Entering ZOOM

Napier Toastmasters Club 1542, District 112, Zoom meeting
Monday 6th April

You thought April was going to be messed around because we have Easter and ANZAC holidays to interrupt the regular meeting calendar of 2nd and 4th Monday...enter Covid 19.

The declaration of a nationwide, stage four alert and lock-down isolation caused all Toastmasters to rethink their meeting procedures...enter ZOOM.

Monday 6th of April saw members tech up and login. Age was no barrier to this new platform, microphones and cameras were. Here we were, looking like the Brady Bunch (for those old enough to remember) with Jan leading the way as Toastmaster and educator, presenting ZOOM 101.

The meeting’s structure was reduced to an hour to ensure we stayed focused, became familiar with computer requirements, enjoyed some banter and joined in a session of Table topics. It was a treat to have Charu, Ariela and Jess attend as guests.

Roz presented the word confine and derivations, confinement and confined as the word of the evening. Brenda, from the confined comfort of her boudoir took out the high usage award for the word. Roz was delighted to report, at the conclusion of the meeting, that ums and ahs were at a low ebb and reveled in phrased like...play time for everyone, a fraction of gray creeping through, it feels like I am in a movie.Fantastic listening, Roz.

Kerry kept our talking sharp to time which is like trying to dress an octopus in mesh bag – tricky at the best of times. It was just so nice to see everyone and have a chat up, even without Graeme’s cup of tea, chocolate biscuit and friendly kitchen service.
Toastmasters is about structure and skill sets. Jan presented an array of Table Topics that allowed for positive, spontaneous talking.

Karen was first up with: Which activities make you lose track of time? Counting grey hairs. Dear soul is up to 16432. She admitted to a degree of inaccuracy as the white-haired cat (best prop of the evening) may be dropping her own hair in to the count.

Brenda was asked: What is something you do differently than most people? Dishwasher stacking. Relationships are made and broken in this simple task, do you rinse before you stack, do you separate out your cutlery into different compartments??? Don’t tick her off – just do it the way she tells you! Our guest, Ariela, answered the question: What are you grateful for? How well the people in her bubble are getting alone and making the effort to keep busy. Peter had to consider what would be a suitable title and ending if his life was a novel. Given the fullness of his life a title is still pending but scenes included neighbourhood fruit harvesting, lots of footie, Frisbee with the kids, a white cat and confinement. The end of the novel had every English teacher writhing as he “awoke finding it was only a dream”.

What was your greatest skill was put to James who went on to prove that given any random topic he had the ability to speak to the topic in a convincing and informative manner. This talent, he speculated, is enhanced with the addition of libations that loosen the lips.

Keeping our guests fully involved, Jess was asked, where she would most like to go and why. Naturally this was pure speculation and answered for a post covid 19 world. Without hesitation she answered FRANCE! She studied French at school and wanted to see the landmarks, the architecture, eat the food. Ian and Steve did a fabulous job at giving positive feed back and suggestions to all speakers. Just because we are in a different environment does not mean we let out proficiency drop! Things like speech rate, use of humour and eye contact were commended. Ideas of how to extend topics included: describing the people you are with, outlining activities you are involved in or wish to pursue, and that
food should be consumed with all libations.

Awards were given to Brenda for best Table Topic, Jane for best zoom attire, and best photo bomb went to the white cat.
A reminder was given that we will be able to zoom into watch Lou and Peter compete in the humorous and International contest on Saturday the 18th of April. Details will follow on that one.

Happy Easter Team

See you at our next Zoom meeting on the 20th of April.