July 7th, 2009
Dear Blue Tongue members, intending members and guests,
The last meeting (Meeting #124) was held on Wednesday the 24th June and chaired by Mark. Dale / Ying took on the timing assignment and Mat confidently presented the ‘Word of the Day’ – ‘Confidence’. We were confidently trying to use it in it’s many forms throughout the evening.
We had 1 visitor at the meeting – Tara , who joined us as a new member during the meeting. Welcome to Tara – our newest member.
During Geoff’s Table Topics session we were each asked to make an impromptu speak on one of Geoff’s passions – Travel. As a group we spoke of various scenes in different countries across the globe. The table topics were evaluated by Marcus and Mark. This concluded the first half of the evening.
Damien encouraged us all in Toasting the fight for freedom (named example being those protesting in Iran over the recent elections).
Masafumi welcomed Tara (our sole visitor) - asking her a couple of pertinent questions.
Dale took on the Toastmaster assignment and introduced:
Mat, who spoke (his third speech) on the ‘Wild Wild Web’.
This was followed by Jorgen whose speech was number 7 from the Competent Communicator Manual on the numbers 7, 38 and 55 (if were able to make the meeting you would understand).
Geoff evaluated Mat in a supportive and constructive manner.
Marcus evaluated Jorgen and did an excellent job delivering his thoughts on Jorgens speech delivery.
Ying delivered the ‘Did You Listen’ assignment. Questions were put together about various ubjects spoken of through the evening.
Mat scored our efforts on weaving his Word of the Day ‘Confidence’ into our assignments during the evening. Mat also commented on the use of ‘filler’ words such as Ums & Ahs.
Ying presented her timing report, also incorporating the first 15 minutes that Dale assisted, which was presented this to the assembled members and guests.
Our sole visitor, Tara, was asked for feedback. She mentioned that she had already picked up a couple of useful speaking tips from her 2 visits to our club.
The final evaluation was by Dale (President-elect) who presented a General Evaluation of the meeting – looking at all the roles and assignments not previously evaluated.
The meeting was closed by Mark at 7:11 pm.
__________________________________________________________________
The next meeting for Blue Tongue Toastmasters will be held on Wednesday the 8th of July 2009 at 5:45pm, Level 13, 601 Pacific Highway, St Leonards.
This is the first meeting for the new Toastmasters Year and we welcome in our new Executive Team
I have attached below a draft agenda for the meeting. Please let me know by COB Tuesday the 7th July, if:
a) You will be attending the meeting or send your apologies
b) Would like to present any other assignment – I am looking for members to take on the following meeting assignments:
Evaluators for table topics (1)
Visitors Welcome
Did you Listen?
Evaluator for speech (1)
We also are looking for a suitable venue for our ‘Change Over Dinner’ to be scheduled in the next couple of meetings. This is to thank the out-going Executive Team (that has helped BTTM achieved ‘Distinguished Club’ Status (for the first time)) and the welcome in the new BTTM Executive team for 2009-10. All are welcome.
Best regards,
Mark Ransom
VP Education
Blue Tongue Toastmasters
Tags: blue tongue, confidence, evaluator, toastmaster, toastmasters, toastmasters meeting
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April 5th, 2009
The toast, an inspiring quotation that sets the tone for the day’s meeting, is a welcome option in many clubs. It is usually delivered by a designated club member at the beginning or the end of the meeting.
If you are new to Toastmasters and are nervous about the thought of speaking in front of people, you can use this small but valuable role to build your confidence.
Before the Meeting
Find a meaningful quotation, preferably one that relates to the day’s theme, and prepare a brief introduction to the quote. Treat it as you would any other speech – craft it carefully and practice delivering it before the meeting.
During the Meeting
If you agree to deliver the toast for a club meeting, arrive a little bit early to let the presiding officer know that the role will be covered for the meeting.
When called on by the Toastmaster, stand up and deliver your toast of the day to the group. Call every to stand and toast with you.
Tags: confidence, toastmaster, toastmasters
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April 5th, 2009
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental.
Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:
- Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
- Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
- Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
- Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
- Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. (”One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
- Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
- Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
- Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
- Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
- Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you – as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.
Visit a Blue Tongue Toastmasters meeting!
