Toastmasters Sample Speeches

For several days I've been laboring on my Toastmasters website. That explains why I've not updated this blog for quite a while.

Google has finally migrated (converted?) that website from its Pages platfrom (pages.google.com) to the Sites platform (sites.google.com). Migrating all the Pages websites into Sites has been a long process for Google.

I believe the announcement to migrate has been announced years ago. I must admit I had mixed feelings about this migration. When the new platform was announced, I tried it out for a spin for a similar new website.

I quickly learned that Adsense were not allowed and I stopped trying out Sites right there.

Toastmasters Slideshow

For a couple of days, I was busy creating a slideshow that was presented at our Toastmasters Club's 5th Anniversary celebration. I thought it'll be a breeze until I discovered that the Movie Maker software I had had some audio filter issues. At playback, audio would be sometimes on or off. Eventually, I found a workaround, but it was tedious to do.

Completed my ACS, on to ACG

I've not posted a Toastmasters-related entry for quite some time now. Ever since I became the club webmaster, I've been busy maintaining our club website at http://theactclub.freetoasthost.biz and club blog at http://theactclub.blogspot.com. These kept me busy on Toastmasters related matters and I've not had time to post Toastmasters entries elsewhere.

Well, just a year ago, I started my journey towards my ACS (Advanced Communicator Silver) with this entry in this blog. A year and 10 Advanced Manual speeches and 2 Successful Club speeches later I've completed all the requirements. So now I'm taking on the next journey toward ACG (Advanced Toastmasters Gold).

Anyway, to see the list of all my Toastmasters speeches click either here or here. Either way, both sites currently point to the same set of speeches. One of these sites will soon disappear though.

Sponsor Testimony at World Vision Office

Last night I was at the World Vision main office to share a talk as a World Vision Child Sponsor. Attending were 34 sponsors and 11 guests (friends of sponsors).

Cecille from World Vision called me at the office several weeks ago to invite me. Interestingly, it was because she stumbled on the Lakbay Pagasa entry in this blog and found it suitable as talk material.

Of course I was pleasantly surprised and did not hesitate to accept.

It was a long drive though from the office - almost 1.5 hours. But I was still glad to be there and give my speech. Actually I arrived ahead of time (5:45pm).

Well, it’s either that or I arrive late because of the traffic that builds up at EDSA at rush hour. All’s well though. At least I had time to chat with Cecille, Elaine, Boris, Richard (a former sponsored child), Cara (the night’s emcee) and Niña.

Here’s Cecille, Niña and Cara.

Timing Lights Test Run

Tonight's TM meeting was one of those session where I gave no speech. Ahhhh... Finally, just to listen and relax. Or so I thought.

Actually, there was Table Topics segment and I spoke there. It's been a long time since we had Table Topics and I'm getting rusty.

I thought I was early when I got there. Apparently Doc Larry brought some guests and so THEY started early (actually, right on time).

Toastmasters Timing Lights Device

I received the newly built timing lights from Anthony last Monday, Nov 19. This is the DIY (do-it-yourself) project I challenged him to do. This was brought about as a project I conceived as the Sergeant-at-Arms in my Toastmasters Club.

Here's the schematic diagram I gave him last Oct 22 that shows just the basic circuit. Resistors and other specs are not shown here:

The Abstract Concept - Toastmasters Speech

Another advanced speech manual slammed! Today I went to the Cummins office at LIIP Mamplasan (my first time) for the Demo Meeting over at lunch. Finally.

This demo meeting has long been anticipated from Ann, but I suppose getting all logistics in order has become a challenge. Ann had wanted to get the top honchos to attend and I think that was the right way to do it.

Get the people who will buy-in to the proposal for the Toastmasters Club. Get them involved, and ultimately, committed into putting time and money to get the club off the ground.

The Demonstration Talk - Toastmasters Speech

Well, tonight was Toastmasters night and the speeches were all great! Too bad, club president Ma'm Lolet wasn't there.

I was busy all this week on pending projects and that emceeing job at the Service Awards Banquet at Bellevue Hotel last Tuesday. So I chose a speech topic that I'd find easy to deliver. The speech is entitled "The Eggbeater Kick" where I demonstrated how this treading technique is performed. It was both fun and easy to deliver because I've been regularly doing this treading technique for a while. I also brought along my laptop to show a clip of an underwater video. Vivs evaluated me for the speech and said she might just start re-learning swimming again. Cool!

Why my Old Toastmasters Club Folded Up

A few times, I've been asked by toastmasters in my present club why my old club, the ON Semiconductor Toastmasters Club died. Typically, they'd ask after they learn I used to be in another club with Doc Noy.

I suppose there are several reasons why that club just couldn't sustain itself. Here are a few that I could think of:

1. Demand for good communication skills in the company is just lip-service. I don't think anybody gets rewarded because of the skills. It's appreciated, yes, but recognized and eventually rewarded? Ha!
   
   
2. There are only a few employees who'd want to put in the time and effort to improve. Sure, many want to improve - but they don't want the effort involved. Yeah, what the heck is that? Some mistakenly expect a teacher to come in and lecture them - classroom style. But Toastmasters doesn't work that way.
   
   
3. The present management, in general, will discourage taking even a little of company time for Toastmasters meetings. In other words, management won't actively influence the sustaining of a Toastmasters Club.
   

