Mad March

Not quite a “Mad March” theme, but Toastmaster for the night Christine encouraged us to embrace the month of March & some of it’s history – a theme later continued by Richard in Table Topics.
Christine opened the meeting & welcomed the visiting guests from Hastings Toastmasters who were here to judge the International Speech Contest. She also welcomed back guest Maryna for her second visit.


The club Mission Statement was read with enthusiasm by Amy who encouraged us all to greater personal growth.

International Speech Contest Chairman Chris explained how the winner of tonights contest could go all the way to the World Championship of Public Speaking finals in Kuala Lumpur later this year.

Amy drew the lot as first speaker. With her speech entitled “Help”, she opened with lines from the Beatles song of the same name. A very interesting, thought provoking and enlightening story of how to help someone suffering from depression. Her advice was to turn around the persons issues by putting themselves in their position and become their light at the end of the tunnel. She exemplified this by turning off the hall lights & used a torch to light up herself.

Next to the front was Sarah – “What a Wonderful Web” A personal story, she opened by announcing she met her husband through the web and we heard about three sites – match.com. trademe & google. The speech began with the announcement her daughter had asked where she met Daddy. When told she met him on the internet, she said to her Dad “did you buy Mum on Trade Me?” which had the audience in stitches. Her message was that the internet can be useful for solving so many questions – how to meet someone if you are single or lonely, how to get great bargains on Trade Me
[with caveats that it can be too easy to buy something just because it was a great price] and google can find answers to just about any question. Sarah used wonderful vocal variety and gestures to add emphasis to her presentation.

Last up was Craig who extolled us to “make our own luck”.  A personal story about his first marathon 25 years ago, the nerves and anxiety, the sleepless night prior to the race and how to complete such an event you have to make your own luck – not leave it to chance.  He took us on a journey through his training and the highs and lows of the actual race. We were left with a message that no matter what happens in life or what you may want, it won’t just happen, you need to “make your own luck”, train and prepare for it.

International Speech Contestants Amy, Craig & Sarah

After an extended supper break which gave everyone a chance to scoff the chocolate biscuits, the “traditional” part of the meeting got underway.

Table Topics, ably run by Richard kept to the March theme.

Wayne was asked if St Patricks day should be a holiday. He replied that no, after a day drinking the Irish way, the following day should be a holiday and called “Hangover Day”.

Next up Peter, gave us 4 reasons why March is the best month, [most important being his birthday], Steve gave examples of how and why we should march in March, while Ian ignored the topic completely and talked about his army life, but finished with a quote, “experience is what you get 5 minutes after you needed it”. Brian finished off the session by telling us he had done something different and done what his wife had asked him to do. He was “awesum!”

Table Topics finished off with the reminder that today was the day of Awesomeness and also Chuck Norris birthday.


Steve then introduced Netta who presented Speech No 6 entitled “Showtime”,  from the Competent Communicator manual. A journey back in time for most of the audience as she regaled us with the story of taking her grandchildren, ages 3 & 5 to the show and all the things that happed on the day. Lots of wonderful facial expressions and wonderful word pictures. She had us there with her on the trip.

The business session was run by President Craig who informed us Toastmasters had been privileged to judge the recent RSA Secondary Schools Speech Contest. The national winner of this contest will get a trip to Gallipoli with the NZ contingent to celebrate this historic and tragic event.

Chris and Agilan gave a thorough evaluation of the Table Topics speakers with commendations and recommendations for the chosen ones.

Steve presented his evaluation of Nettas speech with lots of commendations and a couple of recommendations for Netta. Congratulations on a speech that was well thought out, had a great flow and well presented in line with the objectives of the speech around vocal variety.

Chris announced the winner of the International Speech. Congratulations Amy for a very thought provoking speech!

The meeting was summed up by General Evaluator Graeme who ensured everyone who spoke and had not already done so received feedback. His assistant, Grammarian Sarah, reported on who used the word of the night – “exemplary” and had us thinking by asking who had said certain things during the evening – just reminding us we need to practice our thinking as well as speaking skills to become better communicators.

The Best Table Topics award went to guest Peter Crofskey from Hastings Toastmasters and the meeting was closed by Toastmaster Christine who told us today was one of New Zealand's most significant days in sporting history – the 1st time NZ had won a cricketing test match, in 1956.

Steve Tutbury