Speech Omnibus

Welcome to our extra special... or is that special extra meeting? Either way we had a great turn out tonight to hear some fantastic speakers. Due to the extra weekend in March Napier Toastmasters took the opportunity to have another meeting, to allow those to make further headway on completing their Competent Communicator Manuals.  What a success it was with two Napier Toastmasters completing their 10th speech for the Manual – Well done Wayne and Sarah Lee.


Our meeting was opened by Wayne on time and after some reshuffling of the programme we were underway with a message by our president sponsor – Craig. Craig gave us a recap on the Area D2 contest:

Area D2 Evaluation contest:

Colin Receiving his Certificate

• 3rd – Colin Anderson
• 2nd – Barbra Hewitt (Pania Club)
• 1st – Graeme Valentine (Bay City Club)

Area D2 International Speech Competition

Amy Receiving her Certificate

• 3rd – Barbra Hewitt
• 2nd – Amy Edwards
• 1st – Judith Bartlett 

The competition was well run and Craig informed us it was a close race. Congratulations all that took part.

We got underway with the speeches, Sarah Hall introduced our first speaker, and Tom Allen doing speech 3 ‘Get to the Point’. Tom took us on a journey of his Deer Hunting expeditions and all that is involved in that process. Tom outlined the physical challenges, the terrain challenges, having the right equipment and the spiritual side to being in the bush. Well done Tom you really took us all on a journey.

Tom

Next Chris introduced Wayne who was doing his 10th speech – inspire an audience. Wayne encouraged us to ‘Take a Chance’. He challenged us to think about how we can keep ourselves independent, keep our family safe and secure.  How do we turn our hobbies into a lucrative business? Wayne finished off with a personal recount of his current situation – all the best for your new business opportunity Wayne!!

Craig introduced Netta who was about to embark on her 7th speech ‘Research a Topic’. Netta’s speech titled ‘A Stroke of Luck’ told a heart wrenching tale of her granddaughter’s stroke and the little known facts of a paediatric stroke. She gave us statistics, symptoms and success rates. The audience was well and truly captivated and wish your granddaughter all the best in her recovery.
Graeme introduced Dee, doing speech 6 ‘Using your Voice’ titled ‘A cover up of mammoth proportions’.  Dee informed us of the Governments use of 1080 poison to help eradicate pests. The disastrous effects, especially as it flows on through the cycle of animals.  Dee asked us why is NZ covering up the effects of 1080 when it is banned in almost every other country. Well done Dee, an inspiring speech which would definitely prompt action amongst us.

Ian introduced Richard, completing project 2 ‘Organise your speech’ titled Murphy Law vs Power point presentations.  Richard told a tale of a disastrous start to the year in the logging industry. After 30mins of waiting for the power point presentation, it finally worked.  Richard also told a personal story of his ‘dongle’ letting him down in his power point demo, but he managed to pack it all up and do the presentation without it! A great entertaining speech which everyone connected to!

Our final speech of the night was by Sarah Lee, introduced so nicely by Sarah Hall. This was Sarah Lee’s final speech in her competent communicator manual.  The title of Sarah’s speech, Building windmills. Sarah encouraged all of us to embrace change, to view it with a glass half full mentality because nothing lasts forever. An inspiring speech that everyone related to.

We then had a joke section, although the brief was to keep them short and clean….this fact was over looked by some of our male toastmasters. Netta, Wayne, Amy, Richard, Tom, Steve, Graeme, James, Chris, Craig and Hannah all shared a joke and all received a chuckle or too. Tom took out the best joke of the evening, purely based on laugh quality.

Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee took the opportunity to sell something within a minute and she urged us all, as keen Toastmasters (so keen we would come to an extra meeting) to join the Napier Toastmasters committee.

A fantastic evening that was well run! Congratulations to all who took part.

Amy Edwards