Linguists of Listowel

Jane Stoltz called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm. She welcomed seven participants to the speechcraft program. The theme of the meeting was "My favourite kind of quiet." All members, guests and speechcrafters introduced themselves.
Keith S gave the loyal toast to Canada and acted as timer for the evening program.
As grammarian Brent gave us the word Inundate. It was used at least three times.
Diane Bender presented the following Educational module on Selecting speech topics.
Madam Chair, toastmasters and speechcrafters this educational segment will help you with selecting your topic. There is a handout so you don’t have to write everything I say down. I am glad you are here and setting forward on this exciting journey to improve your communication skills. You never need to be hard on yourself. Whatever you say is perfectly acceptable. Please. Step up and step out of your comfort zone. We are here to help.

First pick a topic that you are interested in and are familiar with. You might want to begin with a statement that is exciting and challenging. For example-
I enjoy gardening -I love vegetables, my husband doesn’t! His doctor said “his life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon!

We enjoy hearing about life changing events that have happened in your life. You are the expert and can speak from personal experience. Great speeches occur when you learn from your experiences and can talk about them to others.
Some of you are probably thinking- “But nothing exciting ever happened to me!”
You could talk about a vacation that was exciting or challenging or educational.
Some speeches are organised around some problem or illness you have faced and overcome. It could focus on an actual incident-“ as I drove to work the other day…I’m sure you’ve all had close calls you could share.
Your challenge will be to compress these experiences into a relatively short speech. In speechcraft program they are only 3-5 minutes.

Second choice would be to pick a subject that you are interested in and would like to research. Be Creative. For example – are plastic bags really bad for the environment and should grocery stores be allowed to charge 5 cents for a single bag?
I always leave toastmaster meetings feeling like I have learned something new from the speeches I hear. This brings me to the next suggestion.

Third Talk about something that will interest your audience. You might get ideas from newspapers, magazines, current events, television or books you have read.

Fourth Talk about something that will educate your audience. You could talk about some of your favorite hobbies- perhaps you could persuade us to try something new after we hear your enthusiasm for your hobby.

Fifth what is the purpose of your speech? What specific point do you want to impress on your audience? This will determine your speech title and how you will open and close the speech.
Sixth how do you want to make your audience feel?
There are inspiring speeches, educational speeches, and humourous speeches and in toastmasters you will learn how to make them work for your audience.
And finally what message do you want the audience to take home with them. We often end with a challenge or something to think about.
I wish you all the best in your journey to better speaking skills. Work at your own speed, whatever you say is acceptable.
Most important is just standing up, walking up to the lectern, and speaking. Take a deep breath, smile, step up and step out of your comfort zone. Present your speech on the topic of your choice- Madam chair.
Audrey presented a sample icebreaker speech entitled "It's just the way you look at it. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to her.
Diane R. evaluated with lots of glow points and a grow point to use more pauses while the audience is laughing.
George Nichol led table topics with members speaking for one minute on a continuous story beginning with "It was a dark and foggy night when I went for a walk."
Winner was speechcrafter Matt Van Ankum.

Keith M gave the general evaluation and Heidi challenged members memories as quizmaster.
Jane asked speechcrafters to read Chapter 1,2,3 and to prepare an icebreaker speech for next week. Inspirational thought for the day was "A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money" John Ruskin
Snack was provided by Audrey Orth. The meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.

September 10, 2009

Date: Thursday September 10, 2009
Theme: Something to Crow About….

Call meeting to order (7:15):
Chairperson – Toastmaster: Diane Bender
Joke of the Day: Keith Mc Cluskie
Loyal Toast & Timer: Brent Jemmett
Grammarian – word of the day: Audrey Orth
Educational Module: Jane Stoltz
Keeping the Commitment from the Successful Club Series
Chairperson/Toastmaster - Introduces Table Topics Master:
Table Topics Master: George Nichol
Chairperson/Toastmaster – Introduces General Evaluator
Area Governor Report: Diana Snowden
General Evaluator :
Reports from Timer & Grammarian –1 minute each
Award for Best Table Topics, General Evaluators Report, For the Good of Toastmasters
Next Week’s Program Review, Chairperson’s Closing Remarks, Comments from Guests
Inspirational Thought for the Day:
"You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it."
Oprah Winfrey
Adjournment (8:30)

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
Sept 17: Humourous and Table Topics Contest, Theme: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Sept 24: Regular Meeting, Theme: My Favourite Kind of Quiet, Speechraft Begins
Oct 7: Area Contest - Humorous and Table Topic Contest in Hanover
Oct 23: Division Contest
Nov 14: District Contest, Theme is Catching Your Dreams
Sept 22: Humorous and TT Contest – Mount Forest Motivators
Sept 28: Humorous and TT Contest – Toastmasters of Hanover

