Regular Meeting report for 8 October 2014

On a rather damp and dreary evening, club president Cat opened what turned out to be a fun-packed meeting with an anecdote based on her recent experience of hosting an Annual General Meeting. She explained how treating your audience as if they're the most important people in the world can make them hang on your every word. Cat then handed the meeting's proceedings over for David, the Toastmaster of the meeting, to take forward.

Toastmaster of the meeting, David

First on the programme was the table topics (impromptu speaking) session, led tonight by Mark. The first topics speaker was Lynne, who reminisced about the time she gave an award-winning table topic response at her first ever Toastmasters meeting. Bob was asked to share his 2-minute 'elevator pitch', but chose to reject the concept in favour of getting to know the other person instead. Finally, Tony S talked about how the Toastmasters experience had changed him as a person.

The prepared speeches were started off by new member Richard with "Space Invaders", based on Project 5 from The Entertaining Speaker. Side-stepping the computer game of the same name, Richard shared some amusing stories about the invasion of personal space and, while acknowledging that most people find such scenarios uncomfortable, suggested that we should learn to embrace them and occasionally step outside our comfort zones.

Richard giving his speech "Space Invaders"

The second speaker was Simon, with "It's Being So Cheerful", his entry for the Division L Humorous Speech contest next week. Simon compared the different outlooks of various people in his life - who he'd classified as optimists, pessimists and realists - and the funny events that had occurred as a result of their respective attitudes.

Next up was Bob with another contest speech entitled "So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want". Not even mentioning the Spice Girls, Bob's speech actually covered the subject of wants and needs and asked us to consider which of them have more power. Using several examples, including his own experience of quitting smoking, Bob argued that all of our needs must be turned into wants before they can be realised.

Finally, Ken, with a speech based on Project 3 from the Persuasive Speaking manual, spoke to us about "Contributing to the Community". Ken implored the audience to get involved in adopting a community youth club in order to help young people avoid problems like gang culture and achieve their real potential.

Ken speaking on "Contributing to the Community"

Each of the prepared speeches was then evaluated in turn. Freddie, praised Richard's humour, drawing particular attention to his use of misdirection and exaggeration, but suggested he cut down on the amount of content in his speech.

Freddie evaluating Richard

Lynne gave Simon some valuable tips for his contest performance, including using different parts of the stage when speaking about different types of people, as well as pausing appropriately to allow the audience to absorb the humour. Marc felt that Bob's main message was rather lost in his speech and recommended that the cause of his change in behaviour be given more explicitly. Lastly, Tony S evaluated Ken, commending his use of anecdotes and his powerful vocal delivery, which Tony likened to that of James Earl Jones.

After the individual evaluations, Chinkata then stepped up to facilitate a round of open feedback for each speaker.

Chinkata chairing the open feedback

Concluding the meeting, Julia - visiting from Grosvenor Square Speakers - evaluated the meeting as a whole, including the functionaries who hadn't otherwise been evaluated.

Julia giving her general evaluation

Awards

The awards that had been voted for during the meeting were then handed out by president Cat.

• The award for best table topic went to Tony S.
• Lynne received the award for best evaluator.
• The best prepared speech award went to Bob.

Next meeting

Our next meeting is a Speak Out event on Thursday, 23^rd October at the Concert Artistes Association. Arrive in time for a prompt 12 noon start.

Our next regular meeting is on Wednesday, 12^th November from 7pm at the Fitzrovia Community Centre.