The London Speaker

Rapid Reaction Fun Force - Volunteers needed!

"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up" Mark Twain.

Do you want to: Practice your speaking? Do your bit for the local community?  Bring a little laughter and sparkle to the lives of older people in SW1?

If your answer is YES then Kim would like to hear from you. The Pullen Centre is a Day Care Centre for elderly people in London SW1 near Victoria.  The Centre provides a vital local service for people in their 70's, 80's and 90's who are classed as 'vulnerable adults'" with health or mobility problems who may feel lonely and isolated. 

Among other entertainment the Centre regularly invites people in to give talks so...Kim wondered...might the Good People at Toastmasters be interested in:

Delivering a humorous speech or comedy routine? Giving a talk or slide show?

Playing music (there is a piano in the room). Singing. Songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s are always very popular.  Juggling or using other entertainment skills.

If you have half an hour to volunteer for a guest spot, usually late morning or afternoon, your contribution will be greatly appeciated. The  benefits to you are many: a forum to practice speeches/performances; that buzz you get when doing something altuistic.  Putting a smile on the faces of others just can't be beaten!

If you would like to help or to find out more please contact Kim Crosby Mobile: 07775 992505 Email: TellMeMore@CustomerClix.com.  If this pilot is a success Kim is hoping to collect a groundswell of people who could be parachuted in to put a smile on the face of vulnerable people, from all walks of life, across Central London.

Behind the Scenes at BBC2's The Speaker

Getting a show like BBC2's The Speaker to our screens takes a long time. Someone who has seen much of the work first hand is Sean Kennedy (a member of London CommunicatorsToastmasters club and Programme Director for Jack Petchey's "Speak Out" Challenge, the World's biggest youth public speaking competition) Sean was the series consultant for The Speaker. He agreed to answer a few questions.

I remember turning on the TV a couple of years ago and saying - that's Sean!  Is this when it all started?  In a way.  The BBC filmed some of the "Speak Out" Challenge events for an episode of The Culture Show which aired in March 2007.  John Amaechi (one of the judges on The Speaker), interviewed by Simon Mayo on 5Live recently, said he been shown clips of young people at our contests two years ago.The clips were from the filming for The Culture Show which was used to pitch the idea of a bigger programme which turned into...The Speaker. 

What has being series Consultant involved?With other staff from Speakerbank I've given general advice on the contest organisation and format.  Specifically, once the 1000s of entries had been reduced to 600 I sat with the Producer to watch all 600 videos.  From this the 160 young people were chosen for the Regional Finals that you've seen in the first two episodes.

I've also advised on judging criteria, helped briefing the judges and mentors etc.  As the contest has progressed I've provided some behind the scenes advice to the contestants - particularly giving them tips when they started giving three minute speeches on a set topic. That was a tough stage for them!

How did the 140 who didn't get passed the Regional Finals cope?  Obviously they were disappointed. But as part of the day trainers from Speakersbank ran workshops for them - before and after they'd competed.  This was important to encourage them and give them some added value beyond the contest itself.

How do you expect the TV audience watching at home to respond?  I hope the public will see the value of what's been done.  The BBC wanted this to be about the learning process, not just entertainment. I hope that they will see it's a worthwhile project.

Will The Speaker have a wider impact in schools?Evidence from the "Speak Out" Challenge suggests that it will.  Our survey of teachers and other information from schools tells us that GCSE English results (which includes speaking and listening assessments) have improved.  Other exams such as Maths and Business Studies also include some presentation of ideas to a teacher or group so there is a knock on effect.  In addition teachers tell us that "Speak Out" training increases overall participation in other school activities as young people's confidence and self-esteem grows. I hope this will be true for The Speaker too.

And finally, will all the Toastmasters watching learn something new?  I'm sure we will.  For example, there are fascinating tips from Alastair Campbell on persuasive speaking.  Something I've noticed in Toastmasters' contests is that winning speeches increasingly include personal stories.  There'll be lots to learn from Kate Silverton on crafting stories - something she has to do on the fly preparing news items.  Deborah Meadon has watched large numbers of people presenting on The Dragons' Den and know a great deal about what's needed to be convincing.  And of course Lord Spencer has important messages about how to make information clear, succinct and digestible.

Thanks Sean.  We're looking forward to the next episodes of The Speaker 8pm BBC2 on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th April 2009. Remember you can catch up via BBC iPlayer.

You can hear John Amaechi interviewed by Fi Glover on Saturday Live, Radio 4, 9am Saturday 11th April. Listen again at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

Hear John Humphries interviewing Lord Digby Jones and 15 year old Benedict Townsend about The Speaker here.

