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Blue Tongue Toastmasters – Minutes for meeting 21st April & Draft agenda for meeting 5th May 2010

May 16th, 2010

Dear Blue Tongue members, intending members and guests,,

The BTTM Meeting 139 on the 21st of April at the IBM Centre located at St Leonards.
The meeting was chaired by Elke and Vijay took on the timing duties.
Tonight we had 3 visitors; Eric, Vijay’s Friend Badri and Francesca.
Welcomed to Toastmasters as a brand new member is Vijay.

Our visitor Badri presented the word “Organise” as the word of the day; encouraging all speakers to incorporate this word in all their assignments.

Mark courageously took on the table topics assignment at the last minute. He presented each participant with a random colour and asked each speaker what it meant to them. All the participants tackled the assignment in great spirit and adhered to the time rules.

The evaluation was provided by our long time member Jorg and Lincoln. Both provided excellent feedbacks and tips to the speakers.

At the conclusion of the break, Lincoln provided a personal account of what toastmaster meant to him.

While welcoming the evening’s guests, Te also took a few minutes to share his own Toastmasters experience.

The toastmaster for the evening was our newest member Vijan. Vijay introduced Jason to the stage for his 5th assignment titled. “Let your body speak.” Jason’s assignment provided tips on how we should be conscious of our body language at work and at play.

Our second speaker was Geoff. The topic of his assignment was on the 5 largest volcano eruptions of all time. Geoff also provided pictures to suggest past volcanic eruptions have inspired paintings and caused “weird” behaviour in people.

Our third speaker was Lincoln, who delivered his ‘Ice Breaker’ on the topics of metaphysics. Lincoln’s very interesting speech was based on the film ” What the blip do I know.”

Jason’s speech was evaluated by thoroughly evaluated by Elke, while Geoff’s speech was evaluated by Mark. Jason returned to the stage to provide feedback for Lincoln’s first speech from the Competent Communicator manual.

Following the evaluation, Te tested our listening skills with a short serious of questions.

Vijay provided the timers report while our guest Badri finalised the word count for the WORD of the DAY assignment.

Mark returned to the stage to provide a thorough general evaluation.

The meeting concluded at 7:30pm.

__________________________________________________________________________
The next regular meeting for Blue Tongue Toastmasters will be held on Wednesday 5th May:
When: 5.45pm, Wednesday 5th May
Where: Room 13.05 (level 13)
IBM, 601 Pacific Highway,
St Leonards NSW 2065
5.45pm-7:30pm

Meet in the reception area at 5.30pm to go up to level 13.
Please ring me (ph: 0419 767 250) if there are any questions.
I have attached below a draft agenda for the meeting. Please let me know:
a) If you will be attending the meeting or send your apologies
b) If you would like to present any other assignment – I am looking for members to take on the following meeting assignments:
· Chairman
· Success – Toastmasters help me…
- Table Topics Evaluators (2)
- Visitors Welcome
- Speech Evaluators (1)
· General Evaluator

NB – We will be holding Elections for the Club Executive for 2010/2011 at our meeting on 19th May. Attached to this email is a list of the Executive Roles available. All financial members are eligible to stand for any of these roles (training and mentoring will be provided). Please ask any of the current Executive if you have questions (new ideas are needed).

Best regards,

Mark Ransom
VP Education
Blue Tongue Toastmasters
ph: 0419 767 250
mransom@optusnet.com.au

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Table Topics Master

April 5th, 2009

With Table Topics, the Table Topics Master gives members who aren’t assigned a speaking role the opportunity to speak during the meeting. The Table Topics Master challenges each member with a subject, and the speaker responds with a one- to two-minute impromptu talk.

Some people underestimate the Table Topics Master role’s importance. Not only does it provide you with an opportunity to practice planning, preparation, organisation, time management and facilitation skills; your preparation and topic selection help train members to quickly organize and express their thoughts in an impromptu setting.

