‘Attitude’ was the theme on 18 October, when the Florida Toastmasters motivated those around them with positive words. President Tim Knights welcomed guests with his usual positive energy. He was followed up by Toastmaster Kevin Loader who opened the meeting with a famous quote from Winston Churchill:
“ ‘Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference’. It’s also something that is easy to neglect,” cautioned Kevin.
Tim provided the members with some exciting feedback about the Toastmasters’ conference (Emoticon) which he attended at Alpine Heath in the Drakensberg from 13 to 16 October.
Next, Yousef Tilly’s speech, entitled “The legend of La Gorda” took fellow toastmasters on a journey to one of the most popular places in the historical centre of a city, where a statue of a very scantily clad woman with little to cover her incomparable curves had been erected.
“She seems to have had little shame,” he said, “and is better known as Gertrudis (the fat). She has become a beloved figure in the town of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. Everyone who passes by stops to admire her, particularly in this age of digital cameras.” He concluded his speech with the words “Instead of blundering through life and looking for the guru on the mountain, look for the spirit that lives within you.”
Yousef later came down with a sudden attack of severe verbal diarrhoea, challenging Craig Ellis’ persuasive sales skills. Craig, a sales junkie, gets high on the thrill of the deal and thrives on the puzzle-like challenge of discovering his customer’s needs.
In Tim Knights’ speech “Conversing with ease”, fellow toastmasters learnt how having a conversation is a mutual experience. Elize Ellis joined him to demonstrate how to introduce yourself and shake hands. He went on to say:
“Asking a person about him/herself gives that person an opportunity to help the conversation get going. Keep it going by asking open questions that require more than a “Yes/No” answer. Add some humour, because laughing together builds trust. A gentle smile will instantly make the prospect of talking to you more appealing.”
The Table Topics session was presented by Tebogo Legodi.
Michael Glencross had this to say: “Do you love your kitty to the moon and back? Your cat’s preferences and attitude are as individual as you are. I would like to be a cat because I would be the prince of the house, and since cats are actually rather social I would enjoy getting lots of love and petting on the couch”.
If Jakkie Müller were a car, he would be a Hilux it has more muscle and a no-nonsense attitude. No terrain would ever be tough enough to stop him from reaching his goal.
If Ann Ligman were a country she would be Turkey, with its Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and mild, humid winters. She would enjoy being surrounded by rich valleys and alluvial plains as well as rolling green hills and mountains.
The Trophy for the Best Prepared Speech was awarded to Tim Knights. Barry Nelson and Elize Ellis shared the Trophy for Best Speech Evaluator, while Ann Ligman was awarded the Trophy for the Best Impromptu Speech.
Tim Knights, on behalf of District S 74, presented Dawn Hemming with a certificate recognising the Florida Club for achieving the President’s Distinguished Club 2015–2016 Toastmasters Year and the Club Leadership Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year.
If you want to change your life and overcome your fear of public speaking, take action! Join the Toastmasters for a life changing experience every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Huguenot Restaurant, near Entrance 1 of the Flora Centre, located on the corner of Conrad Street and Ontdekkers Road, Florida Park. Fear fades in an environment of this kind.
For information about the club meeting, contact Paul Muller on 082 929 7981 or via e-mail to paulthomasmuller@gmail.com. Alternately, contact Tim Knights (the club president) via e-mail to timknights@telkomsa.net or call 082 894 7542
For more details about the club’s activities, visit its website at https://florida.tmclub.co.za.
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