FS Toastmasters

 The Thanksgiving rendition of our Toastmaster meeting was both uplifting and enlightening.  (And we were especially Thankful for two guests.) Betty McCallister was Toastmaster. Ivan Beggs was the speaker, and Table Topics focused on Thanksgiving traditions and favorites.          Ivan’s speech title was “Preparation and Practice”. This was a speech crafted from materials in the Better Speaker Series. Ivan had excellent tips and strategies for delivering a winning speech every time we have the opportunity. He pointed out that after selecting, researching, crafting and practicing our speech, that some of the smallest details can derail us if we have not prepared well. On the practice end of the speech, he recommends  six sessions, without notes. If the place is new or the equipment is new to you, do the due diligence necessary to feel comfortable when the time comes to give the speech. The smallest things, like lighting at the lectern or for...

Over a Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon, two very successful professional speakers regaled their audience with some tricks of the trade.  The speakers talked about content, technique, and marketing.  Sindy Martin, the immediate TM District 37 (North Carolina) Director attended as CEO of Smartin Center for Professional Excellence|Speaker| Trainer|Author|Innovator|Humanitarian.  She is listening to one of the top paid professional speakers in the world, Steve Gilliland.       Just like Sindy, Ron Climer's daughter Amy Climer was an attending member of the sponsoring group, called NSA, the National Speakers Association (of the Carolinas).  The group holds quarterly meetings and workshops. Those who've heard Ron would not be surprised Amy is a professional speaker and trainer.        What this experience did for me is give an extra level or tier to shoot for.  I now have some solid marketing tools th...

Toastmaster Judy Groff was making final comments in wrapping up her part of the post Halloween meeting. As for any speech, the opening and middle of the meeting needed a close. It was 8:53 and TM President Carol was about to take the stage for closing remarks. That's when a skeleton on the wall lit up, waved its arms, and emitted a cheesy little ditty of a laugh. The Toastmaster being interrupted by the unexpected laughter took everyone by surprise. Was it someone's phone going off? Was it the sergeant-at-arms given a premature signal to wrap up the meeting? No, it was a skeleton on the side wall. Members didn't know to join in the laughter or to try ignoring the distraction. Judy paused briefly as the laughter died down, from the skeleton and from the audience. She nonchalantly came to the close, with Carol giving final comments. Only after the meeting was it discovered that this skeleton was a clap on-clap off skeleton, with clapping activating the skeleton's lights, ...