Ready, Set, Go!

It’s that time of year where all Toastmasters Clubs are gearing up for the Toastmasters International speech contest. Thousands of charted clubs will take part in the international speech contest in Toastmasters International 90^th anniversary year.

We [Lewisham Speakers Club] will be hosting our contest night on 19^th March. Plenty of notice to invite your friends so we can have an electric atmosphere on the night.

Area 59 (our area) has a goal of getting someone to the District 71 semi- finals in Dublin this year and as such, are pulling out all the stops to realise this goal. In doing so, there are 2 major FREE value-packed events coming up ahead of club contest dates.

• Wednesday 5^th Feb “How to Prepare for an International Speech Contest" presented by Richard Murray. Richard is the current area 37 Governor, and former divisional speech contest champion. Richard will be sharing some of the tips that made him a champion. Venue – Lewisham Speakers Club
• Thursday 20^th Feb “Preparing a winning speech” presented by Julie Kertesz DTM, former Area 59 Governor. Julie will be sharing why storytelling is SO important to any speech and why it may be the secret formula to making a good speech a great speech. Venue – Citi Criers from 6.15pm (If you would like to attend this event, please contact Ajit kulkarni ajit.kulkarni@citi.com so a guest pass can be organised for you on the night)

Perhaps it will be YOU representing Lewisham speakers at the semi finals this year. If you want to give it a shot, don’t fall at the first hurdle. Take note of the following 3 points:

1. Make sure have 6 speeches from your competent communicator under your belt.
2. Attend one of the prep sessions above OR get yourself a mentor that knows what those judges are looking for.
3. Remember as Darren La Croix (Toastmasters International speech contest Winner 2001) says,  “There is no such thing as a hot contest topic. The hot topic is already inside you”. You, fellow Toastmasters just have to find it!

Taking Opportunities

Fellow Toastmasters, are you sober enough to remember just before Christmas when we had the storms? It was pretty nasty wasn’t it? I was meant to go and start my Christmas Shopping on 23^rd and I just couldn’t face the wind and the rain! When I finally got out of bed on Christmas Eve at 10am, I came down to my kitchen to view this sight in my garden…

Look what the wind blew in!

Our not quite perfect Tree

Now, my partner, who saw it hours before, cursed it and spent all day at work thinking about how we were going to sort this ‘inconvenience’. I, on the other hand, saw it as an opportunity to go shopping for some lights and a fancy pot that could hold the tree and transform it in to a wonderful quirky Christmas tree which I really wish I could have up forever!

Why I am telling you this? Well because sometimes when life throws up these little inconveniences, they can actually turn out to be opportunities, but to see the opportunity in these events, you have to check your perspective. Since its New Year, it is the perfect time for you to start looking at things differently. It’s your opportunity to start a fresh. So what opportunities will you take in 2014?        

Will you take the opportunity to increase your club attendance?

Take the opportunity to get more speeches under your belt?

Take the opportunity to give more helpful feedback to others?

Take the opportunity to enter a speech contest?

Take the opportunity take on more roles?

Take the opportunity to visit other clubs?

Take the opportunity mentor a fellow Toastmaster?

And if you are not a member but happen to be here on the blog –why not take the opportunity to develop your confidence in public speaking and actually join Lewisham Speakers Club???

Whatever stage you are in your Toastmasters journey, there is an opportunity for you. Please do not waste it!

Wishing you all a Happy, and opportunistic New Year!

The winner of this year's International speech contest - tells his story

Lots of fun, lots of pause, and a strong conclusion.