| Last Meeting |
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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| Penultimate Meeting |
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Meeting Tuesday 24th September 2019
Club Journalist: Caroline Bellhouse - Malvern Speakers Tue 24th Sep
Toastmaster Tristan Mitchell ran a tight ship throughout the evening, sparking verbal quips with the audience, especially grammarian Isaac Baker In summing up, Kevin Bennison joked that perhaps they ought to get a room or perhaps have a mud wrestle!
The three prepared speeches offered huge variety in content and delivery. Steve Birch recounted early army days in ‘An Englishman Abroad’ and as well as tales of crabs, toads and parrots, he described the heavy heat so vividly that evaluator Geoff Richardson felt sure that the audience could actually feel the sweat on his shirt. Steve concluded that it is never wise to judge a country by your own standards.
Graham Sterry then explained the phenomenon that he christened Sterry’s Law; the louder the voice that you overhear in a public space, the more vacuous the content. Graham had diligently conducted empirical research in bars, cafes and shops and noted occasions when the room is oddly transfixed with some inane gibberish from the pub bore.
It was however, Yuri Douse’s ice breaker speech ‘I’m Still Standing’ which won best speech of the night in which she spoke with humour and skill on her quest of self discovery and recovery after some dark moments in her life. ‘Did you know that if you ignore your heart it will disappear?’ was her spellbinding opening. For Yuri, experiences are as precious as gemstones and with the little voice of hope, those gemstones can become milestones. The imagery was spellbinding; the little wisp of smoke from one (dragon) nostril and a tiny flame from the tongue gradually building to a loud, flamey ROAR.
Jackie Baker's excellent evaluation of the speech was voted the best on the night.
Roger Granville's clever choice of table topics involved speakers motivating various competitors before a big event. Isaac Baker proposed that the Scottish curling team wear kilts as a secret weapon, Steph Bilton urged the contestants of the Great British Bake Off to let their personalities eclipse their cooking and Kevin Bennison motivated a cross channel swimmer with snacks and whiskey. But Geoff Richardson’s motivation to the Welsh male voice choir won the ribbon, describing the melody, eloquence and sheer beauty of the Welsh language.
Hazel Robinson and Stephen Marchant were among the efficient meeting monitors who delivered accurate and engaging reports in what was a full and fascinating evening.
Next meeting is Tuesday 8th October 7.30pm Great Malvern Hotel. All welcome.
Steve Birch and Tristan Mitchell will be representing Malvern Speakers this Saturday in Ludlow and all are encouraged to join them to experience ‘the next level’ of speaking and meet new friends whist cheering the club on. Call Steve on 01684 568676 for details.
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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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| Roger Granville |
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07709 958545 |
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07709 958545 |
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+44 (0) 7709958545 |
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| Elaine Watt |
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+44 7795 633233 |
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| Hilary Benoit |
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| Steve Birch |
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| Evening Phone |
44 (0) 1684 568676 |
| Daytime Phone |
44 (0) 1684 568676 |
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44 (0)7831 846997 |
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| KarenML |
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| JackieBak |
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| Diddy |
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| GeoffRichardson |
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| Steve Birch |
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| Evening Phone |
44 (0) 1684 568676 |
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44 (0) 1684 568676 |
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44 (0)7831 846997 |
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| GeoffRichardson |
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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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| Social Media |
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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! |
| 22 Oct 19 at 19:30 |
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Open to all |
Contact the Vice President Membership |
Mobile
+44 7795 633233 |
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