Sally Dyos of our own club delivered her maiden speech, receiving a well deserved complimentary evaluation from Will Warren, Chaucers President, awarding a pass-mark with encouragement [...]]]> Chaired by Trevor Kenning, on April 26th at The Royal Temple Yacht Club, Thanet Speakers Club played host to fellow clubs Chaucer & West Kent.   Such joint meetings give all present an educational and most enjoyable insight to the personal style and ability of others who share the ideal of the Association of Speakers Clubs to which we belong and which has set the objectives,to practise and improve the art of speaking in public.

Sally Dyos of our own club delivered her maiden speech, receiving a well deserved complimentary evaluation from Will Warren, Chaucers President, awarding a pass-mark with encouragement for her  proceed with the challenge of the standards set in further assignments: speaking with an assurance and capability which augers well.

Philip Lennard, of Chaucer Speakers Club, followed with his second assignment; Doug Weale giving similar appraisal and approval: the two speeches differing widely in content but equally entertaining ,demonstrating the worth of the get-together of the three Kent clubs .

The impromptu speaking session was supervised by Fred Lemont of Chaucer, offering the customary opportunity for everyone present to speak for two minutes on a subject, without preparation: challenging,rewarding and most enjoyable. Evaluation -the personal opinion of fellow members, from which we learn and progress-was given by Stewart Thomson from Chaucer who having given an innovative interpretation of his own  ”topic” was awarded , by popular vote, the trophy for best response.

Fred Ray Flynn of West Kent Speakers Club evaluated the content of the whole evening, drawing attention to the value to all three clubs.  Chaucer Speakers Club is to play host to a similar event shortly.

For more details please contact Doug Weale 01843 592221 or dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or visit; http://www.thanetspeakers.org.uk

Our President Kathleen Smith followed with a rehearsal for her next assignment, Vocabulary & Word Pictures. Evaluated by Ron Sheldrake again recognising that personal style which we [...]]]> Chaired by Margaret Jones, the meeting on April 12th, all enjoyed the delivery of two fine prepared speeches.  John Poole addressing the assignment to demonstrate the use of notes in public speaking did so in the style for which he is becoming recognised.  As his evaluator,  Trevor Kenning described with obvious admiration, a fine storyteller: he used an  account of a shopping expedition, introducing humour and picturesque  words together with his engaging style.

Our President Kathleen Smith followed with a rehearsal for her next assignment, Vocabulary & Word Pictures.  Evaluated by Ron Sheldrake again recognising that personal style which we are encouraged to nurture whilst in compliance with the guidelines of the Association of Speakers Clubs to which the club belongs.  Recommendations for continued improvement
were given to both speakers by their respective evaluators and they will both continue to progress through the Manual, implementing the advice given.

The impromptu speaking session, always popular and entertaining, whilst challenging for the members who are invited to respond to “Topics”; on this occasion chaired by John Poole.   To be able to speak when unexpected to, is considered to be a vital quality and is practised at each meeting. By popular vote of those present, a trophy is awarded for the best response.  Trevor Kenning the recipient on this occasion for a well-deserved interpretation of his given topic.

In his general evaluation, Doug Weale assessed the evening to have been a success, demonstrating the qualities to which the club aspires in pursuit of the high standard to which the club
aspires. Kathleen Smith in the Business session,was delighted to announce the date of the Annual Dinner Saturday May 26th at Northdown House, with guest speaker Ley Loberson.

For more details please contact Doug Weale 01843 592221 or dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or visit; http://www.thanetspeakers.org.uk

Doug Weale, with examples of how the introduction of humour into a speech can be used as a persuasive factor, as well as being entertaining: among his samples, he cited the law courts, in which, having made the jury laugh, at the expense of an unsure witness, a Counsel had used humour as a vital [...]]]> Ron Sheldrake chaired the meeting on March 22nd, at which the first half was devoted to a “workshop” illustrating aspects of public  speaking deemed vital . With no professional instruction, club members of  experience and long standing offered their advice on humour and rapport  respectively.

Doug Weale, with examples of how the introduction of humour into a  speech can be used as a persuasive factor, as well as being entertaining: among  his samples, he cited  the law courts, in which, having made the jury laugh,  at the expense of an unsure witness, a Counsel had used humour as  a vital factor in the acquittal of a client- and in a cause celebre-ensured a conviction.  Trevor Kenning, a speaker of immense experience,  brought home to the audience the value of establishing rapport, in speaking to an audience: an abstract, but essential quality. Audience participation produced the one word which seemed to define rapport- engagement. It was recalled that a former club member, of distinction, had famously said of rapport; ”I am unable to define it but I recognise  it when I see it”.  Frances Pointer, Director of Education, a student of psychology, then gave a lecture on the subject of addiction-to sugar: which proved to be profound and absorbing,  illustrating the wide variety of subject matter which arises in a club meeting.

