Two Wrights Make a Great Night

Greetings Toastmasters and Our Guest Toastmasters from the Hastings Club,

Welcome to four members of the Hastings Toastmasters Club – David Gore, Brian Mangin, Ian Wright and Sharon Brown.  It was so great to have you all along to be involved in and share in our meeting on Monday.

Our capable Toastmaster chair who stepped in for the night at late notice was Ian Wright from the Napier Club. Thank you Ian for a very efficient and well run meeting, with great transitions between the various points in the programme. 

Hastings Toastmaster Ian Wright explained his role of General Evaluator at the commencement of the meeting and returned at the end to provided succinct general evaluation of both the meeting and evaluators.  Ian provided some important reminders on –

Ian Wright

• when planning a speech it is important to consider what to leave out in the event that you come under time pressure,
• in your evaluation - to paraphrase speech content rather than rehash or restating it.
• Give your view on how the objectives were achieved in your evaluation rather than restating the speech objectives.

All great feedback and also good to get a different perspective from member of another Club. 

Amy was AUDACIOUS in explaining her roles as Grammarian and reported back on word use, grammar and ums and ahs.

Sheryl explained and tracked the time – well done to table topic speakers who kept perfect time but our prepared speakers received a record number of bell rings leading us to run overtime!

Brian Mangin

The Table Topics session was run by David Grant with a theme of “Don”t leave town without ………….. and I am going to tell you all about it” –

• Amy provided an explanation and virtual tour of the Napier Prison
• Brian (from Hastings Club) planned to explore the cycle ways in the HB
• David Gore (from Hastings Club) spoke on tasting wines and enjoyed drinking the profits at Vidals
• Netta’s had not had the opportunity to go on an Art Deco Tour but took us through various free Deco events that are available to enjoy
• Sharon (from Hastings Club) enthusiastically recommended a visit to the Hastings Art Gallery to see the Kermadec Exhibition.
• Ian (from Hastings Club) described a work team building event at the Amazing Maize.
• James Ward took us on a distracted journey of places to go to enjoy refreshments that ended in a plug fro the Bay Expresso.
• Craig audaciously described McLean Park as his favourite local sporting facility

A great table topic session that proved there is plenty to see and do in Hawkes Bay without having to leave town.

The Table Topic Evaluation duo of Sarah Lee and Steve Tutbury complimented each other extremely well and gave great feedback and recommendations that speakers needed to persuade more on why we shouldn’t leave town without seeing their chosen place.

The first of our formal speeches was Craig Robinson who was blew his whistle and a train was chugging “On the track”.  Craig vividly described to us a recent trip where he went down memory lane by riding the rails of the Northerner . 

Next was James Ward who gave us a thoroughly researched science lesson on the Complex Hydro Carbons and refining of Oil.  James had some effective hand outs that were useful in explaining such a comprehensive subject, and added a splattering of James usual humour comparing the electrons to like a singles night out dating.

David Gore

The third speaker was David Gore from the Hastings Toastmaster Club who was speaking to inform on “The Leadership Game”.  David shared a wonderful range of authors who had been of particular influence to him on the abstract concept of leadership, ending well with an inspiring poem.

Sarah Hall provided an excellent educational on how to be a successful Toastmasters by “Going Beyond Our Club”.  Sarah highlighted opportunities out side the club and encouraged us to be maximising these including participating in Speech Contests, taking up Leadership roles, and attending conferences.

Sharon Brown

Great observations and insights were delivered by the speech evaluators being Sharon Brown from Hastings Club and James Kan and Chris Heath respectively.  These included a good range of commendations, as well as helpful recommendations for each speaker to take on board for their future projects.

Craig ran an efficient business session, as always, which included:

- Feedback Area Council Meeting as follows:

• Ian Wright (Hastings Club) elected new Area Governor to take over in the new toastmaster year.
• Well done and thanks to Danny Mills who has been an amazing toastmaster and has represented the club well. Craig also added with great sadness that Danny will not be renewing her membership due to other commitments.
• The Evaluation Contest was won by Laurence Bacchus from Hastings.
• The International Speech Contests. Was won by Judith Bartlett

 - District Conference 10^th to 12^th May – Craig has a minibus going - Cost of minibus $25 per person. Limited number spaces left so see Craig a.s.a.p if you want one.  Also if you want to register for the conference see Craig as he has a voucher number which has not yet been used.
- Subs due 31-3 payment to be direct to bank account or see James W
- Certificates of participation and for places were presented for the Clubs Evaluation Contest and International Speech Contest.

And the Awards for the night went to………..…

Table Topic Speaker:  Amy Edwards
Best Speaker: David Gore
Best Evaluator: Chris Heath
Best Contribution: Sarah Hall

Well done to all who participated, and congratulations to the award winners of the evening.

Looking forward to another great meeting on the 8^th of April 2013.

Sheryl
VP Ed