Spring is finally in the air and our next meeting will have a different format because it's our International Speech and Evaluation contest. Ingo will be our contest master and we'll kick off the evening with the speech section in which Christian and I present our speeches on the topics of our choice. It can be informative, entertaining, humourous or persuasive. Some things never change though and there will be, as always, the cake of day to enjoy as the contestants from the first part take a well earned break and those for the second one prepare themselves for the challenge of the evaluation contest. Johanna has bravely volunteered to be our target speaker and will then have the privilege of getting four evaluations from Dorothée, Jan, Christian and myself. It's always fascinating to hear how different feedback on the same speech can be and for the contestants, it's the ultimate challenge in organisation and quick thinking. Don't miss this great opportunity to be part of an exciting and rewarding evening. Our contests take place just twice a year and are always full of unexpected twists and drama. Guests are always welcome at our meetings but especially at contests to help provide a warm and supportive atmosphere to inspire and help the contestants. It'd be great to see you there. For more details about what will happen during the evening, please use the link below to get our detailed agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
For our next meeting, we have three speeches scheduled. Our first three speakers will continue working their way through the basic Competent Communicator manual: Johanna will present project number four which focuses on language and Susan will deliver her seventh speech which is all about researching a chosen topic. To round off the speaking section, I will present an informative speech about the mentoring system. It's always great to have a mixture of newer and more advanced speakers and if you come along, you'll see for yourself that each project presents its own particular challenges while always helping us to build on our existing communication skills and gain confidence.
After that, there will be the cake of the day as always which will be a speciality from Britain (but good British cuisine!) to enjoy in the break before Christian S. takes charge of the Table Topics. This is our impromptu speech section also open to guests; take part and find out why it's comparable to jazz! Our meetings are always full of unexpected twists and also really entertaining but most of, you can count on a warm and supportive atmosphere. Guests are always welcome so please join us next time for what once again promises to be a really great meeting. For more details about what will happen during the evening, please use the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
At our next meeting, we have four speeches scheduled. From the basic competent communicator manual, Gregor will present his fourth speech, focusing on how to say it, Christian S. will focus on body language as he reaches the halfway point with project number five and Jan will focus on vocal variety with his sixth speech. To finish with, our new Vice President Education Wendy will make her speaking début at Mercury and inch ever closer to completing her Advanced Communicator Silver with project number nine from the Speaking On Television manual. For members and guests alike, it's a wonderful chance to witness the progression of the different speech projects and how they can develop your confidence and communication skills.
After the break with our homemade cake of the day, Matthias will challenge us with some Table Topics. This is our impromptu speaking section which offers guests, as well as members with smaller roles the opportunity to have some time on centre stage by asking them to answer a question on the given topic in just 1-2 minutes. In order to lose the feelings of frustration and being at a loss for words whenever we need to think on our feet, there truly is no better practice. As ever, guests are most welcome - there's no need to register beforehand, simply come along and be part of a rich and inspiring evening which can make you a better speaker. For more details about what will happen during the evening, please use the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
At our next meeting, we have three speeches scheduled but with a slightly different twist. Charles will be our TME and guide us through the evening but he will also be working on the fifith project from an advanced manual, Speciality Speeches, with his introductions for each speaker, Christina will make a welcome return to Mercury with her second speech from the Competent Communicator manual and to finish with, I'll give my eighth speech as part of my Advanced Communicator Bronze, once again from the Interpretive Reading manual which involves presenting a monodrama. This promises to be a rich and interesting evening with three very different projects to offer you a glimpse of how varied Toastmasters can be. Next meeting will also be the 40th cake of the day so you'll have to come along to find out what it will be... After that, Pamela will take over Table Topics, the fast paced and nerve racking impromptu speaking section where she will ask participants a question on any chosen subject and they then have 1-2 minutes to answer. As always, guests are very welcome to take part and it's well worth taking the plunge to discover speaking skills you never knew you had. One of the best points about our club is the atmosphere and it's always great to have new members and guests to share that with us. Why not find out for yourself what Toastmasters can do for you, and how you can develop powerful communication skills while still having fun? For more details about what will happen during the evening, please use the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
