Meeting of 1 August 2024:

As Toastmasters enters a new year (OK, a few weeks ago now but who’s counting?), the key the website is passed to me and rubbing my hands with joy I wonder what mischief I will be able to get up to … My role is to report on the meetings in order to give you, our guests, an idea of what goes on in a Toastmaster meeting. Well, that’s what I was asked to do – let’s see how that goes!

Rather than outline ‘so and so said this’ at the past few meetings, here’s a flavour of what I have seen, heard and experienced. Perhaps the one comment made by John Cross (one of our most experienced speakers) that has resonated with me most was when he said “I wish I had started sooner”. That’s often what I think when I look back on my public speaking journey – I wonder how things might have been if I’d done this at school or in my earlier career.

BUT! Let’s not look back, let’s look forward right? The past is just a story, it’s what lies ahead that’s important, especially when it comes to public speaking. Public speaking might sometimes feel like an event, something that’s coming up on the horizon but actually, for me, it’s a state of being. It’s learning to try to be yourself whilst ‘on show’ … it’s a journey to leave your baggage on your chair and to take to the stage. For me, learning to allow the ‘me’ to leak through into my speaking has been the important part of Toastmasters. Sure, it can take time, but with practice, you can get there! I wish I had started sooner – if you’re thinking about coming to the club, just do it. You just cannot buy the kind of experience and exposure to public speaking that you’ll get here.

Some comments on the last meeting. We have some superb speakers here. Carol gave us the Hot Tip, short, succinct and topical given that the meeting was during the 2024 Olympics: don’t leave anything on the track (or here, on the Toastmaster stage!). Quite simply, give it your all – go for it, try something different, challenge yourself. Toastmasters is all about incremental development and instantaneous feedback.

Our former past president David was Toastmaster for the evening. One would think he’s done this before (!) the way he controls the meeting and brings unbounded energy to the role of managing the evening. We can all learn something from David and it’s great to see David still involved after a busy previous year’s leading the club. In the meeting prior to the last, David was awarded his Humorous Speech Pathway.

Now, onto two speakers I have seen join the club within the last year and whose growth is faster than my Wisteria. Experiencing rapid development is one of the reasons I keep coming back here: to see people get better, literally in front of my eyes (and ears). Ikuko and Viyom. What I am really enjoying is seeing their real selves emerging as they engage in their speeches and roles. It’s hard to explain in words – you have to experience it. Last week, Ikuko took on the Sergeant at Arms role for the first time – this is the first speaking role of the night, you have to get the audience seated and listening and ready. That’s quite a tough job and it takes courage to get everyone’s attention – well done.

Now Viyom – Viyom is one of those people with a understated but very certain confidence. Wow – if anyone is a role model for new joiners then it’s Viyom. She takes on roles, she listens to feedback, acts on it and it’s been great to see her sense of humour come through in her speaking. That’s why she was awarded the “Rob Parker” award for Bravery. It’s a well deserved award from the club.

I could go on, and often do, but I wanted to also flag a skill demonstrated by Neil, also one of our most experienced speakers in Table Topics evaluations. Table Topics evaluations is one of my favourite roles because you’re challenged to listen, take notes and deliver succinct and useful feedback to around 10 speakers. Blimey – then you have to deliver it in around 7 minutes, no pressure! Neil is knows what he’s doing and what I noticed in the last meeting was that he delivers measured feedback according to experience. What I mean by this is that for more recent joiners, he gives simple and relatable feedback that will help them on their next speech – nothing that’ll scare them off! But for the more experienced, he can give deeper more punchy comments. Love it.

Well, hopefully the above gives an idea of why you should really take the step to join us for a meeting.

This stuff should be taught in schools – but you can get it here at Bromley Speakers!