"DIVE INTO YOUR CLOTHES!"

Meeting report for 28 March 2019.

“What are you wearing and where is everybody?”

With a list of apologies as long as your arm we were faced with an agenda more shuffled than a deck of cards.

Our Toastmaster Paula showed the hallmarks of outstanding leadership, taking the challenge up and assigning tasks with aplomb; even our guests were included, with Israel showing great competence with the timing lights. He also showed what a quick learner he is by deferring a Table Topic, saying he was too busy with the lights!

"DECISIONS,DECISIONS,DECISIONS!"

"DECISIONS, DECISIONS DECISIONS!"

We had a very well run meeting at Pania toastmasters on 21^st March 2019. Patrick ran the cutter in his usual relaxed and enthusiastic manner. Graeme made a great job of setting up the room once again and I would like to thank him for his time and effort.

Anna introduced Paula with her 4^th Pathways speech, objectives being Research, Learn and Review. Her speech was titled Decisions, decisions, decisions. As Anna said Paula is always seeking excellence and this speech was another excellent speech that really pointed out Paula's abilities to keep us informed and interested. Her personal stories gave us a little bit more insight into who she is. Anna evaluation was very cheery in her usual flamboyant style. Paula meet her objectives and Anna had many commendations and a some recommendations.

As there was only one speaker today an extended table topics session was held.

Marc was Table Topics Master and choose last weekend’s Christchurch mosque shooting tragedy as the subject. He put several soul searching questions on the board for each contestant to choose from. He asked for emotion from the speakers and emotion is what he got.

Laurel chose “What should happen to the gunman once he’s found guilty”. Laurel gave a very emotional speech on the subject saying “The punishment should fit the crime” and hoped the justice system was tough enough to deal appropriately with this selfish, madman.

Graeme couldn’t read the listed questions so chose “That the tragedy was something he never expected to happen in NZ”. He was annoyed, upset and angry that this happened in the country he loves.

Craig didn’t choose an exact question listed but went on to say he would have felt better if the gunman had’ve been shot while been apprehend, taking away his voice in the future. Craig also was proud of NZers for the support they have given the victims over the last week.

Saraha (our guest) bravely joined in and chose “Are NZer racists” saying that every country has some racism to some decree and as a foreigner herself to NZ she has been faced with some racists comments since she’s been here.

Darryl didn’t choose a topic of the board but went on to tell us all  he and Emma are going on an overseas trip for 4 or 5 months and will consider whether to continue with toastmasters on their return to NZ. He thanked everyone for their support.

Michael (our quest) felt the board questions had been covered well and chose to talk about the NZ Farm Forestry Assc. which he is a member of the HB region and is soon to take on the Chairman's role.

Julie made an amazing job of evaluating all the table topics speakers. A tough job for her first table topics evaluation. She had many good things to say about all speakers and a few recommendations.

General Business:  Anna was presented with a trophy for winning the Pania International Speech Competition and results from the area competition were given.

Julie received the Best Evaluator award, Craig received the best table topics award and Paula the best speech award.

Lou then summed up the meting well as General Evaluator, assisted by the Timekeeper, Craig, and enabled us to finish on time.(Ed)

A well organised meeting following a tragic week of many emotions.

Thank you everyone for turning up and making this meeting a success.

  

"WHO THOUGHT THE CHALLENGE WAS MONEY SHAME?"

At Pania's meeting on Thursday 14th March we held the International Speech Contest, which was contested by three members. Visiting Toastmaster Steve, volunteered!! to be the Chairman and we also had a visiting Judge from Napier Club, Brenda.

Unfortunately our President, Marc, was delayed in Auckland as he was also going to be very competitive in the Contest, but not this year!!
Carol was the first speaker and she had an excellent idea of utilising the seven stages of thought process to entertain and educate us.Entitled "Let Thoughts Become Things" Carol covered the   seven Laws of Thought. with a very interesting presentation although a lot was packed into 7 minutes.
Next up was Anna, with her speech entitled "Money Shame!", and interesting presentation that allowed the audience to consider the 'so-called' power of money and the need to have all the right things that it can buy. Anna used a personal example to show the problem, in that we place far too much importance on money and what it can buy, and even more so on the lack of money and the possible 'shame' that it can produce. A thought provoking presentation.
Finally Craig gave us a speech entitled "Challenges" where he started with a quote from George C Patton "accept the challenges so you can feel the exhilaration of victory!". Craig told us about a personal challenge he met and achieved several years ago and implored the audience to accept challenges and thrive on the achievement of success.

Three good speeches that entertained the members and two guests present, the winner was Anna, who now goes on the the Area R3 Finals next Tuesday 19th March at Greenmeadows Community Centre, where she will compete against the winners from the other five Clubs in this Area. Good Luck Anna!

We then had an impromptu Table Topics session run by Graeme, which allowed the other members who had not spoken the opportunity to speak, these included, Napier member's Steve and Brenda, one of the guests who had been previously, Paula & Lou. All spoke well to a variety of subjects , which were all based around 'firsts' (e.g. boyfriend, girlfriend, car etc).

A good meeting, rather poorly attended by members, but hopefully they will all be back next week now the Contests are out of the way!

GET ALONG ON TUESDAY AND SUPPORT Anna (International Speech) and Marc (Evaluation)
at the AREA R3 CONTEST night. 7.00pm (FREE!!! and supper provided)

"IT'S ALL HALF BAKED HUTS-POT!"

Pania Toastmasters Meeting 7^th of March

‘It’s all a Half Baked Huts-Pot!’

Read on for more…

Carol as Toastmaster looked gorgeous in pink.

She started with a ‘bang’ and was’ uplifting and relaxing’ for International Women’s Day.  She wove this theme throughout - gender equality and pay parity, 66 million girls dreaming of school…