CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS MEETING No: 1121 – Tuesday 14th February 2012

President John called the meeting to order.

Presidents Welcome – John welcomed a number of Visitors returning for the meeting including; Angela, Leo, Marlowe and Nick. We also welcomed Robin.

John also acknowledged the assistance of VPM Bernard in setting up the room and explained that the Club is in need of a new Sergeant at Arms as Edmond has had to step down from that role due to number of unforseen commitments.

Apologies – Philip, Natasha, Chris, Tanya, Juliet and Brett.

Chairman First Session – Sam

Reading of the Mission of the Club – Dai Fei.

Word of the Day – Succinct – Paul provided a thoughtful Word of the Day in the absence of a Grammarian.

Introductions – Sam’s theme for the Introductions was most appropriately Valentines Day

Agenda Update – Kimberley

Leadership Manual Evaluations – Paul stepped into that role again.

Dai Fei as Toastmaster led First Speech Session and introduced Bernard with Speech #9; entitled “The True Acid Test” where Bernard outlined the circumstances and uncertainty of a presentation he had to give in the presence of colleagues of greater age and experience. How the presentation turned into a victory due in significant part to the skills he has developed at Toastmasters. It was an excellent speech, which gave credence to the very point that Bernard was making. Bernard’s speech was brimming of humour, pathos, sincerity and great pausing.

Bernard was Evaluated by John who recalled the journey that Bernard has travelled in Toastmasters and took the Evaluation back to the core ‘Objectives’ of the speech all of which were ably addressed.

Daniel assisted by calling the meeting back to order after the Break and handed the meeting over to Paul as Chairman for the second half of the Meeting.

Paul introduced Glenn to present the Toast.

Glenn revisited a similar theme he brought up at an earlier meeting making a very valid point regarding ‘special celebration days’. Glenn convicted us to think that we should not just focus on a special thought like Valentines Day on just one day of the year, but be attentive to the sentiments all year round. The Toast was: ‘…Not just on Valentines Day”.

The Second Speech Session was lead by Daniel as Toastmaster and introduced Peter with his speech entitled “A New Vision and Alignment”. While Peter’s speech was his umpteenth ‘Ice Breaker’ speech his experience and techniques came to the fore in a presentation to fellow colleagues regarding the new plans and aspirations for his work place.

Peter was Evaluated by Mark who paid homage to Peter’s obvious experience and meticulously unpacked the techniques that Peter had employed in his presentation.

Peter was back to introduce Table Topics with a single scenario of presenting a rose (for Valentines Day), but skewed to suit different relationship scenarios which were presented in turn to each of the 6 Speakers. We had a number of the Visitors take part which is always both encouraging and refreshing.

Meghan and Bernard had the Evaluation duties for Table Topics and made some excellent observations and recommendations to all participants.

Ums and Ahs were captured by Kimberley.

Sam undertook the Grammarian duties acknowledging the use of the Word of the Day.

Glenn presented Big Ears with some excellent observations, but the ‘throwing arm’ could do with some improvement.

Kimberley delivered the Timers Report encouraging members to keep to their allotted times especially in the light of the upcoming Competitions.

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Glen H provided a very concise overview of the evening with the General Evaluation with both astute observation and a great touch of humour.

Forward Planner – Kimberley

Guests Comments – All of our Guests made positive remarks and provided invaluable responses to their first evening at our Club.

President’s Closing Remarks – john concluded the evening with an encouragement to participate at all levels in the upcoming International and Evaluation Contests. Not only as speakers, but fulfilling the crucial roles that keep the evening moving along.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday 28th February – Club International & Evaluation Contest for 2012

Tuesday 13^th March – Area International & Evaluation Contest for 2012
Burwood Community Centre, 2 Comer Street, Burwood.

Tuesday 27th March – Normal Meeting

Our New Club Banner has arrived and is displayed at our Meeting

CONCORD WEST TOASTMASTERS MEETING No: 1120 – Tuesday 24th January 2012

President John called the meeting to order in the absence of S@A Edmund but thanked Edmund for coming in to set up the room on his way home to a sick bed.

