Humorous Speech Contest

Toastmasters had many opportunities to participate in speech contests each year. My favorite is the humorous speech contest. "What is it's purpose?" you ask. Below is a brief outline of the humorous speech contest. By clicking on the word "Purpose" you can go to a link that gives detailed information about the contest and how it is organized. 

• PURPOSE
  To provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities and to recognize the best as encouragement to all.
  
  
  To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training.
  
  
  To recognize the value of humor in speaking.
  
  
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  This past Monday we had our Cottonwood Toastmasters Humorous speech contest. Our winner was Dorothy. She did an excellent job talking to us about getting old. The title of her speech was "On Getting Older".  
  
  
  Dorothy started out by mentioning that when we are children we can  hardly wait to grow up. We often imagine how things are going to be. When we finally grow up, reality sets in and we learn about the many responsibilities we have as an adult. One day Dorothy's fourteen year old daughter asked her "Why don't you stop dying your hair and grow old gracefully?" That didn't go over very well!
  
  
  She talked about how quickly we become senior citizens. In some places a citizen is considered senior at the young age of fifty five. Getting a cup of coffee for twenty six cents might sound like a great deal, however, Dorothy portrayed through her emotions and experiences that many of us don't want that discount and would prefer to pay the normal amount and hang on to our dignity! 
  
  
  
  We learned from Dorothy that in other countries, for example Korea, the older people are treated with respect. However, when Dorothy was told by a native of Korea that she was "old", all she could do was say "Thank you". 
  
  
  
  Then there are the terms that come with old age. Terms such as "Old Hen", "Old Bat",  Old Battle Ax", "Old Goat", "Geezer", and "Old Coot".  We learned that a coot is a bird. Dorothy asked us to remember that the next time we hear an old Geezer called an old Coot,  we are to "Please, straighten them out". 
  
  
  Thank you Dorothy. You will represent us well at the Y6 Area contest. For those of you who are interested, the contest will be held on Sunday the 18th of September at the Flagstaff Medical Center Auditorium. This is located at 1200 North Beaver Street in Flagstaff. The contest will begin at 1:00 pm. For more information contact Roger E. Eastman, Contest Chair, at 928-451-2127. 

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 634-6540

Our Bodies and Non Verbal Communication

We would like to thank Helen for giving her speech on Monday at Cottonwood Toastmasters. She has graciously given us this summary of her speech to assist us in remembering her teaching words.Thank you Helen! 

We all use body language to facilitate our verbal communication.  Gestures, which is the form of non-verbal communication we’re most aware of using, is when visible bodily actions are used to emphasize or communicate particular messages.  But gestures are only a partof what we call body language.  Some experts contend more than 90% of communication is non-verbal: posture, gestures, voice tone, eye movement, and facial expressions.

The interesting thing is that we humans tend to send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously.  Which means our bodies may well be telling a different or deeper story than our words.  We give away information through gestures and other body language.  Have you ever seen someone saying “great idea!” but their head is shaking “no?" 

As a speaker, using gestures and body language with purpose and intention can enhance your communication.  And as a listener, paying attention to those clues can help you get the whole story.

Something wonderful is happening through you!

    -Helen

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 634-6540

Membership Dues for October 1, 2011

The following is an important announcement from Toastmaster's International:

Dear Toastmaster Member,

  

As directed by policy, the Board of Directors periodically reviews membership dues to ensure that the organization can satisfy member needs while continuously enhancing their experience and the services and programs provided. After a review of the organization's five-year financial forecast of activities compared with forecasted revenue, the Board has voted to increase membership dues.

As a result, on October 1, 2011 Toastmasters' annual membership dues will increase from $54 (U.S. dollars) to $72 (U.S. dollars), payable in increments of $36 (U.S. dollars) every six months.

Several factors drive this increase:

1. Member needs are greater than ever.
2. Since 1995, membership has grown nearly 55%, from 169,330 members in 1995 to 262,000 in 2010. In this same period, annual dues increased only once in 2005 from $36 (U.S. dollars) to $54 (U.S. dollars).
3. Toastmasters has passed the economy of scale established a decade ago; its support services must expand in order to better serve its ever-expanding member base.

The increased funding will be used to enhance member support and services, and enable the implementation of the five-year Strategic Plan that was developed by the Board of Directors in 2010.

