About people, not bread

People are fascinating, aren't they! So many shades of personality, so many objectives, styles and motivations.

Lee said to me yesterday, " I go along to [Toastmasters meetings] to enjoy the people and to learn". That's a lovely motivation, I think. Although in Benjamin Toastmasters we only see each other for about 1 hour each fortnight, we really do get a glimpse of each others' different lives, interests, philosophies, and backgrounds through the stories told.

For example, in Keiko's 'Tonic' that I mentioned in the previous post, she expressed her personal philosophy:
"I would like people to know the true value of the friends that they meet during their life. Unfortunately, we often judge people with their costume (outlook, job titles, parents, academic achievements, assets, nationality, religions and etc.) that they wear.

"I would like people to know their own value and believe in their capacities and potentials. Because people can’t satisfy their parents'/partner's/teachers'/friends'/children’s expectations, it doesn’t mean that people are incapable.

"There’s nothing wrong with learning and developing skills at our own pace. All positive effort should be recognised, encouraged and supported for development."

Toastmasters club members aim to be inclusive, like that, and to support rather than focus on participants' need to improve as we learn and gain self-confidence.

So it was, yesterday. Overall, the meeting was like a feast of evaluations.

Robyn's practice of her speech for the national 3-minute thesis contest was auspicious in its promise for a good run in Perth next month. She was rewarded with evaluations from almost everyone present - a rich collection of appraisals and suggestions.

Lee as Toastmaster for the day gave us all numerous openings to give feedback on all aspects of the meeting. Experienced Toastmasters give evaluations that demonstrate the inclusiveness and support that each club aims to show. Less experienced Toastmasters can still be experienced at evaluation in other walks of life and that was revealed yesterday as well.

Ideally, points for improvement should only be the sparse filling in a sandwich of commendations on the good/promising parts of a person's speech or role played. It's a good ideal to aim for, everywhere, I think.

'Auspicious', by the way, was the Word of the Day, from Yuyu. In my opinion, it is auspicious for the club that Yuyu has joined us. From her we see into a life in China as well as in Australia, and some of the yearnings and joys she has.

Claudia's choice of topics to stimulate impromptu 'Table Topics' speeches brought out that Ianon hates sand and snakes but loves the hidden cafes in Melbourne; David is anxious that the world will be ruined in 200 years time; and that highlights of Jenny's film memories are the colours and emotions in 'On Golden Pond' and 'Same Time Next Year'.

Do you see what I mean about the fascinating people we meet at our club? I hope our newest member, Pin, enjoys the people in the club as much as we do. Welcome Pin!

Opportunities!

Since the club's last blog post, new opportunities have come up - because we are a Toastmasters club meeting at University of Canberra. Tremendous!

Here's one example. Tomorrow at our meeting, Robyn is scheduled to practise her 3-minute thesis talk. You might ask where the opportunity is in that. Well, our paths crossed on campus last week, 'out of the blue'. Robyn had 'joined in' at our meetings early this year, accepting invitations to speak impromptu during Table Topics. Then she joined a Toastmasters club newly opened where she lives (outside Canberra). When University of Canberra ran a 3-minute thesis competition a few weeks back for its postgraduate students, Robyn had a go - and came first out of 10 contestants.

As a result, she will represent UC at the national competition in Perth next month.

Our Toastmasters meeting will not only give her another practice session, with a different audience, it will also give her feedback and constructive evaluation. In fact, we've invited some very experienced and high-quality evaluators from other Toastmasters clubs to come to the meeting to make sure Robyn gets the best feedback possible.   Here's a link to a short video about the UC contest and Robyn's win:
http://www.canberra.edu.au/monitor/2011/aug/15-3mt .

There's more. With Robyn being a 'target' speaker tomorrow, we will all be able to give her a short evaluation - even those of us who are not experienced or comfortable in this role.

It will be an opportunity for all of us to practise something that few of us would do very often, but which is essential for leadership in all sections of life (parenting, teaching, business, volunteering, etc.). Evaluation is a central part of Toastmasters. It's the flipside of speaking - the feedback that shows you how you appeared to your audience, just minutes after you have given your presentation.
I have a purpose, of course. There will be an evaluation contest within Toastmasters clubs later this year or early next year, and so this meeting tomorrow will begin our members' preparation for that contest.

Opportunities appeared over the last 10 days when the club was invited to take part in an orientation for new staff members at UC. It was really welcoming to our club, newly on campus, to be asked to be present, and we are grateful for this chance to attract new potential members.

New staff are not all lecturers. Many are part of the general administration, library and research areas of university life. All of the 20 or so people who showed interest in our Toastmasters club on campus are interested in the opportunities that open up when you have that skill of being a confident speaker - one who can say something coherent, even logical and interesting, at a few seconds notice, and particularly in a prepared speech. I hope all 20 visit the club tomorrow. We plan to invite everyone to take a speaking part in some way.

Finally, last meeting on 12 August, former club president Keiko spoke for a few minutes as a 'Tonic'. Her topic was 'A good friend'. Keiko asked several of us how we define a good friend, and as you can imagine there were several different answers. Keiko then wove these together with her own experience of good friends from her very interesting life both in Australia and formerly in Japan. As always, Keiko held our attention, not only with her delivery style (use of body language, eye contact, vocal variety) but also with her words and her message. She gave us all an opportunity to reflect on the qualities that allow us and others to be a 'good friend'.  Thanks Keiko.