CONCORD WEST CLUB’S NEW BANNER

It was decided at a recent Club Executive Meeting – in the absence of any sign of our original Club Banner – to re-order a new Banner. It was therefore fortuitous that our new banner arrived the same night that our Area Governor Pauline was visiting our Club and permitted her to partake in a small formal unfurling of our new banner. The banner reminds us of just how distinguished the Concord West Club is as it was one of the very first Toastmaster Clubs to be chartered in Australia back in 1962. Which means we are on the cusp of our 50th Anniversary in 2012.

Past President Peter (currently Club Treasuer 2010-11) and Area Govenor Pauline presenting the new Club Banner to the Club at the meeting on 26th October 2010.

INAUGURAL PRESENTATION OF THE TONY SPRAGG CLUB HUMOROUS TROPHY

It was very fitting that this year’s Winner of the Club Humorous Speech Contest held last month Daniel be the first recipient of the Tony Spragg Trophy. This award is in memory of our dear friend and fellow Toastmaster who lost a short and tragic battle with cancer earlier this year. Tony himself had been a past winner at both Club and Area Level in the Humorous Speech Competition and is fondly remembered for his uniquely dry sense of humour and remarkably complex anecdotal tales.
Daniel being a very long serving member of Concord West Club had known Tony throughout his entire membership and was very proud to be the first to accept this now Annual Award.

Daniel (left) being presented with the Tony Spragg Trophy by Club President Brett (right)

MEETING No: 1093 – Tuesday 26th October 2010

Guest Editor: Dai Fei

The meeting started at 7:15pm as usual with the following regular items:

Call to Order by Daniel.

President’s Welcome by Brett.

Chairman 1 was Daniel.

The Mission of the Club was read by Chris.

Word of the Day – Quixotic – was given by Sam.

Introduction: All members and visitors briefly introduce themselves.

Agenda update: Chris made a few changes due to the absence of 4 members.

Guest Welcome by Natasha (Guests: Paul, Sandra and Gavin).

Leadership Manual Evaluations by John.

The first Prepared Speech SessionToastmaster was Bishnu. He introduced Dai Fei and John (presenters), and evaluators Peter and Kimberley.

The second speech session Toastmaster was Gary, who introduced Bishnu and Glenn, and their evaluators, Natasha and Brett.

Dai Fei presented Speech No: 8 Competent Communication (CC) – Get Comfortable with Visual Ads with her speech title: How Images Express Meaning. Her presentation highlighted a paper which she presented at an international conference in UK. Later her paper was selected and published in an academic book. It involved the analysis of text and images in making meanings for social events.

In Peter’s evaluation, he commented on Dai Fei’s presentation as passionate in what she believed in with interesting content and confidence in delivery. Improvement - use projector remote control and computer screen to avoid facing the back to the audience.

Bishnu presented Speech No: 6 CC – Vocal Variety with speech topic – Self-Esteem. Bishnu discussed in depth the importance of self esteem and strategies on how to maintain and develop such person attribute to enhance the performance of one’s life in general and in different work and social situations.

Natasha appraised Bishnu’s speech, it was well prepared and delivered. Natasha also referred to the objectives in the manual and suggested area of improvements – a clearer structure of arguments with stronger conclusion.

John presented Speech 5 of the Entertaining Speaker Manual – Speaking After Dinner with topic - Customer Care. Through the tale of his organisation of a family holiday and the journey through an eventful trip he introduced the importance of customer care. Due to the messing up of tickets and delay they were compensated by a gift voucher from the travel agent. Highlighting the difference between Customer Service and Customer Care.

John always presents his speech with a variety of voices and vivid body language. Again, we found his speech interesting and entertaining. Very often his story was echoed with laughter.

Kimberley gave a comprehensive feedback. She highlighted John’s talent in storytelling with good examples. Improvement: John could have introduced the topic of Customer Care a bit earlier in the story. But this is a very minor point.

Glenn presented Speech 4 CC – How to Say It with topic – Converted by Stone Cold and the Hitman. Glenn maintained a calm and natural style in his story telling. He is a gifted writer and his presentation captured the audience’s attention with intensity. He vividly described the match between Stone Cold and the Hitman in an epic, and for Glenn a highly memorable World Championship Wrestling Match.

In Brett’s evaluation, he made the point that he would make sure to watch the match himself after the meeting as he was so inspired by Glenn’s descriptions. He praised Glenn’s well structured presentation. Glenn could improve the posture of his stance and not to swing the body from side to side.

The Table Topics was prepared and presented by Peter who asked various questions of ‘IF ......’ including the following: If you have a visitor in Sydney what place would you take him (not exact words), or if you were 13 again what would you tell the boy in front of you? If you could visit someone in the past, who would you like to see?

In answering her question, Natasha told us a secret of how her romance first developed with Chris. She was invited to Sydney and Chris took her to the Blue Mountains and the Opera House. These are the two places she would take her visitors.

Brett was happy and contented with his life so he told his imaginary self at the age of 13. ‘Boy, you have done well. Do not change anything. Do exactly what he had done in life’. What a lucky man! Well done Brett with your success. Gavin said he would love to meet his ancestors as he could not imagine how hard life was to come to Australia to start a new life.

These are only few examples of the Table Topic Session as there were about 8 people talking about the ‘If....’ situations’.

The odd number was evaluated by Gary and evens by Daniel. Both evaluators were thorough and encouraging. It was fun as always when we have the Table Topics.

The meeting moved to the Ums and Ahs count by Dai Fei. All did well with very few counts. Grammarian and Word of the Day was undertaken by Sam, Big Ears by Glenn and Timers Report by Chris. Most people are on time. Daniel was the General Evaluator. As always Daniel gave positive feedback on each role and some areas of improvement as well. Thank you Daniel.

Before the meeting was concluded the visitors made their comments – enjoyable, have learned new things – will join Concord Toast Masters Club. 

The meeting was concluded at 9:25pm.

Here I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication to the Club. He always arrives early and sets up the table and other equipment for the meeting. Also he makes sure all tables the chairs are put back to the way it was before our meeting.

May I make a suggestion: Please stay behind or we take turns to arrange the tables. Many hands make the work much lighter.

NEXT MEETING 

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Special Mention of Special Speech

There was a very crucial omission in the last posting. 
The Editor overlooked a spectacular speech presented by Glen H in presenting his 10th Speech from the Competent Communicator Manual – under the heading of ‘Inspire Your Audience’ with a speech entitled: Rivers of Gold, Streams of Tears. 
In this highly emotive speech, Glen drew on some personal connections to outline the hypocrisy and duplicity of many Clubs and organisations who present themselves as having social responsibility and community involvement, while making vast fortunes out of instigating misery and social disfunction through gambling and irresponsible service of alcohol. Glen also touched on the media and political manipulation used by the tobacco, alcohol and gaming industries. 
It truly was a motivating speech and Glen charged the audience – to do something. To write to their politicians of all persuasions and challenge their duplicity in being so accepting of the political donations as well as the lobbyist’s spin from these powerful groups.
Glen was very ably Evaluated by Sam who not only gave a very positive assessment of the speeches structure, but also of its power and motivational character. 
Again the Editor does apologise for the oversight brought about by the many changes that were required in the order of the evening.