Breath Production and Voice Projection at HOD

What a wonderful, instructional and amusing meeting. Whether you want to learn about speaking or about life and to be entertained.

Introductory Roles
Tony Winyard welcomed us to the meeting and invited the TME David to the stage with words encouraging us to clap, "Can we please hear it for David!"

TME David - a Breath of Fresh Hair
The meeting theme on Thursday 21st September was Breath Production and Voice Projection. The subject was chosen by Toastmaster of the Evening David Phelops who runs a choir, or two.

David informed the guests and members that Toastmasters has 14,00 clubs worldwide and 400,000 members. Clubs are mostly English speaking but include other languages such as French, Russian,  and Polish in London. He asked me about Singapore.  I was able to tell everybody that Singapore has clubs speaking,  French and Chinese. (Also Malay and Tamil).

He began by asking us to stand and demonstrating how you breathe, without lifting your shoulders, with the stomach expanding.

Grammar and Words
Michael Freedman as Grammarian had chosen the word of the evening as Perfection, which caused mirth when the word of the day kept falling to the ground. I heckled a suggestion, Imperfection. he warned us that he would be listening out for 'So'.

Speeches
Param on The Importance of Constantly Learning New Skills
Param gave an ice breaker speech introducing himself as, 'The Learning Machine'. (He was later presented with a ribbon as reward for an Ice breaker.)

Kesh
Kesh's speech had to be delayed because Microsoft ran an update so she could not use her laptop for five minutes.

David filled in time with more demos of breathing.

Chocolate
Kesh's speech title was Let's Talk About All Things Chocolate. She told us about Aztecs drinking spicy chocolate, and Columbus trying to take the chocolate drink back to Spain but it was rejected by Ferdinand and Isabella.

Do It Now
Chantal's speech was called The Power Of Now.
She said many people sat on the couch and watched films on TV. Which would you rather be, the watcher or the actor?
She realised that her mother and many people said, 'One day I will'. Or, 'Tomorrow I will ...'
She told us how she changed career and became a life coach.
She said, 'The Time Is Right. The Time Is Now.'

Topics on Breath
Table Topics were introduced by Angela Hook, fetchingly dressed in a simple two-colour co-ordinated colour scheme of red and black which matched and complemented her black hair, with smart gold shoes.

She followed the theme of the evening, breathing, and her questions were challenging. The first topic stumped the speaker, Carolyn, who finished early.

The second topic was again on the abstract topic of remembering to breathe correctly. I heard my name, Angela Lansbury. I  was chosen and immediately treated it humorously. David had made a joke about breathing from the moment we are born until we take our last breath.

I said you should follow David's advice from birth to death, and always remember to breathe, if you want to stay alive, especially under water, when you should take a snorkel.

Another speaker, Patrick, mentioned an author called Winhofwho promoted a stem of starting every day with about 30 long breaths and 30 short ones and a very quick ten seconds of a cold shower. Winhof or others claim this method cures anxiety and depression. The speaker said he had tried it and it invigorated you ready to start the day.

Other speakers were Ayo and Pinal.

What would you tell children about breathing?

Coralie said, "Breathing is all about discipline of the mind so you meet life's challenges. Breathing calms you down. Focus and relax. Practise all the time. Every night write down your goals for the next day and how you will achieve them. Sleep on it. Get up and read your list first thing,

David called the timekeeper and mixed up the names of the video operator and the timekeeper. However, he kept the level of positively up by joking, "I should have gone to Spec Savers!'

Tony asked the guests to introduce themselves and comment on the meeting before the networking break. That's good timing, if you want to speak to them, remember their name and their views.

Break
We had no milk. Biscuits and a few cakes. Water and black coffee.

Evaluation of Param by Dennis
Dennis, evaluating the speech by Param, referred to 'Honoured guests'.

Evaluation of Kesh by me, Angela Lansbury

Evaluation of Chantal by Denise.

Quiz
Coralie early in the evening warned us she would be checking how well we listened with a quiz.
Coralie ran the quiz spot to find out how well we had listened to the speeches. Then she asked us the names of the visitors.

David said that children have great breath control. They take a deep breath, in silence, then have very loud tantrums!

David presented the ribbons to the winners of the collected votes by all members and guests.

All photos by Angela Lansbury.

Tony gave David, TME, well deserved praise. David responded by quoting somebody receiving a film award, "I'm trying to think of a way of appearing humble."

Tips
See all the meeting including me giving my topic on hod-tv.uk (if not up tonight then very shortly within a week.)

Please see and share linksto my blogs on Toastmasters Clubs and another on my speeches. I am also on YouTube talking about spelling (which you need for slides) and grammar.

Author and speaker Angela Lansbury