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