| Last Meeting |
Hilary Benoit | Graham Sterry | Caroline Bellhouse
Malvern Speakers report 22/10/19 Colin Jackson
There was a decidedly zoological flavour to Malvern Speakers’ latest meeting. The improvised Table Topics, set by welcome returning member Dave Bradley, brought forth among others Steph Bilton’s winning speech which included seals, sea lions, penguins and turtles; Caroline Bellhouse’s orang utans;Will Dutton’s green-eyed sheep – and Ben Yapp’s highly imaginative giant chicken, supposedly discovered by walkers on North Hill and swiftly converted into burgers!
Animals loomed large again in Steph’s prepared speech in which she sought to show that our feathered friends were “Not So Bird-Brained” after all. Research had shown that the top three most intelligent animals were the great apes, bottle-nosed sharks and elephants. But listeners might have been surprised to learn that the list also included crows, pigeons and parrots - including one 45-year-old African Grey which would conduct conversations with virtual computer assistant Alexa! An interested listener to all these animal topics was Mike Snoswell’s ‘hearing dog’ Alvin, a regular attendee at these meetings.
The two remaining prepared speeches brought the focus firmly back to the human race. Steve Birch not for the first time stepping in as a last minute super-sub – gave us an illuminating guide to tracing one’s family history, a subject on which he is a considerable expert. Having researched many peoples’ genealogy, he concluded that there was no family without some kind of skeleton in the cupboard.
Hilary Benoit’s truly ‘hilarious’ spoof reply to an airline’s request for passenger feedback to a disastrous transatlantic long-haul flight would have rung many bells for international travellers. Using her well-honed amateur dramatic skills, with eloquent body language to underline the regular crises from check-in to baggage reclaim, she earned the night’s Best Speech vote.
Next regular meeting will be at the Great Malvern Hotel on Tuesday November 12 at 7.30pm, guests warmly welcome, with free half-time cake!
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| Penultimate Meeting |
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Malvern Speakers report 8.10 2019 - Colin Jackson
A procession of quick thinkers came forward at the start of Malvern Speakers’ latest meeting. The task for each was to fashion an impromptu speech based on an object drawn from Jane Anson’s jumble bag. Swift reaction and considerable imagination marked them all. Caroline Bellhouse recalled the childhood comfort (or discomfort!) of a naked; rubber hot water bottle. Steph Bilton made much of a Jack Russell’s way with bones. Jackie Baker waxed lyrical on the subject of Marmite; while Roger Granville, faced with a Teach Yourself Hindi manual, ingeniously linked it with the heavily accented on-line tech support we all receive from the sub-continent! Evening’s vote however went to Isaac Baker for his musings on the practical and social aspects of the humble gluestick.
The tricky task of following this miscellany of nonsense fell to Stephen Marchant with his debut ‘icebreaker’ speech. Confidently delivered, and craftily entitled Pathways - the name given to the new Toastmasters International public speaking course – it turned our to be an account of his DIY experiences of laying his driveway with large paving slabs!
Fortified by half-time cake, club President Roger Granville regaled us with a beautifully paced tale involving a metallurgist, a job in Zambia, a hotel night porter and a lady of doubtful reputation (and hefty charges) by the name of Madame Fifi. Roger left his audience in suspense at the end by inviting them to decide whether or not the story was true – a question he did not answer!
Finally, a more serious note was struck by Geoff Richardson. Recently returned from a two-month stay in the villages of south-east Africa, he pondered The Mystery of Contentment, based on his observation of how the very poor people in such communities nonetheless had great dignity, were untouched by advertising and were generally well satisfied with simply overcoming the challenges of daily life. He ended what was voted the night’s best speech with a quotation from Benjamin Franklin: “Contentment makes a poor man rich; discontent makes a rich man poor”. -
Next meeting: Great Malvern Hotel, 7.30pm Tuesday 22nd October. Admission free, all welcome!
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| Humorous Speaker and Table Topic Contest |
Humorous Speech contest winners
Jackie Baker (3rd) | Issac Baker (2nd) | David Evans (1st)
Table Topics contest winners
David Evans (3rd) | Stephanie Bilton (2nd) | Steve Birch (1st)
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| Committee Contact Info |
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| Site Links |
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View the next meeting details including the structure and roles.
View the previous meeting agenda.
Find out more about the new and improved programme Pathways and begin your journey. |
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Does the mere thought of standing up to say a few words fill you with fear?
If so, you’re not alone! Fear of public speaking is reputed to rank even higher than death! Whether it’s the upcoming wedding speech, an important pitch to a client, or simply making your point in a meeting of colleagues, it’s easy for the fear to take over – so that you don’t perform at your best. There are consequences for how you’re viewed by friends, family and your boss, with follow-on emotional and economic impacts.
So what would you like to do about it?
If you’re employed in a reasonable sized organisation, you might have already attended a presentation skills course. Whilst good, you might have found that the learning wore off quickly and you’re still not that much further forward. If you really want to tackle your fear, and also if you’ve not got access to in-house training, Toastmasters is the perfect answer.
Our wide network of clubs and their learn-by-doing programme are sure to help you become a better speaker and leader because you’ll be building your skills at a pace that you choose. And the regular meetings (typically twice per month) ensure you practice and develop your skills – just as you might build your muscles through regular exercise (well some of you might!).
Here are just some of the benefits of joining Toastmasters:
- Regular and constructive feedback from other learners as you practice organising your thoughts and presenting them clearly
- Access to a wealth of educational materials and resources on public speaking, listening skills and effective communication in conferences and meetings.
- A free subscription to the Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that provides insights on communication, leadership, club activities and other relevant topics.
Members quickly gain the skills that allow them to excel at job interviews, present humorous, informative or special occasion speeches or give powerful business presentations.
Come along to our next meeting to find out more and see it in action. Guests are most welcome and can come as many times as they like.
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Looking to improve your speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Gain the confidence to speak up?
You’ve come to the right place. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped more than 4 million people just like you, from around the world, become more confident speakers and leaders.
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development, with more than 345,000 members in over 15,900 clubs in 142 countries. This network of clubs and their learn-by-doing programme are sure to help you improve.
Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to express yourself effectively in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retired, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. You'll learn how to:
- Formulate and express your ideas effectively
- Be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations
- Improve your one-on-one dealings with others
Don't delay! Become the speaker and leader you want to be. Confident, charismatic leaders weren't born that way. As you progress in Toastmasters, you'll get to practice your skills by organising and conducting meetings and motivating others to help you. Become a better negotiator. Gain trust. Inspire your team.
Visit our next meeting - guests are most welcome. You won't regret it!
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| Yours Subs |
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Bank Details:
S/C: 30-95-41
A/C: 27751760
Malvern Speakers |
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| Why Not Join Us! |
| When do we meet? |
| 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month at 19:30 |
Where do we meet? |
| The Great Malvern Hotel |
Graham Road
Great Malvern
Worcestershire
WR14 2HN |
Be a guest at our next meeting! |
| 26 Nov 19 at 19:30 |
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Open to all |
Contact the Vice President Membership |
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+44 7795 633233 |
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