Theme: Mid-Winter Blues
After sitting down to start the meeting, we jumped out of our seats to do a few exercises with our Sergeant at Arms, David Clarkson.
Because it was the shortest of the year, the word of the day was WEE- origin: common use in Scotland, Ireland, and our wee country, New Zealand! Our Grammarian and Toastmaster was John MacVicar
We had some snow at the meeting in the name of Brent Snow. Introducing Garry Musson. The name Garry means spear, flirtatious energy which he used for his 5-7 minutes Speech called Penal Reform.
Garry used to work in prison (not lived). He’s of the opinion that our prison system doesn’t work. Overflowing bed numbers, at a huge cost. Do we build a mega prison when prison is a great failure? Recidicism rate is high. Money is spent on punishment not on rehabilitation.
What do we do? Get prisoners back engaged. Or, in this writer’s opinion, change the drug laws.
40 hours of sunshine this June for an usual average of 170 hours. No hard frosts because we had cloud cover.
Lloyd introduced Deb McAlpine with her speech Frodo: 5-7 minutes
Frodo is her dog, not the actor!
Her first animal companion was a little puppy who she thought was a lab. It turns out that it was a Great Dane. As they say, it’s a wise dog who knows who his father is!
Steve Kennelly introduced Royden Gibbs who is starting his Pathways. This will be his third ice breaker speech. The first was in 1996, second in 2011, and we sat through his third ice breaker. The Title: I have a Vision . No, it wasn’t about politics, it was about his future career.
Royden started his working life at Workbridge as a coach for people with disabilities. He has coached thousand of people from farmers to drivers to manufactures, to those who sell the tyres and all of the people in the ‘food chain’.
Working from Invercargill to Cape Reigna. The following question is the most asked in his coaching career – How do I get all my work done? Yup, managing time. Because he gets asked this so often, he is contemplating writing a book with the working title: Up for it, Into it, and On to it: what it takes to be a real worker!… it’s in the vision part of the plan!
He promised a book for everyone in the room, when he publishes it. But first he has to write it!
Biddy Clements thought of these great ‘think on your feet’ questions for our Table Topics…
Your turn: You have 1.5 minutes. Go!
What was your worse winter job.
What was your favourite winter holiday destination and with whom?
I have been outside in the cold so long that my…..
What will space travel look like in 50 years
What are some creative ways of saving on our power bills (take a cold shower!)
Evaluators:
Vivienne wanted more meat for Gary’s prison speech. He stated the problem, but what’s the solution!
Terelle thought that Deb’s speech knitted the start of her speech with conclusion. “I love my dogs”
She felt that Deb could slow down the speech. One breath, says a lot. And perhaps to accentuate some words, drag out the second half of sentence.
Alana counted the hein’s.. (the Canadian a’s) and stopped at 6– all done in the beginning of the speech Alana’s thought that Royden was confident and liked the way he stringed those he helped in his life. (the wording of his speech, not ‘to string someone along’ : ) )
She was looking for a bit more vocal variety to help with the competition of the noisy bar. It sure has gotten worse over the weeks; the noise, I mean.
How did those who did table topics do? Louise reminded us to use the Introduction/Body/Conclusion bit of a speech, round it off with a good conclusion, use pauses to think, and don’t look behind you talking to the toastmaster. Talk to the audience!
Thanks to Anton for keeping us on time.
What did Mark think of those who weren’t evaluators.
John MacVicar was thanked for stepping in as Toastmaster at the last minute. John was quick, and kept things going on time.
All evaluators were entertaining and congratulated them
Introducing role is an important ‘setting the scene’ – remember: do the speakers need the lector? If not, help them take it away
Lloyd had a warm welcome but could have spoken up a little. Yup, that noise again!
Steve had the “welcome toastmaster, etc” which most of us forgot to do.
How about the Evaluators? Generally good at reinstating the goals, good overview of the speech.
Things to work on: hand gesture, using great vocabulary/description/words. Smile commands our attention, lots of praise helps confidence, speak up to talk over the noise.
Good CRC review from Louise evaluating Table Topics
Most memorable is Mark using the lectern to hide his hand clasping! Ya, it was cold!
Boaters Bulletin— remember the workshop in July!
Sabine talked about scheduling using EasySpeak the software. Look out in your email to update your details — and DO IT QUICKLY before she goes on holidays otherwise you won’t have a speaking part (I think that’s what she said)
Toasty award went to Deb MacAlpine. Yipee!
