Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Fair play, clutter, and coffee - Wednesday Feb 23rd


Our president Eugene began the evening with a reminder that Toastmasters competition season is upon us.  Pat ably served as Toastmaster for the evening.

The word for the evening given by our Grammarian Aisling and members and guests alike warmed to its many uses throughout the night.

The topic master Jenny facilitated an engaging and lively topics session, with discussion of the benefits of podcasts and weather warnings, feelings about spring, and the missing amenities of Galway, with the latter topic generating much discussion about everything from concert venues, to transport (Cycle lanes anyone?), to sports facilities.

The first speaker of the evening was Lorraine whose speech entitled ‘Can a Sport Be Fair” took us on a fascinating journey of discovery of American football, and the attempts to create a level playing field between all teams (a format that the 13 player Italian rugby team would no doubt have appreciated when visiting the Aviva at the weekend!). Maria took the podium with the second innovative planning pathway speech of the evening. Entitled “How Do You Like Your Coffee”, Maria regaled us with the history, facts and fiction of coffee – how it might have been discovered, and how you can use it to tell one’s fortune. Maria concluded with the hope her fortunes will include a trip to a Turkish bazaar to imbibe a coffee or two there. Our final speak of the evening was Martin whose talk entitled “Out With the Old, Maybe Out With the New” was from the Visionary Communication pathway. As well as some great use of alliteration (a “spare room of specialties”), Martin introduced us to the joys of Marie Kondo’s book on cleaning  and the philosophy of keeping only what gives you joy. If my son’s room is anything to go by, he must be thrilled altogether.

The General evaluator for the evening was Declan, who in turn introduced the evaluators for each speech – Aisling, Eugene, and Pat. Each were fulsome in their praise of the speeches given during the meeting. After the reports of the Grammarian and the Ah-counter were presented, Avril delivered the creative counter for the evening -  a beautiful poem entitled ‘Respect”. Declan concluded this part of the meeting with a very helpful explanation for us new members about the role of the evaluators, which is to ensure that whatever learning might be taken away from the evening is able to happen.

Eugene concluded a memorable evening by again encouraging all members to consider competing in upcoming Toastmaster’s competition.

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