Presidents Welcome – John welcomed a number of Visitors including; Simone, Warren, Marlowe, Siagn, Belinda and Sam who was visiting from Gurney Hydro Toastmasters Club in Penang Malaysia. We were also joined once again by Lyndal from Hunters Hill Club.

Apologies – VPE Kimberley, VPM Bernard, TR Sam, S@A Edmund, Juliet, Tanya, Meghan and Katrina.

LtoR: Past District Govenor Philip, Siagn (from Gurney Hydro Toastmaster, Penang, Malaysia),
Belinda and Siagn with Club President John

Chairman First Session – Dai Fei

Reading of the Mission of the Club – Glen H.

Word of the Day – Innocuous – Mark (as Grammarian).

Introductions – Dai Fei’s theme for the Introductions was “Memorable Moments from Christmas New Year”

Agenda Update – John

Leadership Manual Evaluations – Paul.

Brett as Toastmaster led First Speech Session at short notice and introduced John and then Philip.

John presented a ‘Educational’ on Toastmaster Speech Competitions. In the lead up to our Club International Competition in 2 meetings time John provided some insightful background and personal observations to de-mystify the experience of participating in such competitions. John’s objective was not only to explain the protocols and helpful hints related to competing, but also to emphasize the benefits to the competitor in just taking part.

Philip presented a speech entitled “Who would have thought” in which he related a recent experience of having had a product cure an ailment and proffered the very interesting question “Has anyone ever actually been “cured” by a medical practitioner?” A very thought provoking speech which in keeping with Philip’s experience as a Toastmaster was bang on 7 minutes 30 seconds long. How does he do it?

John was Evaluated by Daniel who provided some highly experienced observations and areas for improvement that can be applied to any repeat presentations.

Philip was very eloquently and enthusiastically Evaluated by Lyndal in a text book account that covered all the bases.

We resumed after our Break.

Chairman for the second half was Brett who introduced Dai Fei to present the Toast.

Dei Fei drew on her heritage to propose a Toast “to the Chinese Year of the Dragon” by firstly handing out a small screed on the Year of the Dragon with the promise of that something unexpected may occur in 2012. The Toast itself was conducted flawlessly.

The Second Speech Session was lead by Mark as Toastmaster and introduced both Josh with his speech entitled “Could it be the End?”

 In keeping with an intriguing series of challenging topics Josh stirred a thought provoking scenario that Global Warming could lead to a new Ice Age in the northern hemisphere, as a result of the disruption of global trade winds and currents. Josh is always a source of thought provoking presentations.

Josh was Evaluated by Chris with his usual attention to detail and carefully constructed delivery with excellent praise, improvement praise analysis.

Philip introduced Table Topics with a collection of challenges focused around travel and travel experiences – both good and bad – provoking some very amusing anecdotes.

Chris was then back out the front to present Table Topics with a very relevant take on how to answer or respond to “those tricky questions and situations that frequently occur in the work place.” Glen H set the tone of many of the speakers to follow by using attack as the best form of defence with some side-splittingly funny retort.

Glenn D and Peter had the Evaluation duties for Table Topics.

Ums and Ahs were analysed by Glen H.

Mark undertook the Grammarian duties acknowledging a record number of uses of the Word of the Day.

Dai Fei presented Big Ears with some extra-special Toblerone treats.

John delivered the Timers Report encouraging members to continue to be involved in the support roles of the evening’s program

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Peter providing a very concise overview of the evening delivered the General Evaluation with the usual meticulousness.

Forward Planner – John

Guests Comments – All of our guests made positive remarks and provided invaluable responses to their first evening at our Club.

President’s Closing Remarks – John was finally able to make the formal presentation of the Tony Spragg Trophy to Glen H who had been away for an extended overseas trip. This Trophy in memory of a much-admired member of our Club who passed away prematurely is in recognition of the Club Winner of our Annual Humorous Speech Competition at the end of each year.

John also presented some new Nametags to members as well.

With another reminder of the upcoming Competition, John closed the meeting.

Club President John presenting Glen H with the Tony Spragg Trophy
for Humorous Speeches following Glen’s success in the Club Competition late last year.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday 14th February – Next Normal Club Meeting
Tuesday 28th February – Club International & Evaluation Contest for 2012