Our first meeting in a brand new year, in a brand new decade! It certainly feels fresh and exciting and we already have a packed agenda with four speeches. To start with new member Romain will break the ice with his very first speech, followed by visiting toastmaster Tijmen who will give his third speech (both from the Competent Communicator manual). Then to finish off the evening, Charles and Christian will take another step closer to finishing their Advanced Communicator Bronze with projects 3 and 4 from their respective manuals. This offers us a chance to see a wide range of speakers at very different stages in their Toastmasters careers and also helps us understand that the educational programme goes far beyond the first ten speeches of the basic manual and offers something for everyone to become a better speaker, regardless of their experience. Their will be the first cake on 2010 to enjoy, followed by Table Topics from Gregor who is taking over this job for the first time. This is our impromptu speech section which trains us to think fast and creatively. Participants have 1-2 minutes to answer a question on any given subject and guests can also take part in it if they wish, though it's not an obligation! Actually, once you get past the initial nerve wracking moments of being asked, it's hugely rewarding, most of all really fun and is often the favourite part of the evening of many members. Although the ratio between newer and more experienced members at the club may change, one thing always remains the same; the warm and inspiring atmosphere. That comes from the contributions of all those involved but also from the guests so it would be a great pleasure to see you at our next meeting. Join us for this evening and find out how Mercury can benefit you. For more details about what will happen during the evening, please click on the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
For those of you who missed our Christmas party, we all had a great time in a beautiful setting with delicious food, inspiring seasonal Table Topics speeches and of course, the Yule Club. As always, there was plenty of bargaining in the race to get the best gifts. In any case, I hope you ended up with something you wanted. Special thanks to Johanna for organising this year's Christmas party and on behalf of the club, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
For our last meeting of 2009, we have a really packed agenda with four speeches scheduled. After a long break, Ramin and Katharina will return to Mercury with speeches two and three and then Christian S. and Matthias will present their fourth projects, focusing on how to say it. All projects are from the basic competent communicator manual. As we're fast approaching Christmas, the cake of the day will have a festive flavour but you'll have to come along to find out what it is...New member Romain will be a first time Table Topics master but based on his previous roles, we can expect a lot of fun and some inspiring questions. This is our impromptu speaking section, open to members without a big meeting role but also to guests so why not be brave and find out for yourself how useful it is for getting you to think on your feet and most of all, how enjoyable it can be. All in all then, it should be a really special meeting. Apparently, public speaking frequently tops polls of the things people are most afraid of (death comes second!) but it doesn't have to be that way. In our warm and supportive environment, you have nothing to fear and only confidence and better communication skills to gain. Guests are always welcome so please join us for our next meeting. For more detailsabout what will happen during the evening, please click on the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
At our next meeting, we currently have three speeches scheduled. New member Jon will break the ice and make his much anticipated Mercury debut while I will be presenting my second project from the Interpreative Reading manual as part of my Advanced Communicator Bronze which involves reading a poem. Finally we will have a guest speaker, Ralf from Adlershof Toastmasters, presenting an educational speech. During the break, there's always the cake of the day to enjoy while we relax a little, then Waltraud will put our impromptu speaking skills to the test with her Table topics which involves speaking for 1-2 minutes in response to the question she gives us. This is a chance for members who are not the main fuctionaries to get a chance to speak but it's also open for guests if they feel brave enough! As always, it promises to be an inspiring and fun meeting. If you're keen to find out more for yourself, why not come along? Guests are always welcome and there's absolutely no obligation to join. Our club offers you an opportunity to try things out in a supportive and constructive environment. You can build confidence and learn powerful communication skills while most importantly, having a good time. For more details about what will happen during the evening, please click on the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
This online Telepolis article offers an excellent overview about the structure and benefits of Toastmasters. Warmly recommended!
Next time around, we have four speeches lined up. Michael and Christian S. will give their third speeches and Susan will make a welcome return to Mercury with her sixth speech (all from the basic Compentent Communicator manual). Last but not least, Christian K. will give his third speech from one of his Advanced Communicator bronze manuals. It's always a pleasure to have four speeches and it offers both members and guests an excellent insight into the way that Toastmasters trains such a wide variety of communication skills while offering us the opportunity to present very different topics. As if that wasn't enough, there will be the cake of the day to enjoy in the break, followed by Table Topics, our impromtu speaking section which next time will be lead by Johanna. She will select a member or volunteer guest to answer interesting and challenging questions for 1-2 minutes. Although it sounds a little scary, actually it's enormously enjoyable and perhaps the part of the evening we all most look forward to. Why not try it and see for yourself? Guests are always welcome at our meetings so if you'd like to become a better and more confident speaker while most importantly having fun, then this is the right place for you! For more information about what will happen during the evening, please use the link below to get our agenda (please check it for last minute changes regarding speeches): http://www.mercury-toastmasters-berlin.de/public/agenda.php
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