|
|
| Reports
Missed a meeting? Catch up with what happened at recent ones.
Maintenance of the website is a valuable activity for the club and helps members develop another communication skill. Why not volunteer to write the next report? Just book yourself in as a Blogger on ClubPlan [just under the slot for General Evaluator]. Your blog should be 400 words or less and should be sent within 24 hours of the meeting to gray.standen@btopenworld.com, who will put it on the website.
Could you blog on October 15th? If so, then sign up today!
1st October 2008
By Franco Vaccaro
Bertie Ekperigin, President pro tempore was in her smartest uniform to mind the ship while Gray was away. She told how she’d surprised herself on how far she’d come in two short years, to be now wearing the captain’s medallion around her neck.
From one president to (Immediately-Past) another, Sonia Aste took the helm of her beloved “Best Club in the World” (as voted by its members) and steered us through the high seas, and onto the Port, on time. Sue Kennedy was minding the clock, and reminded us that “time and tide wait for no man”. “Cute” (as voted by Sonia) Andrew Dias minded our “verbal non-words” and asked us to replace these with pauses.
Prepared Speeches show cased two cracking ice-breakers: one from Heidi Ashley-Hacker, who just joined last week and introduced us to the threes sides of her life; and Jim Marshall-Andrew who revealed the nut within his nutshell, which got cracked by a flying golf ball. OUCH! John Craddock re-presented his brilliantly acted toff-cum-cockney-cum-toff contest speech in its new Corinthians-winning format (besta-luk John for d’area!). Dorothea seduced us with her stats, before warning about their abuse in the shadow of truth.
Evaluations had Andrew Klimaytys ticking all of Heidi’s boxes, which struck him with fear at the thought of “H” being hot on his trail. Contest Champion, Jim McCluskey injected large doses of humour in his evaluation of (the other) Jim’s speech, proving why he was a winner with his club. Pamela Smith had the tough job of evaluating John’s contest rehearsal and gave him some kernels of sage advice. Pilar Sibbick described Dorothea’s presentation as efficient and academic, and took pleasure in Dorothea’s deft handling of Jim Mc’s cunning question, seeing it off with a brilliant text book answer.
Table Topics was chaired by that treasured, and most treasurable of treasures, Jenny Betts, who invited discussion and debate on the decrepit state of the economy. Eight quick-thinking speakers took it in turn to ponder and pontificate on: If I were Prime Minister (Franco); money-saving tips (new member Robert Yuen), throwing a redundancy party (Jim M-A), cashing-in investments (Tony), giving-up spending (Jeremy); saver or spender be (Rees), dealing with redundancy (Guy); credit crunch advice for a five-year old (Pilar).
Claudia Cronjaeger gave her usual observant, funny and friendly feedback to her subjects. Honourable New Yorker, Paulino Carroll, the man who never sleeps, did a terrific big-apple evaluation.
Awards to Jim for Evaluation, Jeremy for Topics and John for Speech.
Reminder to all to support Jim and Celia at Area 29 competition on Monday 6th at Trojan Speakers, Ealing; and John Craddock at Area 06 on Monday 13th October.
24th September 2008
Our 11th Autumn Contest in the frosty Hyde Room at York House began, necessarily, with a rousing warm-up!
Our genial Humorous Speech Chairman, Duncan Hyde, introduced the candidates one by one. First up was broadcaster Jeremy Nicholas, with a speech entitled “Words don’t come easy”, about how recovers from verbal gaffes. Swan Treasure astounded us, first with her milkmaid’s costume and second with her story about “The No-No Angel”, who wanted to get rid of her wings. Then came a voice out of Raymond Chandler, complete with a snappy hat and shades - it was Jim McCluskey, giving us “Mobile phones revisited”, a funny tale of strange encounters on a bus. This was followed by some first-rate acting, as posh John Craddock told us, “I wasn’t always a toff”, and proved it with a great cockney accent and lots of rhyming slang.
Andrew Klimaytys got stuck into “50, the scourge of the living”, a Saga about all the curious things which happen when you reach your half century. Next we were treated to Franco Vaccaro and “A short study of the anatomy of an investment bank and the menace of greed”. Whew! He’s decided not to become a trader after all. Sonia Aste presented her “Go to Tesco, feed the fishes, phone my mother, do the dishes” speech, about all of her to-do list tyrants, including her Medusa-haired sister!
Jim won first prize, Caine second and Sonia third.
Jenny Betts, with her elegant presence and wonderful voice, chaired the Table Topics [impromptu speaking] Contest, with 10 candidates (Gray Standen, Sonia Aste, John Craddock, Elizabeth Poole, Andrew Klimaytys, Franco Vaccaro, Celia Jones, Geetha Mazarelo,Caine B Free, Swan Treasure,) all answering the following question:
'Ghandi said, 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Do you agree?'
Gray took the question at face value and agreed with Ghandi. Sonia compared change by others to changes you make yourself, to which you have to commit. John advised people to think for themselves, be responsible for things rather than blaming others. Elizabeth advised people not to under-estimate their on influences on change. Andrew suggested making the changes you want to make. Franco talked about the trials and tribulations of changing himself, and how a guru might help.
Celia interpreted change as small change, and suggested that we give banknotes to charity, instead of coins. Geetha didn’t agree with Ghandi, saying that one could start a movement, but not finish it. Caine took an entirely different direction - straight into the pub for a night of changing drinks (beer > cocktails > etc.). Swan said that if your intentions were good, your heart would follow.
Celia won first prize, Caine won second and John won third.
The Contests were ably upported by Chief Judge Gilly Cutts and her panel of judges; by Timekeepers Andrew Dias and Neil Mason; by Counters Gail Joslin and Maria Hemming; and by Sue Kennedy, who ran an all-too-brief Table Topics session while ballots were being counted.
See the News page for photographs of the competitors, and the winners, who will go forward to the Area Contest at Trojans Speakers on Monday 6th October.
|
