Daniel made his debut as Toastmaster at the Tuesday 15th February 2011 meeting, and gave us a strong and positive message: “Treat the other as you like to be treated”. What was funny is that this fundamental principle can have some reverse side when San Valentine’s Day arrive and roses appear at home. San Valentine’s day can go together with the word of the day, “irritation”. As it was a very personal view, I leave the topic here, and the reader can follow the story in his/her own way. Daniel was quite brave taking the role, because he was “invited“ to take it on the very same day, due to a last minute cancellation.
Our neighbors downstairs at Casa Orlandai this time were a mediation group. Difficult cohabitation of one group (meditation group) that creates silence and introspection as a purpose of having personal development together, with another group (us, the Toastmasters!) which create laughs, applauses, noises and voice projection with the same purpose of having personal development together.
Quite a number of guests! As Phil, the SAA, is very strict with not allowing anybody going in when the meeting has started, the late arrivals slipped into the room through the back door silently, and final attendance number never is clear.
Topic Table Master Florian was challenging as usual. The first speaker was myself, and afterwards Marian, Manuel (a daring guest!), Claudia and Dale (DTM!). The speaker had to choose a structure: /one, two, three/, /god, better, best/, /past, present future/ or … /changing the subject/. And the topic was a word chosen at random from the Toastmaster magazine.
Speeches were stimulating, practical and suggestive
Stimulating, because Peter explained that “Lady Luck” is always there waiting for us. Peter’s speech was the Competent Communication Manual #8 - Get Comfortable With Visual Aids.
Practical, because Dima’s speech “There’s no such thing as a small...” made evident that all we have too much clothes in our wardrobes and told very sophisticated technique to adapt what we need with what we have. (“Competent Communication Manual #8 - Get Comfortable With Visual Aids” )
Suggestive, because Tulia told a nice tale “The Knight in Rusty Armor”, arousing emotion while telling the story as a speech (Storytelling #4 - The Touching Story)
Xavier (DTM!), Carol and Arthur where the constructive evaluators.
Our President Tulia addressed some business club: people to take part on the March contest! And a new challenge proposed by Are Governor, Kai, explained by Dima: a contest in Spanish language for all Spanish clubs!
Edith put order as General Evaluator with her professional and DTM’s capacity to influence. Ignasi (Ah-counter) was very original counting and reporting the use of fillers, because he counted in cents of Euro instead of units of words. As each filler added up 5 cents and each use of the “word of the day” subtracted 5 cents from the total, final figures were a little bit confusing. All had to pay, but Dale made money from it (0 fillers + several words of the day) We have to work a little bit more the system, and of course we need the pig-saver to keep the money collected! Bettina made her debut as Timekeeper, and she had a perfect control of the times (all speakers and evaluator reached the red light!), and Mathew made his debut as Grammarian. He found things to improve on all the speakers!
Till the next!
Alvaro http://blog.prestigiousspeakers.com