Tags: audience members, blue tongue, blue tongues, confidence, conversational language, giving a speech, nervous energy, public speaking, smile, timer, toastmaster, toastmasters, toastmasters club, toastmasters meeting, visual aids
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April 4th, 2009
Blue Tongue Toastmasters will help your public speaking
People join Blue Tongue in order to:
- Develop their public speaking skills to persuade and convince others
- Learn to put their ideas across clearly and with conviction
- Improve their self-confidence before a group of people
- Learn to think quickly and clearly under pressure
- Learn to listen effectively and critically
- Learn to supportively evaluate someone else’s presentation
- Train to become a good leader
When you join the Blue Tongue Toastmasters Club you receive a complete training kit covering all aspects of speaking and evaluation. This kit includes Communication and a Leadership manuals. This manual reflects the years of experience Toastmasters has in helping people just like you. It takes you step by step through the art of making and evaluating speeches.What specifically will you learn to do as a Toastmaster?
In the Blue Tongue Toastmasters Club you will learn by doing
In particular you learn by doing with your efforts evaluated by your fellow Club members. You will be gradually introduced to the various roles within a Toastmasters meeting. Gaining proficiency in these helps build up your skills. The exercises will teach you how to:
- Give an impromptu speech
- Give a prepared speech
- Evaluate what you hear
- Introduce speakers
- Be a more effective leader of people
- Chair and run meetings
BTTM opens up networking and mentoring opportunities
How we communicate informally at events is every bit as important, if not more so, than being in the spotlight giving a speech. Knowing how to mingle and network may be more important to our overall success in life than anything else. BTTM gives you the skills and opportunities to network and have a mentor or mentoree which will help you grow professionally.Whether you work in a corporate environment or from home, whether you are a student or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining communication and leadership skills.
You will become a better speaker
Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. By learning to formulate and convey your ideas, you open a new world of possibilities. You will be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations and you will improve your one-on-one dealings with others.
Your leadership skills will improve
Leadership is the art of persuading others to do what you wish. To succeed, you need to communicate, and you need to work as a team. In Toastmasters, you’ll do both. And you’ll find out how to vary your approach to suit the needs of different people, be they the audience for a speech, the committee for a fundraiser or your coworkers and managers.
When you Join you will join 235,000 other members who are wanting to succeed
Toastmaster has more than 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs in 92 countries. The meetings are organised so that everyone will have a chance to speak, should they want to. You schedule your own speaking assignments a few weeks in advance, so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare.
Speaking assignments are varied, with the first one designated as an “ice breaker” – a description of yourself and your life that lasts between five and seven minutes. You’ll be assigned a mentor to help you settle in and get through your first speaking roles. As you grow in confidence, you assignments will grow with you.
Importantly, whenever you stand up and speak, you receive encouraging, helpful feedback on how it went and how you can improve next time.
The membership is great value
While it is free to come along membership offers a range of benefits primarily teaching you to be a better speaker and leader. BTTM and Toastmasters International runs a number of courses for the members to progress from their first speech (the Icebreaker) to being a Distinguished Toastmaster. Membership is $40 (once off) + $50 each six months i.e. $90 for the first six months than $50 for each six months after that. Initially membership includes several manuals to guide you to be a more effective speaker and leader and continues to provide more advance courses as you progress over the years.
Tags: blue tongue, complete training, confidence, conviction, effective leader, exercises, fellow club members, giving a speech, impromptu speech, leadership, leadership skills, proficiency, public speaking, public speaking skills, self confidence, six months, speakers, speeches, toastmaster, toastmasters, toastmasters club, toastmasters international, toastmasters meeting, train
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April 3rd, 2009
Blue Tongue Toastmasters is more than raising your glass to toast…
We meet every second Wednesday at 5:45 pm in the IBM Centre St Leonards. It is free to come along.
Upcoming Meetings
About Us
Blue Tongues Toastmasters is located in St Leonards on the Sydney Lower North Shore. We are part of a vibrant volunteer world wide organsiation of Toastmasters International. We welcome visitors and encourage you to visit and participate for FREE before deciding to join. If you are going to come please do contact us before attending as IBM is a Secure environment.
What do we do ?
- Develop your public speaking skills to persuade and convince others
- Teach you to put your ideas across clearly and with conviction
- Improve your self-confidence before a group of people
- Teach you to think quickly and clearly under pressure
- Educate you to listen effectively and critically
- Teach you to supportively evaluate someone else’s presentation
- Train you to become a good leader
Tags: blue tongue, blue tongues, confidence, conviction, public speaking, public speaking skills, toastmaster, toastmasters, toastmasters international, train
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