How Resolving!

Our first formal meeting for the year and everyone was “fissing”. Fantastic to see three guests who are sticking to their New Years resolutions. Welcome Duncan, Emma and Kate. We look forward to you joining us in the not too distant future.

Chairman Chris opened the meeting and personally welcomed our guests. The reading of the Club Mission Statement reminded us all of why we belong to Napier Toastmasters and the benefits.

Our general Evaluator Netta showed she was well prepared for her role, having a pre-prepared script, outlining her role and inviting TimeKeepers Dee and Robyn and Grammerian Christine to explain their roles. Christines word of the night was “Resolve” or one of its derivitives. This proved to be a very apt choice.

Graeme lead us into Table Topics, encouraging us to "resolve" to enjoy it even if you usually don’t!

His theme resolved around New Years resolutions we had “supposedly” made. Topics ranged from resolving to get into politics, to becoming a professional wrestler, Jet Boat Sprint navigator, growing taller, to growing flowers. All ably answered by the “volunteers” with a lot of humour.

James - Resolving to become a politician

Craig - Resolving to be a professional wrestler

Amy - Resolving to be a jet boat navigator

Ian - Resolving to grow weed (oxalis)

Tracy introduced our first “formal” presenter, Peter, who was speaking from an advanced communication manual. She was well prepared, giving us some background on Peter, her role as the evaluator, the role of the audience and the objectives of Peters presentation.

Peter - Treescape

His task was to assume the role of local body employee and he was visiting the street we as an audience lived in to explain why all the beautiful street trees had to be removed and how it would save $000’s in ratepayer dollars. Titled “Treescape”, trees removed from the street would be replaced by trees we would plant in our front yards. A very convincing argument as to how tree removal would save our rates. Some curly questions from the “residents” at the end gave him food for thought. A great presentation and demonstrated how a role play could be successfully carried out.

Sarah introduced our next speaker Nick. Again well and succently introduced with background to Nick and the objectives of his presentation.

Nick - Rugby Scrum - Getting in position

Speaking from the Competent Communicator Manual, his role was to use words and word pictures in a vivid manner to convey his message. Titled “The 8,2,3,4 he soon led us into the “dark art of rugby scrumming” and the title of his presentation became obvious. With lots of humour and word pictures such as “lifting the veil of darkness”, enthuse the unenthused” and “man sandwich”, he soon had the audience laughing one minute and grimmicing the next with his descriptions of what goes on in the scrum and the roles of each forward. He left us with such thoughts as “you see things no man [or woman] should ever see” and “the longer you play, the more you look like you belong”.

Table Topics was reviewed by the “tag team” of Steve and Amy. Their evaluations of each Table Topic Speaker carried on the humorous theme that had emerged from the Table Topics presenters. Some “interesting” recommendations and commendations.

Amy and Steve - Table Topics Evaluators

The meeting adjourned for a cuppa and a chance to socialise with fellow members and our guests.

Back into the proceedings, Ian gave us a run down on the International Speech contest to be held in three weeks. Outlining the procedure and areas the judges would be marking each speaker on, he made it seem such a simple task every club member should be taking part!

To help us progess with our presentations and confidence feedback in the form of a personal evaluation was given to each presenter.

First Tracy, as Peters introducer, gave valuable feedback to Peter on his “Treescape” presentation, focusing on the objectives in his speech manual. I think she was persuaded by his ideas! A great example of how to give effective feedback with ideas to keep in mind for his next presentation and confimed Peter had met the objectives of his presentation.

Sarah then gave feedback on Nicks “The 8,2,3,4. With all Nick’s word pictures and humour, Sarah had her work cut out, but she delivered! Positive feed back with some of his word pictures as examples, she left Nick in no doubt he had meet his objectives and gave him some practical suggestions for points to keep in mind with his next presentation.

After a very quick business session at which Chris reminded us of the club training coming up and the District Convention on 20/21 May, we were into the General Evaluation of the meeting by Netta and her assistants Robyn and Christine.

Robyn reported on the speaking times and confirmed to the Chairman the meeting ran to time, much to his relieve as he had to get home to watch his favourite “soap”. Well done Robyn on her first time in this role. Christine reported her word was used by 10 people, which must have included all those who had a speaking opportunity. She showed great listening skills.

A secret vote confirmed the best Table Topics speaker was Sarah, Best Speaker was Nick, Best Evaluator was Sarah and best Contribution to the Meeting was Netta.

To those who could not make it, you missed a great meeting. We look forward to catching up with you at the next meeting.

Steve