Monday, December 28, 2009

Your New Year's Resolution

New years resolution.

What not try something new in 2010? Learn some skills that will be of benefit in all aspects of your life. Maybe you need to speak at a social function, give a presentation at work or improve your communication skills for an interview. Then toastmasters can help you. As a member of a toastmasters club you learn communication and leadership skills that and you will learn these skills in a very supportive environment and in an atmosphere of fun.

The members of toastmasters come from all different walks of life, and from all different age groups. It does not matter how much previous education a person has as toastmaster’s members learn by doing. So come along and see for yourself.

The clubs next meeting will take place on this Thursday 7th of January. The meeting will begin at 8pm and finish at 10pm and takes place in the Hibernian Hotel. Everybody is welcome and guests will not be asked to speak.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Cheer

The clubs final meeting of 2009 took place on the 10th of December and those present were treated to five excellent speeches. The toastmaster for the evening Pat Duggan put all the speakers at ease as he gave all of them a great introduction.

The first speaker of the evening was Jean Sayers who gave a very powerful speech on why everybody should carry an organ donor card. Her speech gave very compelling reasons as to the benefits of organ donation ever though it’s a time of sadness for the family of the donor. Jeans evaluator Mary Buckley commended her on the great work she put into the speech.

The next two speeches were readings. First we had Noel O’Connor who read a very funny story by Joseph O’Connor, which had the audience in fits of laughter. Following this we heard a speech from Winston Churchill, which was read by Joe Hassett. Joe set the scene for the reading, which allowed the audience to fully understand the message of the speech.

Our final two speakers for the evening had very strong festive themes. Anne Buckley gave a very though provoking speech as to what the spirit of Christmas should be. She encouraged us all to think back to times past when there was a real spirit and maybe it was now time to find again the true values of this time of the year.

Sean Corcoran was our final speaker of the night. He shared with us a very entertaining story about how as a young electrician in the 70’s he put up the Christmas lights in Limerick city. He then gave us the full story as to how the Lord Mayor switched them on and how that all was not as it seemed.

The clubs meeting will take place on the Thursday 7th January 2010. In the meantime we would like to wish everybody a very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Christmas from Speak Easy Toastmasters

The clubs final meeting of 2009 took place last Thursday night with a good crowd present. It was a Christmas themed meeting. Santa Claus greeted members and guests on their way in and also handed out little gifts people to everybody. This put everybody in good form especially after the budget from the day before.

Pat Duggan who was toastmaster for the evening. He introduced each speaker by telling the audience what their best ever Christmas present was. On the night we were treated to five excellent speeches. I will give more details of these speeches in next weeks report.

Cait Murray was our topicsmaster for the night and got everybody thinking and speaking on their feet with her wide variety of topics. They ranged from ‘favourite Christmas memory’ to ‘is laughter the best medicine’ to ‘best sporting memory of 2009’. The room was filled with laughter when Tony O’Regan was asked where would be the best place to buy a goose for Christmas. Following this Pat sexton was asked to tell us how he thought people would describe him. Liam Flynn as general evaluator commended Cait on her great choice of topics for the evening.

The clubs meeting will take place on the Thursday 7th January 2010. In the meantime we would like to wish everybody a very happy, peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Have your cake

There was a very nice surprise for Michael Cronin at our clubs last meeting. The club organised a lovely cake to acknowledge his recent participation in the Ireland and UK humorous speech contest, which was held in York. This added greatly to the fun of our tea break as people fought for a second slice.

It was also a special night for toastmaster Mary McCarty as she evaluated her first speech. She did a great job and gave the speaker Marie Fitzpatrick some very helpful suggestions regarding her future speeches.

Mary Buckley was our topicsmaster for the evening and she engaged the audience in a very different and lively topics session. She would ask individual members to talk about an emotion but they had to talk about it from their own point of view. This really got people thinking and there were some great responses.

Details of the five speeches that we had the pleasure of hearing will follow in next weeks report.


The clubs next meeting will take place on this Thursday the 10th of December and will have plenty of festive cheer. The meeting will begin at 8pm and finish at 10pm and takes place in the Munster room in the Hibernian Hotel. Please note the change of room for this meeting. Everybody is welcome and no guests will be asked to speak.