open
October 2006
Welcome! Welcome to OPEN, the first edition of our new-newnewsletter, which is designed to be exactly what it says on the banner – OPEN, to current members of Spa Speakers and, indeed, anyone else! Spa Speakers is a public speaking club, where people of all ages and backgrounds come to develop their communication skills and overcome one of life’s biggest fears. I’ve been a member for twenty months, and was honoured to become President in July. We meet at least twice a month, on second, fourth and fifth Wednesdays, at the Helen Ley Centre, Blackdown Road, next to Old Leamingtonians Rugby Club, and in the space of these meetings, which are little more than two hours long, I watch people grow, flourish and have fun. Members prepare and deliver speeches, on any subject of their choosing, based on a program which focuses on the key elements of effective presentation – content, body language, gestures, vocal variety and so on. Speeches are evaluated in detail by a designated peer (not of the realm!), and every audience member is entitled to give their opinion in the form of a short written note. I don’t know anywhere else I could get such feedback on a speech, in a friendly and supportive environment. After the prepared speeches, the fun really starts. Members are chosen at random to speak for up to two minutes on a given subject – a ‘Table Topic’ - with no prior warning! This test of wit and nerve is like a white-knuckle amusement park ride - everyone dreads it coming, but feels elated and empowered when they’ve done it.
there’s more...
We actively invite people to come and see what we do. Guests are welcome to visit at no charge and absolutely no obligation. The club is affiliated to Toastmasters International, which started producing effective speakers in the USA in 1924! Spa Speakers was set up in February 2004 by Martyn Tilson, a local boatmaker, and we run a club of between 25 and 30 members without making any efforts to publicise what we do. We’ve decided that the club is now well enough established to cope with the additional membership that publicity such as this newsletter will bring, and we’ve had to hold back our resident marketing guru, Wellesbourne sculptor and artist, Stephen Charlton, who is brimming with ideas. On a personal note, Spa Speakers has helped me to make major changes in my life. I have given up a job in accountancy to become a performance poet, and I’ve even stood up a dozen times as a stand up comedian. Without the experience and confidence I’ve gained through Toastmasters? Forget it! Off the stage, my confidence in dealing with people in formal and social situations has grown considerably. Such benefits can help anyone who wants or needs more confidence to communicate. So enjoy a browse through this, our first edition of OPEN. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email: info@spaspeakers.org. Sean Kelly President
Your 2006 committee left to right
Kathleen Christian Sergeant at Arms Frances Preston Treasurer Stephen Charlton VPPR Sean Kelly President Bev Avis-Dakin VPM Trish Bennett VPE Kath Stephens Secretary
2 4
Marketing together how we can all promote our message.
Summer Garden Party - what really happened!
6 7
What a site! - take a look at our new website.
Idiot’s guide - how to book your next speech.
Marketing together
Hot Topic Let’s start with something obvious. You might be armed with sparkling wit, have pithy anecdotes oozing from every orifice, and be on cuddling terms with the Blarney Stone. But believe me, all these talents will count for very little when push comes to shove, without one thing: PREPARATION. I’m assuming, of course, that you want your speech to be the best it can be. You’re on your feet before peers, superiors, clients, employees, children, or even a television camera. Are you going to say, “Oh no, I’ve over-prepared!”? I doubt it!
The place to find out what’s happening to promote the Spa Speakers brand.
Research your subject, write and rewrite your content, and rehearse your delivery. Preparing a speech doesn’t necessarily mean knowing it word for word, off by heart. The most important speeches in the world are made from a script – there may be no reason why yours shouldn’t be too. But you should know exactly how your speech is going to sound before you take the stage. That means rehearsing it – pay special attention to your opening, then your closing. Deliver these two elements perfectly and you’ll be most of the way there.
Ribbons galore!
You may have been told, but do you really know what these silky ribbons really mean? They are part of the Toastmasters International Distinguished Club Program. Clubs with at least 20 members or with net growth of at least five new members at June 30 which also do the following are eligible for Toastmasters International recognition at year end.
Hi everyone. This first OPEN newsletter is just the start of the new marketing campaign for Spa Speakers. It is my role to raise the profile of the club and I would like your help. The following activities have been conceived to firmly establish who we are as a club and to encourage people in our local communities to at least attend a ‘Wednesday Night’ experience. We know that once we have new visitors they tend to come back and eventually join our family. We have developed: A new logotype Open newsletter (printed and as a pdf) A4 posters and cards Revitalised Spa Speakers website New member Welcome Packs You will all be receiving posters and cards with suggested places to place them within your communities so we can create as much awareness as possible. I would like to pass on the energy and optimism we have as a committee and look forward to you continued support.
Thank you.
Stephen Charlton Vice President PR 07940 916759
All change... In OPEN,we endeavour to keep you informed of changes within the Toastmaster organisation that are relevant to you. Because we believe in effective communication, we will convey the essence of the issues and direct you to the full information via a link to the Toastmasters site or its origin if different. Educational System Changes Toastmasters International has made some exciting changes to its educational system and award designations.The following improvements became effective July 1, 2006. For most of us that are currently working through our ‘Competent Toastmaster’ manual with the result of achieving our CTM, this has now changed.
