Mirror-Mirror on the Wall who’s the Favourite of Them All?

 Galway Toastmasters Meeting 21 Feb 2024 

The President of the meeting (Kathy) opened the meeting with thanks to everyone who stepped in the vacant roles last minute. This was followed by the Toastmaster (Mark Flynn) introducing all the roles and in turns inviting the Ah-Counter, the Grammarian, the Timekeeper, the Creative corner person, the Scribe and the General Evaluator to explain their roles. 

The word of the meeting was ‘AGOG’ – which can be used in the context of ‘easy’, ‘enthusiastic’. 

The Topicsmaster (Connie) who acquired the role quite at the last minute has nonetheless brought something new and fresh to the table! She pulled out a big black bag and invited volunteers to come out, take one book out and speak the thoughts the title of the book would have triggered. This experience was quite versatile with books on languages, on loving the gut, on study. It was an entertaining way of the impromptu speaking.  

The FIRST speech of the evening was presented by Mark himself and was titled ‘Mirror-Mirror on the Wall who’s the Favourite of Them All….how narcissist saw his reflection and died on a spot’. A great allegorical intro that led into appreciation that outside beauty is only a skin deep. No need to focus on the images, air-brushed, imitated, faked…let’s look deeper and appreciate internal beauty. 

 The SECOND speech was presented by Frances on the Australian author Banjo Patterson with his immeasurable love for horses. We all had a chance to delve into the details of his life. 

The THIRD speech was presented by Brian on ‘Stepping Stones of Success’ and provided us all with his insightful contemplation on whether it is ok to fail and does it define our path to success. Tough times are part of our growth and it is through those times we learn and grow. 

The 2nd part of the meeting 

Started with speech evaluations   -Pat ended up evaluated both Mark’s and Frances speeches. He poignantly noted how Frances like to share with us a good story and it is always welcomed and for Mark’s speech he added that ‘the last person we look at is ourselves’, because in fact ‘everyone is a reflection of themselves’. 

Connie provided an evaluation of Frances speech and commented on her improved eye contact, clarity and vocal variety and gestures that were aligned with the content.  

Kathy provided evaluation for Brian’s speech commenting on the fact that having props in speech does add an additional challenge and Brian has worked very well with them. She commented that he brought his amiable nature in the speech and ‘excited for him to do more’! 

 

The meeting proceeded with the Officer’s reports and just before the meeting was called to an end Alison has brought us onto a brief literature trip by reading the Yeats poem ‘the Lake Isle of Innisfree’.