Time-keeping--111th Meeting (28 September, 2009)
The time-keeper plays an important function during club meetings, as I found out tonight.
As speakers present their prepared speeches, the timer signals with colored-cards to help speakers with tracking and pacing--green, amber then red. A buzzer or bell is also sounded at this time. Upon hearing the ring, the speaker has 30 seconds to wrap up in order to be eligible for voting as best speaker of the evening. The timer then notes the time clocked. Quite a responsibility, you may well imagine (especially during contests)!
The evening was a celebration of sorts--three new members presented their first speeches (Project One-Introducing Yourself) with catchy titles as "The Most Important Thing in My Life (Poh Li)" and "All About Myself (Evangeline)." Jason bagged the best speaker by masterfully weaving his three greatest passions and six hobbies into a self-introduction while challenging the notion, "What's wrong with Jack-of-all-trades?"
Other highlights--
President Paul sold us on "Sales" as being the best career with three 'R's: renumeration, recognition and reward.
Natural humourist Kelvin educated us on how to "Evaluate to Motivate" with a french-flavoured menu. He reminded us that excellent evaluations functioned as a mirror, to amplify the speaker's good points and served to empower and positively impact the speaker to enrich his next speech. Kelvin dished out A-C-E: Attitude, Compassion and Experience.
The evening ended on a high note when Area D1 Governor and Immediate Past President Ann brought in table-topics with a twist involving two pairs- one to describe a picture, the other to draw. With a lot of laughs along the way, this experience served to show that table topics can be creatively stimulating, engaging and fun while stressing the importance of the need to communicate effectively. This surprise brought an enjoyably varied, warm and educational night to a close.
Melanie, VPPR of Radin Mas Toastmasters Club, has experienced Toastmasters' to be great for networking, exploring how to be an effective communicator and building leadership skills. Each meeting draws interesting people with all sorts of hobbies and careers, bragging rights, serious as well as light-hearted laugh-till-your-belly-hurts moments.
Radin Mas Toastmasters holds regular club meetings on the fourth MONDAYS of each month. We warmly welcome all to join us!