Preparation is the key to leading a successful Table Topics session:

  • Several days before the meeting, check with the Toastmaster to find out if a theme meeting is scheduled. If so, prepare topics reflecting that theme.
  • Confirm who the prepared speakers, evaluators and general evaluator will be so you can call on other members at the meeting to respond first. You can call on programme participants (speakers last) at the end of the topics session if time allows.
  • Select subjects and questions that allow speakers to offer opinions. Don’t make the questions too long or complicated and make sure they don’t require specialized knowledge.
  • Phrase questions so the speakers clearly understand what you want them to talk about.

Remember, too, that your job is to give others a chance to speak, so keep your own comments short.

Table Topics usually begins after the prepared speech presentations, but there are variations from club to club. Ask the Toastmaster or vice president education if you’re unsure of when your portion of the meeting begins.

When the Toastmaster introduces you, walk to the lectern and assume control of the meeting:

  • Briefly state the purpose of Table Topics and mention any theme.
  • Encourage speakers to use the Word of the Day in their response.
  • Be certain everyone understands the maximum time they have for their response and how the timing device works (if the timer hasn’t already done so).

Then begin the programme:

  • Give each speaker a different topic or question and call on speakers at random.
  • Avoid going around the room in the order in which people are sitting.
  • Don’t ask two people the same thing unless you specify that each must give opposing viewpoints.
  • State the question briefly – then call on a respondent.
  • You may wish to invite visitors and guests to participate after they have seen one or two members’ responses. But let visitors know they are free to decline if they feel uncomfortable.

Watch your total time. You may need to adjust the number of questions so your segment ends on time. Even if your portion started late, try to end on time to avoid the total meeting running overtime.

If your club has a Table Topics evaluator, ask for his or her report and then return control of the meeting to the Toastmaster.

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Sergeant At Arms

April 5th, 2009

Keeper of club properties

As the sergeant at arms, you are responsible for maintaining club properties, arranging the meeting room and welcoming members and guests at each meeting.

The manual titled When You Are the Sergeant at Arms describes these standards more fully and explains how to fulfill them.

Outside the Club Meeting:

  • Attend district-sponsored club officer training.
  • Schedule the meeting location.
  • Maintain club equipment and check after every meeting to ensure adequate supplies are available.
  • Attend club executive committee meetings.
  • Arrange for a replacement if you are unable to attend a club meeting or if you need assistance.
  • Prepare your successor for office.

At the Club Meeting:

  • Arrange the room and equipment at least 10 minutes before the meeting begins. Make sure the lectern is in place, the banner displayed, evaluation forms and ballots distributed, awards, supply catalog, progress chart and educational material displayed, place cards arranged and name badges available.
  • Greet members and guests and arrange for guests to sit with members.
  • Greet visiting officers and escort them to the club president.
  • Arrange for food service at meal meetings
  • Ensure the meeting starts on time.
  • Collect ballots and tally votes for awards.

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Toastmasters

April 5th, 2009

Toastmasters teaches you good communication skills to be a good leader

From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organisation now has nearly 235,000 members in 12,036 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven – and enjoyable! – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.

Toastmasters makes learning fun

There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.

Good communicators tend to be good leaders.!

This non-profit organisation offers a proven – and enjoyable – way to practice communication and leadership skills. Here’s how it works:

  • A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. A typical group has 20 to 40 members who meet weekly or biweekly to practice public speaking techniques. The average meeting lasts one hour.
  • Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery. When finished with this manual, members can choose from 15 advanced manuals to learn skills related to specific interests.
  • Members also learn leadership skills by taking on various meeting roles and serving as officers at the club and district levels, and by working in the Competent Leadership manual and the High Performance Leadership program. In our learn-by-doing approach, we don’t lecture our members about leadership skills; we give them responsibilities and ask them to lead.
  • There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings, serve as officers in various leadership roles and learn rules related to timing, grammar and parliamentary procedure.

Thousands of corporations sponsor in-house Toastmasters clubs. Businesses and government organisations have discovered that Toastmasters is an effective, cost-efficient means of meeting their communication training needs.

Toastmasters groups also can be found in governmental agencies, as well as in a variety of community organisations, prisons, universities, hospitals, military bases and churches.

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Why Join?

April 4th, 2009

Blue Tongue Toastmasters will help your public speaking

peoplering2

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.

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Home

April 3rd, 2009

Blue Tongue Toastmasters is more than raising your glass to toast…

glass-21We 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

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