about how members could improve their performances.

Then it was time for the prizes! Cat was chosen as best Evaluator, Lynne scooped the Best Table Topic award and Simon was awarded the Best Speaker prize - for a speech that many present agreed was the best they'd heard him deliver.

And so ended another fun, high quality Excalibur meeting. Our next is on 8th January, 2020 at our usual venue, the Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, W1W 6DN. Guests are very welcome!

Meeting Report for 27th November, 2019

Ben called the meeting to order before  handing over to our President, Nick. After a few inspiring words from him, he introduced Monika, who was Toastmaster for the evening. She then invited David on stage who introduced our seven guests.

Our Table Topics Master was Ilaria who posed a number of thought-provoking TTs, which were answered and then instantly evaluated by audience members, in our packed Fitzrovia venue. 

The prepared speeches were: Melanie, with "The Annual Review" (Speeches by Management #2 - Appraise with Praise). This was followed by Sarah, with "Emotional Authenticity" (Visionary Commuication #2-2 - Understanding your Communication Style). Thirdly, Ian delivered "Using Schedules Effectively in Software Development" (Speaking to Inform #4 - A Fact-Finding Report).

The speeches were then evaluated by Robin, Freddie and Gosia before Lynne took our Open Feedback session - in which members and guests have three minutes per speech to add additional commendations and recommendations.

Visiting guest, Dominik then performed the General Evaluator role, which he did flawlessly, without notes (which was particularly impressive, as he remembered everyone's name!). 

Winner of Best Table Topic was David, Freddie scooped best Evaluator and Sarah was voted best speaker. 

Our next meeting is at 19:00 on 11th December, at The Fitzrovia Community Centre, W1W 6DN. Guests, as always, are very welcome!

Meeting Report for Wednesday 13th November, 2019

Gosia was our accomplished Toastmaster for this fun meeting - introducing slips of paper on which people wrote a line or two, which were then placed in a hat. Those on stage then chose a slip, before incorporating the lines in what they said. It added a degree of challenge...but then we are an advanced club!

Ian ran a debating-style Table Topics, which also lifted many of us from our comfort zones, as the exercise warmed us up for the three formal speeches.

David delivered speech #9 from the CC Manual, "Persuade with Power"- "How are You?" This was a beautifully crafted and sensitively delivered speech that addressed a personal tragedy in his life, while passing on valuable information to the audience.

Then Latifa delivered "Chameleonism" - from Communicating on Television #2 - The Talk Show. This took an interview format, with Ben asking her a series of questions about how she feels she fits into the world. Her thoughtful and sincere answers kept the audience spellbound.

Finally, Monika delivered: "From a Dusty Atlas to Digital: a Journey with Maps." This speech was CC Manual #4, "Inspire your Audience" and Monika certainly achieved her objective! Ben commented that he'd wished Monika had taught him geography at school.

The Open Feedback session was chaired by Ilaria, which is an opportunity for the audience to suggest further commendations and recommendation on the delivered speeches.

Our experienced guest, Christopher was kind enough to perform the role of Open Feedback - making a number of helpful observations about Excalibur.

The Table Topics prize was shared by Ben and Freddie.
Errol was voted best Evaluator and the Best Speaker award went to David.

Our next meeting is at 19:00 on Wednesday 27th November at The Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street,  London W1W 6DN. Gests are very welcome! 

 

Excalibur Triumphs at the Area Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest!

Tuesday 29th October saw a packed room and high levels of excitement for the Area Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest, kindly hosted by Mindshare in their WC2 office.

Excalibur was represented by Robin (Table Topics) and Ben (Humorous Speech) and despite strong competition, I am pleased to report that both emerged triumphant!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success - especially Monika, who ran her first Area Contest - and was presented, for (amongst other things), her cartographic excellence, with a Toastmasters Outstanding Member pin, by Florian!

The Division L Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest, at which Robin and Ben will continue their journeys representing Excalibur, will be on Saturday 23rd November, 09:00 - 14:00 at City Temple Conference Centre, Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2DE - get your tickets on Eventbrite!

Meeting Report for Wednesday 23rd October, 2019

Monika and Gosia got our meeting off to a smooth start, performing the Meet & Greet and Call to Order roles, before President Nick took to the stage with some sage words. He then handed over to our Toastmaster for the evening, Cat.
Sarah then explained - and performed - the Timekeeper role.
We were then ready for Table Topics, hosted by David.
Being an advanced club, we like to do things a little differently and so members of the audience are invited on stage to do an instant evaluation on the previous table topic. House Rule: every evaluator must include a recommendation!
Three prepared, high quality speeches followed. The first was delivered by Ilaria: "Is this Mission Possible?" (Strategic Relationships #1-4 - Researching & Presenting; 5-7 mins).
Our second speech was delivered by Carolina: "More Honey" (Competition & Other speeches #10 - Non-manual speech (5:00-7:00 mins, which included 1:00 min of Q&A).
Then Freddie entertained us with "The Age of Transition" (The Professional Speaker #2 - Speaking to Entertain (15:00-20:00 mins).
The speeches were evaluated for 2-3:00 mins by Latifa, David and Chinkata, before Brian ran the Open Feedback session - in which audience members offer an additional two minutes of commendations and one minute of recommendations per speech.
Our General Evaluator for the evening, Gagan then evaluated everyone who hadn't previously been evaluated.
It was then time for the prizes. Freddie scooped Best Speaker, and Chinkata, who was on top form as usual, was voted both best Evaluator and best Table Topics contestant.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 13th November 2019 at The Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley St., London W1W 6DN. Guests are very welcome!

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In other news, we welcome Ilaria who had agreed to be our new VPE. She is very experienced Toastmaster and VPE - this will be her fifth time performing this important committee role.