Toastmasters UK & Ireland District Conference 8-10 May 2009 in the Cotswolds

Want to hear the UK and Ireland Finals of the International Speech and Evaluation Contests?  Support Division B's winners? Attend some great workshops?  Find out more about what's going on in Toastmasters at the business meeting? Party until dawn...enjoy the beauty of the Cotswolds (or both)?

If so you need to book your place at the Toastmasters Spring Conference 8-10 May 2009.  Full  details of the conference and the booking process can be found on the District website www.d71.org.  There are currently single and double rooms available but we're in competition with another event.  Many London Toastmasters have already booked. If you haven't...It's wise to grab your room now at the luxury Cotswolds Water Park Hotel.

You can attend for the full weekend or come along for part of it if you have other commitments.  As it's so close to London it's a excellent opportunity to experience the networking, learning and fun.  (Click here for Freddie's Autumn Conference report to get more of a flavour).

If you are travelling by train you can get to Swindon from Paddington. Members of Thamesdown Speakers will be running a shuttle service from the station on Friday and on Saturday morning (if requested).  It's all being made easy so do come!

image credit: fotoVoyager

How did the first episode of BBC2's The Speaker grab you?

And if you missed the first episode (because you were at a Toastmasters meeting or contest ?) watch here or go to BBC iPlayer where it will be for the next 29 days.

If you've just watch it I hope you enjoyed the first episode as much as I did.

Did you have misgivings before this show started?  After all the reality shows, X-factor and other contests I have to confess I was slightly concerned that The Speaker might turn out to be too much contest and not enough content.  Luckily this was not the case. We got a good flavour of the quality of speaking that these young people can already achieve.  Comments from the judges that were short and to the point.  And a good feeling that the ten contestants who came through from the Glasgow/London heats will impress us when we see them again in Episode 3. And what a range of subjects: adoption, graffiti, prison, mobile phones, punk rock, gender inequality, multiple sclerosis, teenage love, education....

The overall standard of public speaking from the 160 from whom the final 20 are being chosen appears to be high.  I recognised one speaker whom I've heard before (in the Jack  Petchey Speakout Challenge!) from her first word "Georgina!". She was certainly memorable. Although not in the final ten tonight her speech was very good and an illustration of just what a difficult task the judges have ahead of them.

Hope you will be watching Episode 2 tomorrow evening or soon after.  I'll be going to iPlayer after Excalibur Speakers! 

Remember there are 8 episodes in total at 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday until 29 April.

 

The Speaker starts this week 7 and 8 April on BBC2

The Speaker is about to hit our screens! 

By now you've probably seen the trailers for the new BBC2 show The Speaker...A group of young people declaiming from JFK's inaugural speech "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country." 

The search in on to find Britain's best young speaker in this show hosted by Jo Brand.  Starting with 1000s of 14-18 year olds one minute application speeches 160 were selected to take part. Put through their paces at regional auditions the final 20 participants are on a steep learning curve to develop their skills and win the contest. 

The show starts tomorrow Tuesday 7th April 8pm -9pm with participants from Glasgow and London. Followed by a second programme on Wednesday 8th April 8pm-9pm with participants from Cardiff and Manchester.  From programme 3 they will work with celebratory mentors Alastair Campbell (persuasive speaking), Kate Silverton (storytelling);

 Lord Spencer (delivering information)

 and Deborah Meaden (speaking with conviction).

If you saw the Yes We Can.  The Lost Art of Oratory.  Last night on BBC2 you will have got the message that interest in public speaking and persuasion is riding high.  Toastmaster club committees can use this interest to generate local pr for our clubs and collectively for their Area. Remember the new District 71, UK and Ireland press kit is available on www.d71.org to help you. This is valuable resource.  As a London Division B we are making contact with London wide press, radio etc and we hope every club/Area will be in touch with local newspapers and other local media.  Please contact Dorothea Stuart if you have any questions or ideas.

As individual members we can also all take the opportunity to encourage friends,family, colleagues indeed anyone who expresses and in interest in the show to come and visit a Toastmasters club.  After all if 14-18 year olds can become great speakers with help and encouragement so can they!

Improve Your Speech Evaluations and do even better in club contests!

At Excalibur Speakers' meeting on 11 March 2009 we were treated to a 15 minute workshop on speech evaluation by one of our UK & Ireland Speech Evaluation Champions, Bob Ferguson DTM.

You can listen to Bob's workshop on the Excalibur website or download it. Click here.  Along with the audio Bob has provided notes and the forms he uses to capture information and structure his evaluations. Thanks Bob for providing such useful and timely material.

