Benjamin Toastmasters Club met on 10 February, with a pleasant and relatively relaxed first proper meeting for the year. (A few of us had been at the very first meeting on 20 January, but it had been in a different room and most people had been on holidays.)
We welcomed three first-time visitors: Peter, Niki and Julio, who joined in during the inclusive segments on the program.
Lyndal took on the role of Toastmaster for the first time, and managed well even though she had had no time to check in the manual to see what the role entails. It's a job that is good exercise, because the Toastmaster stands up and sits down throughout the meeting, standing up to go to the front and thank the person who has just finished speaking and introduce each next section before sitting down again.
We all (nearly all) learnt something about Toastmastering because, to help Lyndal, Keiko and Peter explained that there should always be someone at the front of the room in the speaker's position. That is, the Toastmaster (and Table topics master too in that segment) should wait until the next invited speaker has come to the lectern area, then shake hands (if that is the club's normal practice) before sitting down. Similarly, when the person ends his or her speech , he or she should stay at the front until the Toastmaster (or, again, Table topics master) has come to the front again, before leaving that spot.
Carmen gave her icebreaker speech, and used it to take us to Machu Pichu in Peru, her home country. She painted a word picture for us of this ancient archaeological site - a fascinating and mystical place, where the massive stone structures are beyond modern comprehension. Carmen spoke with assurance and enthusiasm, hardly needing her notes, making good eye contact and using body-language. A very good beginning.
Bernice then gave the evaluation of Carmen's speech, finding many aspects to commend and making one recommendation. Recommendations in our club are preferably given as the filling of a sandwich of commendations, even though most people find recommendations to be of more value in personal development.
As an aside, I have been astounded at the speed with which our new members during 2011-12 have moved from being very very nervous and quiet to being confident and willing to come out to the front and take on various roles with increasing ease and fluency. The Toastmasters program clearly 'works'.
Back to Friday 10 Feb: Robyn was kind enough to give us a run-down on what is involved in starting a postgraduate degree at University of Canberra. Yes, we know that is not really relevant for Toastmasters, but Robyn did it as target practice, so to speak. She was the target (or at least, her speech was the target), and then, with Keiko coordinating, each of us in turn gave a short evaluation of Robyn's speech. We gave commendations (easy peasy) and, with a struggle, found one recommendation each to give her. Robyn herself, on the other hand, gave a warm evaluation of Carmen's speech.
There was time for a few Table topics, which gave our visitors and Toastmaster and Timer and Sergeant at Arms a second chance to speak up at the meeting.
Peter reminded us all, in his Club Business segment, that Toastmaster training is on 18 February and we need to register online beforehand, via the District 70 website or email the club contacts for the link.
Finally, Keiko gave an overall evaluation of the meeting, with her usual supportive but direct comments, and a reminder that we had started late. Even though the meeting kept to within a length of 1 hour, it is not good to start late because everyone is on lunch hour and has to get back promptly to work.
Next meeting is on 24 February, and we hope to see this week's visitors, all our members, and any new visitors who would like to attend and see what our club is like. Everyone is welcome.
We welcomed three first-time visitors: Peter, Niki and Julio, who joined in during the inclusive segments on the program.
Lyndal took on the role of Toastmaster for the first time, and managed well even though she had had no time to check in the manual to see what the role entails. It's a job that is good exercise, because the Toastmaster stands up and sits down throughout the meeting, standing up to go to the front and thank the person who has just finished speaking and introduce each next section before sitting down again.
We all (nearly all) learnt something about Toastmastering because, to help Lyndal, Keiko and Peter explained that there should always be someone at the front of the room in the speaker's position. That is, the Toastmaster (and Table topics master too in that segment) should wait until the next invited speaker has come to the lectern area, then shake hands (if that is the club's normal practice) before sitting down. Similarly, when the person ends his or her speech , he or she should stay at the front until the Toastmaster (or, again, Table topics master) has come to the front again, before leaving that spot.
Carmen gave her icebreaker speech, and used it to take us to Machu Pichu in Peru, her home country. She painted a word picture for us of this ancient archaeological site - a fascinating and mystical place, where the massive stone structures are beyond modern comprehension. Carmen spoke with assurance and enthusiasm, hardly needing her notes, making good eye contact and using body-language. A very good beginning.
Bernice then gave the evaluation of Carmen's speech, finding many aspects to commend and making one recommendation. Recommendations in our club are preferably given as the filling of a sandwich of commendations, even though most people find recommendations to be of more value in personal development.
As an aside, I have been astounded at the speed with which our new members during 2011-12 have moved from being very very nervous and quiet to being confident and willing to come out to the front and take on various roles with increasing ease and fluency. The Toastmasters program clearly 'works'.
Back to Friday 10 Feb: Robyn was kind enough to give us a run-down on what is involved in starting a postgraduate degree at University of Canberra. Yes, we know that is not really relevant for Toastmasters, but Robyn did it as target practice, so to speak. She was the target (or at least, her speech was the target), and then, with Keiko coordinating, each of us in turn gave a short evaluation of Robyn's speech. We gave commendations (easy peasy) and, with a struggle, found one recommendation each to give her. Robyn herself, on the other hand, gave a warm evaluation of Carmen's speech.
There was time for a few Table topics, which gave our visitors and Toastmaster and Timer and Sergeant at Arms a second chance to speak up at the meeting.
Peter reminded us all, in his Club Business segment, that Toastmaster training is on 18 February and we need to register online beforehand, via the District 70 website or email the club contacts for the link.
Finally, Keiko gave an overall evaluation of the meeting, with her usual supportive but direct comments, and a reminder that we had started late. Even though the meeting kept to within a length of 1 hour, it is not good to start late because everyone is on lunch hour and has to get back promptly to work.
Next meeting is on 24 February, and we hope to see this week's visitors, all our members, and any new visitors who would like to attend and see what our club is like. Everyone is welcome.
