The Toastmasters International Web site is being updated, and how members login will change. Beginning in July 2010, a unique e-mail address will be required for each and every member. Prepare your club and yourself for this update to ensure that everyone can sign in to the Web site once the new system launches. A bonus: Club officers will need only one personal ID and password to access everything online. More
Most people work many days crafting their speeches for a 5-10 minute delivery, working hard on memorization, voice inflection and smooth execution. Content and delivery are very important, however, there are other elements to consider as you prepare. As I was once advised, it is beneficial to practice in a larger room, so you will be comfortable with the space available on the day you present your speech. This will help you project a good stage presence, increasing the audience’s interest in what you are saying.
It is wise to prepare for as many variables as possible; this includes giving your speech to one or more family members or friends prior to the big day. Observing how people respond to what you have to say will help you adjust your timing and word usage. It will also help prepare you for when people laugh at lines you did not think were particularly funny, or when they are sober faced on a line you thought was hilarious.
Ultimately, preparing for the room environment and observing how people respond to what you say will help you deliver a superb speech.
Presented by Raymond Norton
The EGG has moved on from Marsh Wind Talkers to H2O Masters. Our club is eligible to recaptured the EGG after March 17th. The H2O club meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 7:30 am to 8:30 am in Minnetonka. It just so happens that H2O club is having an open house on the 23rd. Wouldn’t it be nice for them to have a full house on the 23rd? Wouldn’t it be nice for us to have the EGG for our open house on the 25th?
Mark Brown, the 1995 World Champion on Public Speaking, and Randy Harvey, the 2004 World Champion of Public Speaking do something attention grabbing in their speeches – they sing! They sing a line or two from well known songs that convey to the listeners a great deal of emotional content. You remember the song that played on your first date, or first kiss or your first MP3. We tend to remember where we are in life by the songs we hear. Consider the lyrics, “Take this job and shove it, I ain’t working here no more!” or “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see”, or even, “How I got here I haven’t a clue, Wasting away in Margaritaville.” You add a couple of lines that can move your speech up to the next level. Be bold and sing it out or without signing, say the lines emphatically.
Ever wonder how important speaking skills are to a public official? Please join us for a Open House on March 25th at 7:00 am to hear Hutchinson Police Chief Dan Hatten share his experience as a public speaker. Expect to hear drama, humor and even some of the mundane aspects of job.
Besides hearing Chief Hatten, you will also see first-hand how a typical Toastmaster meeting works and will be able to ask questions about the Toastmaster’s communication and leadership programs. Come early and bring a friend to this one-hour meeting being held in room 7309 of the Development Center on the HTI campus.
Congratulations to our club members who competed at the Area 64 Spring Speech contest on Feb 13th. David Broll (left) captured first place in the International speech contest. Raymond Norton (right) and Bill Haas captured first and second place in the Tall Tales contest. Bob Anderson (center), Area 64 Governor presided over the contest event involving participants from four Toastmaster clubs.
Tall Tales and International Speech Contest held at the Hutchinson II Toastmasters club on February 5th, 2010. Winners will go on to compete at the Area 64 contest in Watertown on February 13th. See Facebook photos.
A outstanding event held on January 19th at the Victorian Inn in Hutchinson. Three of our original members were present, John Orvis, Joan Cotter and Dan Field. See all the pictures on our FaceBook page.
Past club members, Joey Bisky, Greg Urban, Anne Groestch, Al Cotter and Allen Tokuda came out to share in the celebration along with many of the current members.
Vickie Shoutz acted as Toastmaster. Bob Anderson gave a brief history of the club. John Schafer gave the keynote speech. Plans are underway for the 50th aniversary event, so come out and make some history – join the club.
Zig Ziglar said, “If you want to be something you’ve never been before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.” How do we know what to do? For many of us, our cultural attributes of perseverance and self-discipline drive us, ever so slowly, towards professionalism. We need break the pattern and reach to those who are were we want to go and ask for their help. A mentor is invaluable in reaching a breakthrough to the next level – the winning proposal, the keynote speech or winning a speech contest. Use you mentor to achieve your goals. Presented by Bob Lea.
You create a competitive edge when you establish a personal connection with your audience. You must connect emotionally and intellectually with both individuals and members of an audience, so they like and trust you. They’re just like you; if you don’t trust the messenger, you don’t trust the message.
How do you get the Personal Connection edge?
Everything else being equal, you’re way ahead of any other speaker or sales professional when your audience of one or a thousand relates to you, likes you, and trusts you. Prsentend by Vickie Shoutz