The Competent Toastmaster (CTM) will now be recognised as the Competent Communicator (CC). The Advanced Toastmaster Bronze, Advanced Toastmaster Silver and Advanced Toastmaster Gold awards are now the Advanced Communicator Bronze, Advanced Communicator Silver and Advanced Communicator Gold awards respectively, with no changes to award requirements. Members applying now for any of the previous awards will receive certificates reflecting the new award names. For a comprehensive understanding of these changes, please visit the link below.
http://d71.org/kb.php?mode=article&k=110
GOAL
RECOGNITION
Achieve any five of 10 goals
Distinguished Club
Achieve any seven of 10 goals
Select Distinguished Club
Achieve any nine of 10 goals
President's Distinguished Club
Spa Seakers has achieved President's Distinguished Club in both of its first two years and is on track again for 2006/7.
Over and out Last year’s Spa Speakers President, Carla Alves Da Silva passes the baton (and medal of honour) to our new President Sean Kelly. It is Sean’s goal in his term of office to generate achievement, energy and above all, fun into the proceedings. Bring it on.
Bright spark! Never let it be said that we don’t recognise our own. A recent presentation was made to Wem Bin Lim for his outstanding contribution of ideas, spirit and commitment to Spa Speakers. We all know Wem Bin as the instigator of the ‘Gavel Club’ at Warwick University which continues to thrive with support from our very own Paul Waters.
Summer Garden Party 2006
Kelly’s Kooking Korner
No comment
Look what you missed! Marmite, socks and a cat - explain.
For those who couldn’t make our 2006 Summer Garden Party, what can I say? A truly, madly, deeply amazing afternoon to remember as you can probably tell from a selection of images taken on the day.
Stephen adorned the garden with his sculptures and provided an entertaining Table Topics using his clean (he said) ski socks in which to hide various items from a jar of Marmite to a fresh green cucumber.
A big ‘thank you’ must firstly go to Trish Bennett who not only provided a fantastic venue but erected gazebos, tents, umbrellas and even opened up her fairy summer house at the bottom of the garden.
No ring of confidence
Fifteen people attended the event we would like to get ourselves better organised next year for the full thirty (this is a booking by the way Trish).
Trish organised the food and drink (there was an abundance of both!) together with a barbie!
there then!
You missed... Great food Loads of drink Caption competition don’t you think?
Lovely company Table Topics
A great audience
Bev explains
A girl thing
herself Oliver gets hungry
As for games we had a few, hoola hooping for one and apple bobbing for another. Olly (Bev’s son) was the only crazy person to plunge deep into the bowl and get drenched!
Hoola Hooping Apple Bobbing Garden Sculpture Loads of laughs
Be sure you don’t miss next year’s Annual event!
PantoUPDATE
www.d71.org
Oh yes we did! For those of you who have not yet heard, the Spa Speakers thespians trod the boards last Christmas in Abingdon for the first time and walked away with the coveted first prize! Performed and supported by (now a famous cast) fellow members and creator and writer Sean Kelly, the competition was not too fierce but that has no bearing on the superb writing and memorable performances in Snow White. It’s panto time again! We have sounded the trumpets for strumpets to wish to act upon a stage
What a site! It was this website two years ago that encouraged me to make that call. It was the informal, happy group of people that made me think that Spa Speakers wasn’t a male dominated, tie-wearing, stuffy crowd. With our new Spa Speakers brand, I will be turning my attention to injecting a shot of adrenaline into our new website. A place to welcome new or potential members and somewhere for existing members to feel at home. The site will also have downloadable pdf’s of the OPEN newsletters together with links to our area website and other valuable sources of interest.
of any age and fashion, but need to act with gusto love and passion! Sean is penning the next script and he will let us all know what he has up his sleeve. The performance this year is in Abingdon again and there are five clubs competing as against the three last year. The panto is on Friday 24th November at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon. Tickets are £3 and book early as it’s limited seating. Our infamous panto is available on DVD to borrow from members of the committee, please ask.
Idiot’s guide to Booking a speech For those of you who hear the words mouse, click and surf, see a mass of spaghetti and it isn’t just the screen that freezes! We're here to help. So booking a speech online can’t be that difficult can it?
3
Each edition of Open we will explore how to conquer your fear of the internet. Simply follow the step by step instructions below: 1. Go to www.d71.org 2. ‘Log in’, in yellow in the blue bar near the top right 3. Click on ‘Profile’ in yellow next to ‘Log Out’ 4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page and you will see a little person wearing a green jumper and ‘Book a speech’ click on this 5. Up pops a window, select the workbook that you are currently working through and press ‘Select’
4
6. Fill in your new speech information and press ‘Book a speech’ 7. You will see that your request has been posted and will be scheduled in as soon as possible.
There, that wasn’t too bad! You can book your speech well in advance to suit your schedule. More simple stuff next time. If you have anything specific to ask if you cannot find the answers in the d71 Knowledge base, ask Malcolm Warden, he is our ‘Oracle’.
5
spa-toon
ARE YOU SPEAKING AT THE WI TONIGHT?
YES, THEY WANT A ‘SHORT LADIES SPEECH’
THEY’RE EXPECTING 40 MINUTES ON FEMALE PYGMIES!
It only hurts when I laugh At the area Humorous Speech Contest in Bicester recently, Spa Speakers was represented by Trish Bennett and Paul Waters in the Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest respectively. Attending an area competition gives you the insight into how a competition is structured and you get to meet some lovely people at the same time!
Trish was given the Table Topics subject of ‘White Lies’ and performed admirably. Paul delivered his humorous account in Russia wearing nothing but Speedo’s and a ladies robe (not literally!) and came a creditable third and has a great future ahead of him. Sean Kelly acted as Judge and other Spa members supported the entrants. Thank you all for attending and hope that we can make the next competition a Spa Speakers winning event!
We meet every second, fourth and fifth Wednesday in the month at the Helen Ley Care Centre Bericote Road, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 6QP
www.spaspeakers.org