Newsletter December 2011

Welcome note.

Hello! Sorry it has been sooooo long! This issue is what I am going to call a bumper issue as it covers September to December and is the final newsletter for 2011. I do have an excuse for this happening. Having a baby kind of got in the way of the toastmasters newsletter so I apologize but Henry is cute so it is ok.

- Emma

News. So I missed quite a few meetings so forgive me if I miss anything, as I am not completely up to date. The better speaker series is now over and hopefully it was a success (??). I had a baby called Henry George on the 27th of August (I figure that is news) and Gianna and Romana are now both aunties! Our club hosted a workshop on judging on the 15th of November. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner at Shahi Tandoor on the 29th of November, which Romana even managed to make it to as she was back from Ulva Island for a few days and had really good timing. There are now 3 of us who have achieved our competent communicator award this year: Ala, Allison and myself, I also achieved my competent leadership award. We have therefore had a pretty successful year as a club and will hopefully have a few more achieve their CC and CL by the end of the toastmasters year (eg. Romana). We say goodbye to Jesse who is moving from Dunedin and welcome Sara back from Belfast.

Our Committee:

Club President: Allison Brown. Treasurer: Jane Gregory. Secretary: Gianna Salis. Sergeant at Arms: Vice President Education: Michael Crawford. Vice President Membership: Romana Salis. Vice President Public Relations: Emma Salis.

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Henry with Santa Happy Christmas!!!

Speeches achieved July – December 2011.

Ala Overcoming Procrastination, Presentation on Dentistry CC#10, non-manual

Allison Finding Inspiration, Icebreaker

CC#10, CC#1 Andy Icebraker, Waves CC#1, CC#2 Emma L. The Best Sport Ever

CC#3 Emma S. Save Lives – Give Blood

CC#10 Jayne CC#2 Jesse Jesse’s Icebreaker, Mexico

CC#1, CC#2 Kia CC#3 Lisa Childhood Trickery CC#6 Mark Jory What’s up Governor? Michael CC#5 Educational speeches: Sue Stephenson - Preparation & Practice Campbell Thomson - Beginning your speech Craig McGregor - Concluding your speech Rex Moore - Creating and Introduction Michael Crawford - Take the terror out of talk Merilyn Hibma - Using body language (CC= Competent Communication Manual) There are probably a few more speeches I have missed but I had trouble keeping up with speeches that were given when I was on my toastmasters maternity leave J.

Photos from our Christmas/end of year Dinner at Shahi Tandoor.

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Since it is now the summer break I thought I would summarise the article from the December issue of “Toastmaster” called “Celebration Season- How to prepare a timely toast.” I’m sure a few of us will have weddings to attend or Christmas functions of some form or another where we may be asked to give a toast so this may help. How to deliver a memorable toast: Plan ahead.

• prepare an outline - rehearse it six times • memorize the main ideas and rehearse them

until your delivery is fluid Be concise.

• toasts should be short: 1-2 minutes • special guest: 3-4 minutes

Explain your connection.

• give people a little context • briefly describe your relationship to the

guest(s) of honour Open with a theme.

• tell a story or a few short anecdotes about the person or occasion you are celebrating

• consider starting with an inspirational quotation or passage

• or start with a tasteful and topical joke, and then provide a moral

Focus on the guest of honour.

• focus on how great the person is, and not what that person means to you or how he or she makes you feel

Avoid insider information.

• when in doubt, leave it out Remember your thank-you’s.

• think ahead to identify all the people you should thank/ recognize.

• don’t miss out on an opportunity to show your gratitude publicly

Say “Cheers!”

• don’t forget to invite other guests to join you in toasting the guest(s) of honour

• “please join me in raising a glass to …” Or “cheers!”

Test your toast.

• run your toast by someone you trust. • he or she can tell you if the humor is

appropriate or if you left something out Finally. Follow these simple tips ensure that your toast goes smoothly:

1. Let the host go first. 2. Speak before your second drink

-alcohol and public speaking don’t mix well.

3. Hold the microphone properly -keep your chin up, speak with a strong voice and hold the microphone at a 45-degree angle about four inches from your mouth.

For the full article refer to page 22 of the December issue of Toastmaster.

Education:

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Competition: Name the place and city/country for each photo to be in to win some chocolate treats! Please email/tell me before the 31st of January 2012.

Photo 1 Photo 2 Answers to photos from issue 8: Photo 1: NewBrighton Pier, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Photo 2: Times Square – New York, USA. Winners from issue 8: Romana, Jesse and Russell.

SPEAKEASY TOASTMASTERS Matheson Room Knox Church Hall, 449 George St, Dunedin 5.30pm-7pm every Tuesday.

Facebook group: “Speakeasy Toastmasters Club Dunedin”

Upcoming Events. The last meeting of the year was the 6th of December and we will resume again on the 31st of January 2012. I hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year and see you all next year! Please email (salis.emma@gmail.com) or write down anything you would like to see in the next newsletter and give them to me.

The Crust of It Speakeasy Toastmasters September - December 2011

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