  

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 634-6540

5 Simple Steps

Our speaker yesterday at Cottonwood Toastmasters was our most loved Marian, our clubs very own DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster). She did an excellent job of teaching us 5 Simple Steps in communication. Marian came prepared with visual aids and a book she wrote titled "Take Charge of Your Life - Now". In a review of what she taught us, we learned the following:

1. Identify the right way to ask a question

-Start with an "I" statement, talking about yourself. Stand up for ones own rights without violating the rights of the other person.

- State your feeling. "I feel ....." If unsure of your feeling, hold your hand over your heart.

-State the behavior "When you ......" 

-State the new behavior. "I would like it if......"

-Ask for a response "Are you willing to do that?"

2. Criticism and Anger

Treat criticism like a hot potato! Get rid of it! Don't internalize it or make it your own! Say "That's how it seems to you." or "From your point of view, you could be right." When you encounter an angry person say "You seem really angry." and watch their response as you call them on their behavior.

3. Vocal Tone

Your vocal tone is always important, make it work for you. Also remember that your word is your bond. When you say something, do it. Relationships are built on trust.

4. Self Esteem

To assist others in achieving a better self esteem, ask "How did you feel about the job you have done?"

5. Words

Delete the following from your vocabulary: Can't, Don't, Won't, nothing works, etc... Replace it with "Up until now". Remember, things CAN change!

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 928-634-6540

If You Were A Mirror

Congratulations to Paula for winning the Table Topics portion of our Cottonwood Toastmasters meeting yesterday. You did a marvelous job answering the following question: "If mirrors could talk, I wonder what they would say. Mirrors capture the images of many things such as people, shower steam, animals, insects whizzing past, and so much more. If you were a mirror, explain to us what travelers you may have seen that have passed your way."

In the Free Dictionary by Farlex, we learn that a mir·ror  (mrr) n, is:

1. A surface capable of reflecting sufficient undiffused light to form an image of an object placed in front of it. Also called looking glass.

2. Something that faithfully reflects or gives a true picture of something else.

3. Something worthy of imitation.

 

 

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 928-634-6540

Times Are Changing

Our speaker at Cottonwood Toastmasters this week spoke about how times are changing. She began her speech by mentioning ways her father entertained himself as a youth with much enjoyment in the out of doors. Then she shared with us her childhood joys of running outside as soon a the sun came up, staying outside until supper in the evening. It sure brought back memories of my childhood. As I listened to her I began to remember the long walks with my mother, gardening and the juicy beef steak tomatoes we grew, swinging on my shinny red swing set, and swimming in my little blue pool. My mother use to put her hot pink blow up air mattress in the pool to sunbathe. What a funny sight that was with the ends of the mattress dangling over the sides of the tiny pool!  

The speaker then mentioned how the youth of today are a lot different to raise than when we were kids or were raising children of our own. Computers, mp3 players, ipads and ipods are the in thing. Playing outside is a thing of the past. Where have their imaginations gone? They truly live in a different world than we did. However, in this technical world of ours, the do come in handy for us older folk. She brought up a good point. "If you don't know how to use a computer, ask a kid."

Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 928-634-6540

Have You Got the Time?

Our theme at Cottonwood Toastmasters today was "Time" and the word of the day was "Integrity".  As the General Evaluator for the day I had an amazing team of helpers. I witnessed many people taking the time to fill dual assignments with willingness and excellence. There was the Grammarian, Ah Counter, Timer and Speech Evaluator. Their leadership titles seem self explanatory, however, maybe a little more information is necessary for the "Ah Counter". This can be a fun job at our Cottonwood Toastmasters for you get to ring a bell whenever you hear the words "ah" or "um". For a more detailed description as to the role of the "Ah Counter" I have taken the following information from Toastmasters International:

Helping members off their crutches

"The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note any word or sound used as a crutch by anyone who speaks during the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections, such as and, well, but, so and you know. Sounds may be ah, um or er. You should also note when a speaker repeats a word or phrase such as “I, I” or “This means, this means.” These words and sounds can be annoying to listeners. The Ah-Counter role is an excellent opportunity to practice your listening skills."

"Throughout the meeting, listen to everyone for sounds and long pauses used as fillers and not as a necessary part of sentence structure. Write down how many filler sounds or words each person used during all portions of the meeting. When you’re called on by the general evaluator during the evaluation segment, stand by your chair and give your report"

*Cottonwood Toastmasters meets every Monday 12:00 to 1:15 at the Cottonwood Village, 201 E Mingus Ave. Guests are welcome. For more information call Laina Lloyd at 928-300-8638 or Dave Ellison at 928-634-6540