Given the above, who'd want to "waste" time for meetings. There are probably just a couple of us still dedicated and committed, but with so few attendees, what's the point in regrouping the club?

My swim today was mostly freestyle and it helped clear my sinus. It also made me feel a little better as I've been having colds since Tuesday. There was a lone PE stude today.

She must've been wondering why there was no PE class. I've begged off for tonight's Toastmasters meeting as I probably would strain my voice and worsen my throat.

My ACB Graduation at Toastmasters

Tonight I was overjoyed as I received my Advanced Communicator Bronze Award in Toastmasters. Firstly because I've been anticipating the TM pin for sometime now.

Secondly, I was so excited (not nervous) to deliver my graduation speech. This is Advanced Speech #5 from the Storytelling Manual - Bringing History to Life.

The title of my speech is "A Painting on a Plate". Why was I excited? Well, I've researched a lot for this speech project.

That included finding out the works of Juan Luna, his biography and the details surrounding the controversial Juan Luna painting bought by GSIS. I learned so much about the man.

But my biggest challenge was weaving my fictional Dinner story with the entire Juan Luna backdrop (paintings, exposition, awards). The way I've heard the story before was very simple and straightforward in a dinner setting.

For this speech project though, I had to put some embellishments to make the story so believable. These are the small details that I thought of to make the story interesting and blend logically with the background historical setting.

These included details like:

• Big studio bag to conceal the painting he did on the plate.
  
• His leaving a business card to show he was no "balasubas" and that he intended to pay.
  
• The JLUNA signature below the painting.
  
• The snobbish attitude of the Spanish waiter.
  
• Research on the Spanish phrases used in the dialogue.

Another challenge was segueing the Juan Luna story with GSIS controversy which I used as introduction AND THEN relating it back to the controversy towards the end.

I must admit it took me a while to come up with the appropriate message for the conclusion. I thought I really uplifted their spirits on how it is to feel like a proud pinoy. Here's some of the feedback from the group:

Alfred: As usual, it was very enjoyable. The story was very good.
Henry: I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Neil: You mean it was a ficitonal story? Wow, I really thought it was real! It's very good. I've always thought that your best speech was "That Extra Mile". Now, I think this is better! (note: After some alterations, "That Extra Mile" eventually became my contest piece in the 2006 Quartethlon where I became Area 78 Champion.)
Lolet: It captivated me that I just couldn't write the evaluation just yet. I didn't want to miss a single detail. Your gestures, vocal variety to depict the waiter and Juan Luna were excellent! You were so creative for tying a fictional story with these historical events.

Wow, I felt so amply rewarded with their evaluation. I did tell them that I felt like writing a mini-play for this speech project - complete with the dialogue and scenes.

After all the prepared speeches, we had a brief awarding ceremony with Gov. Lolet awarding me with the ACB pin. Gov. Lolet was also happy coz our pictorials now show our club banner. Too bad, Ann couldn't make it last night. We were supposed to discuss a demo meeting for a proposed TM Club over at Cummins.


Here's a part of the group we had last night.


Here's the new pin (bronze) as pinned on my clip. The picture is a bit fuzzy, I know.


See all my Toastmasters Speeches online here!

Flip Turn Re-Attempts

As I got in the pool house today, a staff worker casually remarked: "Nahuli yata kayo ngayon ah." I wasn't so sure what he meant but I just smiled at him to acknowledge his comment.

Maybe they were just accustomed to seeing me there during lunchtime (noon). That was true many weeks ago but then the sun was too glaring and the sessions quickly sucked my sunscreen lotions.

Since the pool was empty when I came in today, I revisited my flip turn. I still can't get over the pain in the sinus feeling. I still feel disoriented as I do the turn, not sure if I'll be facing the right direction when I go upright.

Ah, but as they say, practice makes perfect. And I'm determined to learn the move especially now that I'm doing 100's more frequently. To put some variety, I do flip turns (no walls) going to one end of the pool and then a regular free coming back.

There were 5 college studes today at the pool for a make-up PE class. One girl, her name's Lota, was simply terrified of the water everytime she attempts the backstroke.

She'd always standup up immediately as her ears submerged. Wow, that's a long way to go. But I helped her float, gently supporting her back with my palms. The studes even thanked me as I got out of the pool.

TMC Update
Last night I club-hopped to the Kimberly Club to deliver my 4th Advanced Speech in the Storytelling Manual - The Touching Story. This is another speech where I used props - this time a 100-peso paper bill.

I thought I really got the audience's attention in my intro and was very well received. It was lively but then my real story had to be "touching".

There was no feedback though on the story's analogy with my intro. Hmmmm. I thought the speech was good though and was excited to deliver it. Here's the link to the speech. Today, I finally forwarded the link to all my speeches online to our Club President.

For the evaluation segment, Ma'm Lolet evaluated me while I evaluated Jess's speech on the Martial Arts. Jess' speech was quite entertaining although I was scared he'd hurt himself with his high kicks - quite a flexible guy.

The club's membership seem to dwindle a bit. There were only 5 of us there last night. We had to scrounge a bit to find a vacant room as the company's busy with SAP implementation.

See all my Toastmasters Speeches online here!