 | | | | Feel free to contact us with any questions, suggestions or feedback. | | | | | | | 18 August 2009 | | | | Tuesday 18th August 2009
Neil Lockhart joined TM so he could get practice on being a best man. The wedding was in May and if you ever read any of the reports you will see his comments. He was a true 'professional toastmaster' and the wedding was a tremendous success. Tonight he was our Toastmaster and he got us started by asking us 'Where would you take visitors to see and do in this country?'. What a selection of attractions - Hampton Court, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace in the summer, Cruise on the River Thames, Black Country Museum in Dudley, London Eye, Seaside trip, Trafalgar Square, Royal Albert Hall, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Alexander Palace home of the first broadcast - just some ideas for your visitors to see!
It was Jude Nazareth first time as the Ah Counter and he counted quite a few AH and filler words throughout the evening. He did say that 20% of all conversations use filler words. Judith Agaba word of the day 'contemplative' was used extensively.
# 3 speech by Samuel Komolafe was about 'Confidence' He told us it was about being ourselves, not afraid to make mistakes, speak your mind, express who we are. Be honest with yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses and if you can't change your weaknesses then compensate.
Agnes Hards like Samuel spoke with confidence. She told me she was very nervous before her speech #4 but when she stood before us her nerves seem to vanish. 'Never give up' the title and she like the eagle in her speech flew with courage and spirit. Tests are there to reveal our character and to show us areas where we can improve upon. We all have lessons to learn.
Don't look at taxes as a bad thing! Consider the infrastructure, education, health services, security forces they need tax revenue for their survival. Aki Akiwumi #7 had so much to tell us about 'One of the 2 certainties of life'. His expertise is in the first - taxes and the second he says he hasn't experienced it yet! That is good as we look forward to his next speech. Taxes need to be progressive, fair and incentivise. But are taxes now being used to manipulate our behaviour in areas such as carbon footprint?
ACB#10 - The Interpretative reading manual - Adapt a play to protray several characters by voice changing and movement. This requires tremendous skill and Joan Jardine kept us in awe and laughter as she protrayed 3 people in a cafe. Imagine walking into a cafe seeing your friend but telling her you recognise the dress she is wearing before you recognise her. Why, because that is your type of dress! Later discussing about 'Getting it off' Joan's title, no, not the dress but what? Weight of course!!!
It was Yetunde Komolafe first time as Table Topics Master. What happened to us in specific years? She was faciliatated by the use of coins. The first coin selected was dated 1995 and Sudanta told us about his trip around India. It cost him $500 but he could only travel one way around this vast country. Judith Agaba picked 2007 and she was so proud of that year as she was the first in her family to graduate from University and an inspiration to her son. Graham Frost in 2008 went to his first Toastmaster conference and got addicted. In 1996 Sarah Mulumba had not been living long in this country. Getting lost in Croydon and asking others for directions who didnt know, she decided it was time to acclimatise to her new surroundings. We now hope Sarah will decide to join us here at Speakers of Croydon.
We had a full range of evaluations from Deirdre Hynes, Abbi Greene, Vanessa Buck, Sudanta Abeyakoon. We had the pleasure of having Graham Frost who thought he was going to have a 'roleless' meeting. Instead he was general evaluator. Graham was area governor for Area 41 last year and is a member of 2 clubs. He commended us on our warm up session as it gets each member into the mood of speaking. He particularly liked our Joke Master role as it is an enjoyable way to start unwinding the meeting. He will return the next time he is working in the area.
The next meeting is on Tuesday 1st September (already the 9th month!!!)
Contest night is Tuesday 15th September (Topics & Humourous)
Deirdre Hynes
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