Last meeting at Glebe Hall for Harrovian Speakers' Club

Our last meeting at Glebe Hall was presided over by President Seema. Behind her, wearing the blue ribbon and medallion is the incoming president Jayanthiny.

Lorna's subject for Table Topics theme was the monarchy. Her first topic was: Do we need a monarchy? 

She chose me to answer. I jumped up and said, "Yes, we do need a queen. I always think, why is it not me?" The other speakers were: Suchil; Badal; Jay; Viori (of Northern Lights); Indra; Warren; Sanjay.

Jay won the ribbon for best evaluation. A guest won the ribbon for best table topic. Ribbons were awarded to all three speakers.

Indra evaluated Table Topics.

Jesus gave a speech evaluated by Angela.

Amparo (her tenth speech, the motivational speech) was evaluated by Jay.

Sushil gave an educational speech on how to use the Easy-Speak website. Your username is your first initial and your surname because that is the way the system is set up worldwide. 

You should log in to say whether you are attending the next meeting, because that is required before you can request a speech slot. The VPE or TME then allocates the slots according to requests and availability.

Warren was language evaluator.

In addition to the good and bad things he heard, I heard:

My opic - what's an epic? - which I later realised was one word, myopic.

Jayanthiny was General Evaluator.

The next meeting will be at a new venue nearer to Canons Park. Contact the club to find out. 

Angela Lansbury, ACG, CL.

Alan McMahon's humorous metaphor of himself and Coralie as contrasting cars

Alan McMahon and Coralie both achieved the rare rank of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM for short). Kavita of Watford speakers organised a dinner in their honour held at Dona Teresa restaurant in Hatch End, Pinner.

Coralie on the right. Paul Carroll on the left.

I thought that maybe somebody would be called upon to give a speech about both of them. Instead, both spoke about how they had achieved DTM status, thanked those who had helped, and praised each other.

Coralie spoke first and gave a heartfelt, sincere, enthusiastic speech describing the joys of becoming a DTM.

I recorded Alan's reply. Here's the opening to Alan's speech: I recorded it afterwards.

Oops! I could not upload it directly. (Why is a tiny clip of under three minutes 'too big'. I'll try moving it onto my desk top and sliding it across. Persistence pays.)

If you can't watch the video, this is the summary of what Alan says. "Coralie achieved DTM in just six years. I took a decade. I think of Coralie as a Ferrari. Whilst I am more of a milk float."

Angela Lansbury: Advanced Toastmaster Gold; Competent Leader. 

Organising Voting For A New Committee at Harrovian Speakers Club

President Seema, left, presents award to Angela Lansbury, right.

How and Why I Volunteered
1 I asked for a role in order to complete my Competent Leader manual and President Seema of Harrovians said I could Chair (organise) the Committee Election/Contest.
2 President picks meeting date, last one before handover, and allocates ten minutes in a busy programme of four speeches.
3 I am already down that day to do timer. I mistakenly think I can do both roles.

Organising the voting in of the new committee involved more than standing up and saying one sentence of introduction. A week of emails, each day a query from me to the president or from the president to me, and three replies, and a conclusion; each day involving up to half a dozen people with all the committee or all the members copied at each stage or at the end.

1 I list the committee posts and current holders.
2 I ask exiting post holders if they wanted to stay on? One wants to switch roles. I ask all if they want to switch to a new role?
3 I find out which posts had no takers so that anybody wanting to be on the committee could be asked if they would take the vacant role.
4 I tell current committee members we are obliged to advertise all posts to all.
5 I email all members to ask for volunteers to fill all vacant roles or all taken roles. Follow up email to all members asking if they were interested in joining committee, either taking on a vacant role, competing for a position, or being a helper.

Paperwork and Props
6 President asks me if I need any props, paperwork such as ballot paper.
7 I ask for a flip chart; then decide a projected list of candidates on screen would look more professional. I decide in case the computer fails I still need a back up of flip chart. I express doubt whether I can print the ballot papers or slide and ask if the President or VPE or another committee members can help. President says they are all busy and I should email everybody.
8 I email all members asking for help.

Martina (left)

9 Martina, a relatively new member who I would not have thought of asking, volunteers to do both essential tasks, print ballot papers and make a slide.

10 Assorted emails between us about whether we need ballot slips for all candidates - no just those posts where we have to vote for two.
11 On second thoughts must list all posts in case two new people pop on the night, standing for a vacant post, or an extra candidate from the floor stands for a post which already has a mandate.
12 President asks if I would like to announce candidates and speak at start of meeting, then re-appear at end with results.
Debate about where in the programme the Checking whether we needed to allow time for competing candidates Emailing date of committee contest date to all and asking VPE to allow time.

Angela Lansbury, CL, ACG.