Margaret Jones then took the Chair for the customary impromptu speaking session: famous quotations were offered to the audience for their comment , prompting a diversity of responses.  In the true style of “Topics”, John Poole being awarded the Trophy for best response.  Having been absent on a course in furtherance of  his career, Andrew Thomson made a welcome return, in the assignment of general evaluator,with favourable comment on the value of the meeting, both as entertainment,and educational: sharing the opinion of all present.

For more details please contact Doug Weale 01843 592221 or dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or visit; http://www.thanetspeakers.org.uk

In most cases though, it may be that your audience may have not had sufficient breaks or that your presentation may be at the end of the day.

What you can do, if you see people popping off, is to engage them by asking questions. You could also get the audience on their feet and get them doing some exercises. [...]]]> This can be quite distressing for a presenter and could be down to a couple of things.  Obviously, your audience could be bored so you need to check your materials and get someone to give you feedback on your delivery.

In most cases though, it may be that your audience may have not had sufficient breaks or that your presentation may be at the end of the day.

What you can do, if you see people popping off, is to engage them by asking questions.  You could also get the audience on their feet and get them doing some exercises.  The audience might think it odd, but it will make your session more memorable and more importantly will have reenergised them for your presentation.

For more presentation tips to improve your public speaking click here.

Ian Lockyer (Thanet Speakers Club Webmaster)

Congratulations were in order to Bernie Morgan for winning the Kent ASC speech evaluation contest (see enclosed picture) and to Doug Weale who came as runner up in the speech contest. Both represent Thanet speakers at the forthcoming area regional finals.

Good luck to you both.

Firstly as is expected of her, Bernie Morgan gave an inspired speech, Toasting -The Club, blending encomium and the humour which is her forte. President, Kathleen Smith gave a response demonstrating the mastery of responsibility of her Office with a speech which augurs well for her continued tenure of a [...]]]> Turning what might have been a disaster into a triumph, Margaret Jones inspired all attending a mock dinner, in place of the real thing,which for insurmountable reasons,was cancelled, but as Master of Ceremonies, she played a convincing role in the formalities of reality, introducing the speakers of customary after-dinner protocol.

Firstly as is expected of  her, Bernie Morgan gave an inspired speech, Toasting  -The Club, blending encomium and the humour which is her forte. President, Kathleen Smith gave a response demonstrating the mastery of  responsibility of her Office with a speech which augurs well for her continued tenure of a vital role. Immediate Past President, Doug Weale, Toasting the guests, drew attention to the pleasure afforded the club, by visitors who had converted to members, contributing to the diversity of talent which forms the essence of the club membership, in pursuit of the art of speaking in public: a classic example,on behalf of the guests, Sally Dyos, a recent accession,enhanced her already established potential, by an engaging response.

Following the requisite formal speeches, there then followed a series of impromptu,after-dinner toasts, by invitation, to afford the opportunity to other diners to practise what is undoubtably one of, if not the supreme pleasure of  speaking to entertain. The session, chaired by the president, was an appropriate conclusion to the event. All speeches were evaluated;  the customary accompaniment which forms the basis of the method of learning, as decreed by the Association to which we belong. In a general evaluation Doug Weale, drew attention to the commendable contribution played by  Magaret Jones` chairmanship of a successful meeting and tentatively suggested that from an educational point of view, the evening had been better spent,by foregoing the  meal, thus allowing a full evening in pursuit of the real objective:this would, however,be a matter for discussion.

For details of visiting and membership please contact Doug Weale 01843 592221 or dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or visit http://thanetspeakers.org.uk

Three of the entrants; winner runner-up and a reserve were selected to proceed to the Area round next month in Maidstone. A remarkable performance by Sally Dyos, delivering her very first prepared speech, stunned the audience by her confident ability, with a most entertaining performance, gaining the reserve place, [...]]]> The annual speech competition, chaired by Ron Sheldrake, offered the customary variety of entertaining subject matter in speeches by members: Trevor Kenning, as chief judge was looking for far more, however; delivery, use of words, gestures, voice modulation, and yet  still more; all aspects of public speaking learned at the club.

Three of the entrants; winner runner-up and a reserve were selected to proceed to the Area round next month in Maidstone. A remarkable performance by Sally Dyos, delivering her very first prepared speech, stunned the audience by her confident ability, with a most entertaining performance, gaining the reserve place, alongside Doug Weale and Ian Lockyer, who will
represent the club next month.

As always impromptu speaking is a regular feature of our meetings: Margaret Jones taking over the Chair for this session, offerred an innovative theme, inviting members to respond to a piece of music. The challenge of these ” topics” is a good grounding for practise and learning of fundamentals needed in progression through the syllabus: the skill of the responses,
and their entertaining value are judged by popular vote, for the award of a trophy for the best: this meeting`s winner: Trevor Kenning.

Evaluation, the pivotal factor of our learning curve-earned congratulations for Margaret in recognition of her Chairmanship of the session, and valuable advice to members, where thought necessary, for continued progress in the coveted art which the club, in alliance with the National Association of Speakers Clubs, seeks to promote.

For details of visiting & membership please contact Doug Weale 01843 592221; dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or website;  thanetspeakers.org.uk