MEETING No: 1089 – Tuesday 24th August 2010

Daniel accepting his First Place award in the Club Humorous Speech Competition
from Area 6 Governor Pauline and club President Brett 

CLUB COMPETITION NIGHT

We had 2 entrants in the Club Humorous Speech Competition:

Peter – Speech Title: A New Culture.

A humorous speech about learning from different cultures and specifically integrating some of the Italian ways of life into Australian culture and vice versa.
Daniel – Speech Title: You know you want more.

A humorous take on how people always want more money.

Daniel won the evening and was awarded the inaugural Tony Spragg Trophy while Peter was First Runner-up.

However, as Daniel is unable to attend the Area 6 Competition, Peter will represent our Club at that competition on Saturday 4^th September.

As part of the same evening’s program the Club Table Topics Competition was conducted in which we had 7 participants.

The topic for the 2 minute impromptu speech was –  “If you wrote a book the subject would be...”

1. Sam– talked about John Grisham type novels and how they're not very realistic but sell well.
2. Josh (a guest contemplating returning to Toastmasters after a 2 year break) – would write a book about his travels around the world and moving from New Zealand to live in Australia.
3. Natasha – would write a pop-up book about her inventions.
4. Daniel – IS writing a book (although it is currently on hold) about all he knows about stuttering and tips/techniques for stutterers.
5. Glenn D – IS writing a book about Indonesian President Suharto discussing his methods of leadership and the results for Indonesia.
6. Dai Fei – would write a book about Chinese women emigrating to Australia.
7. Kimberley – would write a children's book with as few words as possible, finally settling on an A is for apple, B is for bottle... in a quest to make lots of money.

Natasha won the evening’s competition and Kimberley was First Runner-up. Natasha will represent our club at the Area 6 Competition on Saturday 4^th September.

Visiting judges included the Chief Judge: Area 6 Governor Pauline Garland, and Lyndal Eager visiting from Hunters Hill.

Lyndal was also the Seargent-at-Arms for the Table Topics Competition.

Club President Brett was the official Timer.

All participants in both competitions were within time and there were no disqualifications.

Well done to all participants and don’t forget to support our Club representatives at the Area 6 Humorous and Table topics Competition to be held at Burwood RSL on Saturday 4^th September at 12 noon.

A small Entry Fee applies for non-competitors, but finger food refreshments are served and there are some great lucky door prizes and a raffle.

The Competitors in the Club Table topics Competition from left: Natasha, Josh, Daniel,Peter, Chief judge Area 6 Governor Pauline, Club President Brett, Sam, Glenn D, Dai Fei and Kimberley

MEETING No: 1088 – Tuesday 10th August 2010

Despite being temporarily back up in the old ‘squishy’ upstairs Boardroom we had a well-attended and highly enjoyable evening.

Sergeant-at-Arms Daniel got us underway promptly at 7:15pm, followed by a word of Welcome from our new Club President Brett. The first half of the meeting was very ably chaired by our immediate Past President Paul.

Our newest member, Kimberley very ably delivered the Reading of the Mission of the Club and for our individual Introductions, Paul challenged us to briefly outline our “Goals and ambitions for our Toastmaster year ahead”.

The housekeeping issues of the Agenda Update and Leadership Evaluations were dealt with by newly elected Vice President Education Chris and Daniel delivered the Guest Welcome for Ross and Lyndel, a visitor from Hunter’s Hill Club and welcomed back Bishnu who has been absent for sometime.

The Word of the Day was announced as SERENDIPITY and we were all challenged to utilise it in its many forms as much as possible during the evening.

Dai Fei was Toastmaster for the first Prepared Speech Session and very ably introduced 2 speakers and their Evaluators.

The first Speaker was Brett undertaking Topic No 5 from the Entertaining Speeches Manual with a very lively segment entitled ‘Telling Jokes’. A series of increasingly funny anecdotes and jokes, delivered with Brett’s unique style and dry wit. Brett was Evaluated by the highly experienced Daniel.

The second Speaker was immediate Past Area Governor Peter with a speech entitled ‘Landmark Political Speeches’ in which Peter took us on a highly researched and insightful voyage over 100 years of outstanding speeches and speechmakers in the lead up to the coming election. Peter was scrutinised by John the incoming Vice President of Marketing.

After the break John chaired the second half and introduced Tony in his first ever role as a Toastmaster for the second session of Speeches. Tony very capably introduced 2 more speakers and their Evaluators.

Dai Fei delivered a heartfelt and emotion charged speech – Number 5 from the Competent Communicator Manual entitled ‘Turning a Disaster into a Positive Force’. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop as Dai Fei revealed how a recent and quite serious car accident had affected her so deeply. Gary was set the significant challenge of evaluating this emotional speech, but rose to the occasion admirably.

The second Speaker was Sam with his first speech from the Entertaining Speaker Manual – entitled ‘The Best Birthday Present’. Sam related a riveting but true tale of hilarious cloak and dagger manipulations in the heart of Munich to secure tickets to a World Cup Semi Final match. Glenn D, tackled his first ever Evaluation of Sam’s speech with equal humour and astute observation.

The incoming Vice President of Membership, Natasha conducted the Table Topics segment setting some very challenging topics admirably tackled by the participants. Evaluators were Glen H, and our Guest Lyndel. Tony took on the Ums and Ahs Counting for the first time, while Chris very astutely took us through the Grammarian evaluation segment.

Big Ears was delivered by Glen H, and the Timers Report from Bernard led to a General Evaluation of the entire evening’s proceedings by Paul.

The evening concluded with some comments from our Visitors and Guests and Announcements and Closing Remarks from President Brett.

Immediately following the meeting a number of members of the Club very expertly assisted John with a tight photo-shoot so that the new Club Information Brochure and this Club Blog could be finalised.

NEXT MEETING:

Tuesday 24^th August – Club Humorous and Table Topics Competition.

FUTURE DATES:

Tuesday 31^st August – Club Dinner Meeting Concord RSL

Tuesday 14^th September Normal Meeting Concord RSL

Tuesday 28^th September Bring a Friend Meeting Concord RSL

We always have great fun at Concord West Toastmasters