Monday November 7, 2016 - 3 Speeches and Recognizing Others Achievements 

I started this blog to describe what happens during our Saint John Toastmasters meetings. Admittedly I've been less than regular when posting but there's quite a good list of past entries now.  

At Mondays meeting we hosted five guests. One, Reza, joined already‎ and at least one more is committed. It surprises me how people will say they've been looking for 'this' for years. Toastmasters executes lots of public relations material and activity, and is pretty widely known. As a not-for-profit with chapters in 142 countries, mass advertising isn't happening anytime soon.  However around the world we provide excellent environments and a structured program enabling people to develop and practice communication and leadership skills. 

This past Monday we had three speeches. One was on the theme of inspiring the audience with a thoughtful consideration of war veterans in the speakers life, tying in nicely with Remembrance Day. Two other speeches with the theme of organi‎zational techniques; one on packing for a multi-day hike and the other on some history of Mongolian music. 

Table topics, the speak off the cuff portion of the meeting, was on achievements.   These were challenging, and a very good exercise for participants.   Every attendee was asked to write their name and an achievement on a sticky note. We assumed we'd speak about our individual achievements. But instead a sticky note was handed to someone else to acknowledge the other person's achievement. Great idea. Good test. And something that could be helpful to the attendee outside of Toastmasters, or inside Toastmasters.  

Our meetings are held each Monday except for holidays starting in September with a summer break starting in mid June. Meetings start promptly at 6pm and end at 8pm.  Location  is Connexion Works 3rd floor of Brunswick Square.  

People can start Toastmasters at anytime. The program is self-paced within our regularly occurring meetings.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Golf Skills, Public Speaking Skills and Leadership Skills

A friend of mine has invited me to a round of golf this week.   So now I want to get to a driving range and see if I can find my golf swing again, because when we play I’d like to have a respectable round and not be whacking the ball from one side of the fairway to another. I used to be a pretty good golfer scoring in the low to mid 80s quite consistently.   However, I haven’t played in three years and in the past ten years I’ve played perhaps six times. My issue is that I remember being a pretty good golfer and when I visit the course this week, I expect to play like I used to play.   I know that isn’t reasonable, but that’s the way I think.   I expect to perform like I used to perform when I golfed a couple of times each week. How does that relate to public speaking and leadership skills? It relates directly. Golf, public speaking, and leadership are all skills.   Skills require practice. The best athletes in the world practice basic skills regular...
Read more

Toastmasters Clubs Adapting During Times Of Social Distancing

In April 2020 people are living through a pandemic as the COVID-19 virus has spread around the world.  The virus spreads quickly with human contact, so many people are living with rules or strong guidance to practice social distancing, or physical distancing. I have seen and prefer the terminology physical distancing with social connecting.  This guidance means people should maintain physical distance from those other than those in your household, and holding no large gatherings, which in some locations means no more than two people. People are limiting the occasions when they leave their homes, and when they do so, must work to maintain two metres of distance between themselves and others. As a result of these physical distancing measures many businesses have closed, hopefully temporarily, or changed their methods of operation. Restaurants and coffee shops are take out only, for example, if they have remained open. Toastmasters clubs have adapted as well. We ...
Read more

Three Speeches - Saint John Toastmasters Monday January 6 2014

Saint John Toastmasters Monday January 6 2014 Tonight we had three speeches, two from experienced members, and one from a member who joined in December.    Members can join at any point of the year as the program is self-paced. It is rewarding to see new members begin to develop their skills and confidence.  The speeches were about selecting a topic for a speech, about a survey of video games, and one on a couple of leadership stories and lessons. We meet each Monday now through to mid-June at St Macs with the exception of holidays.   Also if schools are closed for weather, our meeting is cancelled. http://saintjohn.toastmastersclubs.org/directions.html
Read more