Always Do A Manual Speech

In Toastmasters when you get up and speak, it’s not just about getting up and speaking, it’s about learning and improving and so members are encouraged to always give a speech based on a project from one of the manuals because that would ensure that you get the chance to learn and improve. But what [...]

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Shades of Grey

One day in May, I discovered that I can do a credible Martin Luther King. On 1st May 2009, I, the pasty white Irishman, possibly the whitest man in the world, so white that when I show people my tan they think that I have a normal colour… Yes, that night, I, in all my [...]

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Funny Business

“So? How was your weekend? What did you do?” He asks me. “I took part in a humorous speaking competition” “Ohhhhh and what was the topic of your speech” “Dressing up in drag”, I replied. “I don’t understand” “You know, dressing up in women’s clothing, that type of thing” He looked at me blankly. This [...]

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Preparing for the Humorous Speech Contest

In the spirit of growth, and personal development, I view anything that comes my way, as an opportunity from God, the universe, or whatever you believe in, as an opportunity to grow, and move closer to my goals. In other words, I always say yes, to new opportunities. Most times anyways. So when it was [...]

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Who Are Utrecht Toastmasters? (Part 2)

As part of a PR project one of our members decided to do something a little bit different, she made a video of one of our club’s Table Topics sessions to give an insight into what we are all about:

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Mashantucket – The TM world conference

I arrived in Mashantucket on Monday evening, the Interdistrict contest was to take place on Tuesday evening. Plenty of time.  Just to be safe I checked the agenda on Tuesday morning. The draw and explanation was to take place at noon.  All the contestants were present and we got to know each other and each [...]

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The Road to Mashantucket – The Mentor’s Journey

When I first joined Toastmasters I thought it was all about speaking, people getting up week after week and just speaking, and it is, but there’s more… Chances to be a leader, opportunities to organise meetings and as you become a better speaker the chance to give feedback as an evaluator. These have all been [...]

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Toastmaster of the Evening (The First Time)

When I first started with Toastmasters (TM) I thought it was just about speaking (prepared and impromptu) and evaluating. I never quite noticed the significance of the role of the Toastmaster of the Evening (TME) and I sure had no idea just how much work and how much fun it could be. After having been a TME, my TM experiences have acquired a whole new dimension!

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First words

Public speaking was never something that I was all too good at. There really is no need to make speeches when your work involves sitting in front of a computer all day long. The requirement is to be a worker bee, not Martin Luther King. That said, there have been opportunities for me to stand [...]

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