Today’s meeting got off to a good
start with our Toastmaster Laurel expertly running the proceedings.
The first speaker was Jen and she was
ably introduced by Noel. Her speech ‘My Forest Gump Moment’ was a heart-warming
story about a young boy with a disability who kept going and won a sailing race
with unfailing enthusiasm and the support of the other boys. Despite a dislike
of the water Jen helped her husband with Sea Scouts for a number of years and it
was clear that she got as much from the experience as they undoubtedly did. The
story was peppered with funny anecdotes and a clear moral message which was the
aim of the speech.
Our second speech was by Lou and
introduced by Graeme. This was a ‘How to say it’ speech using rhetorical
devices. I for one was pleased that he took the time to tell us what these were
as this helped us to appreciate the structure of the speech. The title was
‘River Adventure’. Lou started by recounting the fun of family holidays by the
river with descriptive detail that had us all yearning for long hot summer days.
However, things took a dramatic turn when her daughter was pinned under water in
her kayak, a warning to us all not to be complacent around water.
Sandy took us beyond our shores with
her Table Topic session.
Paula – ‘What does travel mean?’
Naturally fun, adventure and food. Who could argue with that cocktail. The
buildings, colour and culture delight the mind in ways that are easy to
appreciate in foreign countries and this also includes the
beer.
Heather- ‘Which travel experience
still makes your heart sing?’ She told us about Dubai, as this is totally
different with the richness of the culture, the extravagance of the shopping and
the hot, sand laden air.
Noel – ‘What is your favourite means
of travel?’ A bicycle of course. The perfect vehicle to see a country, to meet
the locals and to throw in a bit of exercise as well.
Laurel – ‘What trip relates to a
memory?’ The ship that brought her to NZ started off inauspiciously with soggy
toilet paper, few well-wishers, and driving rain with an unsteady rolling gait
due to poor weight distribution. Surprisingly things became more adventurous and
fun as the ship continued around the USA and Canada, through the South Pacific
and finally to New Zealand. This is a trip that if finances allow she would
repeat in a heart-beat.
Craig gave all the participants
positive feedback and even though Laurel had the only recommendation she also
received the best TT award.
Linda, completed the meeting with an excellently structured and comprehensive General Evaluator's report ably assisted by the first-time Timekeeper Trish. Well done to both! (ED)
Another great meeting with insightful
speeches and the warmth and laughter of people enjoying a shared experience.
Looking forward to next week.
Best
Speaker – Lou
Best
Evaluator – Graeme
Best
Table Topic - Laurel
No comments:
Post a Comment