September 3, 2009

Linguists of Listowel – LISTEN, LAUGH, LEARN & LEAD
Area 66 – District 86 – Western Division – Region VI – Club #9016
Area Governor: Diana Snowden
Division Governor: Glenn Oxford

Date: Thursday September 3, 2009
Theme: Jump Into Fall

7:15 pm
Call meeting to order: Jane Stoltz
Chairperson – Toastmaster: Diane Bender
Chair’s Opening remarks, introductions of guests, agenda changes
Jessica introduced her friend Melanie.
Loyal Toast & Timer: Heidi Menzi
Grammarian – word of the day: Marge and Al Seawright chose the word Achievable. It was used 4times.
Business Session- announcements, officer reports, old & new business

7:30 p.m. Chairperson/Toastmaster- Introduces speakers, Evaluators are to read the objectives

Speaker #1: Brent Jemmett #4 Presenting an Award
Speaker #2 : Marge Seawright CC#7 Research Your topic- Title “Brick Walls”
Speaker #3 : Keith Stoltz #4 Interpretive Reading
Allow 1 minute after each speaker for members/guests to fill out evaluation forms

Chairperson/Toastmaster - Introduces Table Topics Master:
Table Topics Master Jessica Kelly
Chairperson/Toastmaster – Introduces General Evaluator
General Evaluator – Introduces GE role and evaluators

Evaluator #1 Jane Stoltz
Evaluator #2 George Nichol
Evaluator #3 Keith McCluskie

8:45:
Reports from Timer, Grammarian, Quizmaster, Table Topics Winner –
1 minute each
Award for Best Table Topics went to our guest Melanie.
For the Good of Toastmasters
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks
Comments from Guests
Happy 80th Birthday to Al Seawright
Inspirational Thought for the Day:
8:50 Adjournment

Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
Sept 2: Regular Meeting, Theme: Jump Into Fall....
Sept 10: Regular Meeting, Theme: Something to Crow About...
Sept 17: Humourous and Table Topics Contest, Theme: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Sept 24: Regular Meeting, Theme: My Favourite Kind of Quiet
Speechraft Begins
Oct 7: Area Contest - Humorous and Table Topic Contest in Hanover
Oct 23: Division Contest
Nov 14: District Contest, Theme is Catching Your Dreams
Mt. Forest Motivator Dates
Sept 22: Humorous and TT Contest
Toastmasters of Hanover Dates
Sept 28: Humorous and TT Contest
A Judging Workshop September 9, 2009 at pentecostal Church in Hanover.
QUOTE of the WEEK:
"Beginning today, make it a habit to count your blessings everyday."
Shadonna Richards, R.N.

August 20 2009

Brent Audrey and Diane went to the home of Heidi Menzi on August 20, 2009. Heidi welcomed everyone and was chairperson for the evening. The theme was "You'll never guess what happened". Brent was toast and timer. Audrey read "Disaster at Hog Trough Bridge" for literary corner. Heidi led table topics by passing an envelope of pictures for each person to comment on using the theme-"you'll never guess what happened". Diane Bender was the winner of table topics.
Diane led with an improv game where you find a partner, then-You must convince each other verbally of why you need the $5 bill
You can’t repeat the ways in which you try to obtain your objective or we will freeze the situation by calling time.
Conflict- why you need it
Setting- where are you
Relationship- do you know each other
What’s at stake
1st person- Asked…..begged…….bargained……..blackmail….threaten
2nd person-Refuse,,,,explain,,,,,,question,,,,,,,,defend,,,,,,,,,deny,,,
It was so much fun that we played it three times with different objects and members.
We played a board game of Donald Trump. We needed to choose competitors that would be best suited for the job provided. Audrey and Diane vs. Brent and Heidi.
For the good of Toastmasters
Audrey was asked by the Women's Institute if Toastmasters could provide a few humourous speakers for their Ladies night out on Monday, November 9 at the Ag Hall.
We decided that yes that would be a good opportunity for us to go out into the community.
Diane attended an area presidents meeting Aug 19 in Hanover. We are busy setting goals and sharing ideas. I will be attending District 86 Humorous and Table Topics contest in Collingwood Nov 13-15.
Area Governor Diana Snowden will attend Linguists of Listowel September 10. She will present awards.
Brent has made some posters for Speechcraft and will post them in Listowel

Diane sent a picture to the banner for Tall tales contest and to promote Speechcraft.