Other very helpful resources for evaluators are provided by Kim Chamberlain, a Speech Evaluation Champion from New Zealand.  You'll find them on the Toastmasters District 72 website. Click here.

Jim Hegarty talks Leadership, PR and recommends BBC 2's The Speaker

"I heard of Toastmasters seven years before I joined - the seven most wasted years of my life!" So says Jim Hegarty District 71 (UK and Ireland) PR Officer.   Jim has been a member of Toastmasters, in Ireland, for 13 years and continues to love it.

At this time of year clubs are thinking about who will become next year's club President and who will take on committee roles. Jim is adamant that you can only gain by stepping forward and having a go at a leadership role.  If you have been on a club committee why not become an Area Governor?  If you have the experience...the role of Division Governor beckons! 

Jim himself is immensely glad that he took up the challenge and stood for election for the role of PR Officer for District 71 last year.  He is someone who very much "operates on the positive". Initially on a steep learning curve he is now looking forward to the final three months of his year as PRO which includes the start of a new TV show The Speaker. 

Some of you will already have heard that starting on Tuesday 7th April 2009 a new show called The Speaker, goes out at 8pm on BBC2. Based to a large extent on the achievements of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge!, in which teenagers learn public speaking skills and compete in a speaking competition, the show will bring the art of communication and public speaking to a huge audience.

 Jim has been working on a PR campaign (with Toastmaster colleagues) to help clubs to make the most of the opportunities that the programme could bring.  We will be telling you much more about this over the coming days and weeks.  You'll find more info on the show now and as it progresses the show's website.

On a personal note Jim has become very adept at selling Toastmasters wherever he goes.  When the World University Debating Championship was held in Cork Jim made sure that he was there.  It was a lesson  that "what we think is not do-able is do-able".  Starting by making a few phone calls, asking people for their advice and help, Jim was not only an honoured guest at the gala dinner but had plenty of opportunity to network and spread the word about Toastmasters. 

"I've learned not to be put off by the word No!  You might call at the wrong time when someone is busy but by being considerate and asking for help in the right way its amazing what you can achieve."  His advise to all of us - be bold with your PR activities. We know that membership of Toastmasters brings great benefits so make sure you use every opportunity to tell as many people as you can.

What's the snow doing to your language?

I was rather taken by a poetic blog post entitled London stilled by five inches of snow.  The writer conjures up the eerie quiet:

"I've only seen one intrepid milk float on the road since eight this morning. Nothing else on the move. All the buses cancelled. Almost all the schools shut."

As well as the fun:
"...the unprecedented opportunity to toboggan down the middle of the road on a tea-tray."

This latter sentiment was echoed by Erik Anderson who contacted the BBC News website to say that many people and their children had enjoyed "a fabulous once-in-a-lifetime winter wonderland in central London."

London Mayor Boris Johnson was spinning words as only he can.  You may have heard him on the lunchtime BBC news.  "We grit, we grut, we grat." Or on the Telegraph website proclaiming "My message to heaven is: 'You've put up a fantastic display of snow power but that is probably quite enough."

Associated Press writers painted a more sombre picture as "long trails of commuters trudged through the streets looking for scarce taxis..."  And The New York Times noted "...heavy snows sweeping in from the east blanketed much of Britain on Monday, taking the nation by surprise with its severity despite alarm-laden weather forecasts."

My favourite headline so far - Norfolk Tigers fascinated by snow.  Watch the video here. It's a minute well spent! 

Look forward to hearing your snow stories at a Toastmasters meeting soon!

What can you learn from Obama and the Ancient Greeks?

By Paul Carroll, London Athenians
 
Oratory is back! Millions of electors have been impressed by Barack Obama's moving oratory.  His skill in articulating his message was a decisive - perhaps the decisive - factor in his victory, according to Charlotte Higgins author of Its All Greek to me: From Homer to the Hippocratic Oath, How Ancient Greece Has Shaped Our World.

In today's Guardian Higgins gives a thumbnail sketch analysing the classical rhetorical devices which Obama used and continues to use to persuade people to support him.

"The sheer numbers of people who have heard him speak live set him apart from his rivals - and, indeed, recall the politics of ancient Athens, where the public speech given to ordinary voters was the motor of politics, and where the art of rhetoric matured alongside democracy." The New Cicero, Charlotte Higgins.

You can read Higgins's full article online here.  For a handy summary of rhetorical devices to use in your Toastmasters speeches click here.

_{image credit ra-photos}

Champion

10:31 Sunday 9th November - Great news from The Conference where I have just been advised that David Jones has won the table topics contest. Many congratulations to David. (A fuller report on the conference will be available soon) Posted by Rory Marriott