"MOTHERHOOD- MAKE IT HAPPEN"

 These were just two of the intriguing titles of our FIVE entrants in the Pania Toastmaster's Humorous Speech Contest held on Thursday 20th August. What a marvelous turnout for what is traditionally a contest few in numbers!


Graeme was the Contest Chair and with our time frame of 50 minutes, time was of the essence! Judges were arranged, including a visiting Judge from Napier Club, Chris and two Pania members and we were set to be entertained! and we certainly were.

First up was Helen "Make it Happen" :and she regaled us with details of her latest engagement, of the marrying kind. Apparently a true story (although her husband wanted to  deny it!) and a very romantic tale she told with lots of humour and twists that kept the audience engaged! Helen delivered the speech well (obviously something close to her heart!). The make it happen title also included a message, that if you want something to occur them 'make it happen' and in her case it did.

Next up was Craig, "True Confessions" (we are not sure about this!) and he told of an early life as a Bank Manager being in those days a pilloch (sorry pillar) of the community etc., some good laughs from the audience, well presented, but unfortunately mostly read and this tended to downgrade the effect of the presentation. Money talks (so they say) does yours say "goodbye?"

Carol "One Martini", certainly an intriguing title and she led us on a "pub crawl" all in the interest of a customer survey. Well told story about her visit to three establishments and it certainly built to an excellent punchline at the end, seems she had these voices making compliments to her at each bar and finally found out it was because the peanuts (on the bar for customers) were complimentary!!

Barbara was next speaker "I didn't know that" and she started by wondering how she was going 'to turn us on'. An excellent tale about a new computer at work, first, problem to turn it on and then all the bells and whistles that it had. One problem she found that like humans, computers have their failings too and a spell check for important documents being sent out does not pick up things like "they will not all be able to shit(sit) on the stage". Barbara told the story extremely well and had a keyboard as a prop to demonstrate with. Excellent humour.

Finally, we had one of our newer members , Linda "Motherhood", she told us about some of the more humorous problems being an 'older' mother with a newborn and achieved a very high standard in her presentation. Excellent use of language (some I believe went over many heads) and some great humorous moments shared (probably not so humorous at the time!). She fully qualifies as a MUM with five children and already 9 grandchildren. (No!she is not that old!!)

All round an excellent contest and so well contested, there has to be a winner and again this year (probably the 3rd or 4th in a row) it was Barbara, 2nd place Helen and third one of the old timers,Craig!.Barbara received back the Trophy, she had brought along and now will represent the Club in the Area Finals on 25th September, come along and support her.

Thanks to everyone who attended, particularly the Judges, Chris, Mike and Jen, Timekeepers, David and Ian (keep practising boys!) all the audience and contestants and particularly Graeme for his organisation and running the Contest.

Next week normality will attempt to reign!