How to introduce a speaker properly

Moritz in his role as General evaluator gave us some advice at the last meeting on how to introduce a speaker:

How should the toastmaster of the evening introduce a speech:
– speech project number x of x manual
– evaluator reads objectives of the speech project
– introduction to the speech
– title of the speech
– name of the speaker (speaker stands up and comes to the stage)

Look forward to many great meetings with you.

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DINOSAURS IN SPACE

Last Tuesday we truly had an exciting meeting! Only one speech -as I had to cancel mine due to a burden with a tooth which didn’t allow facial expression without pain- but 5 guests! We did not have a single guest during many past meetings which was a real usual situation so that we were very pleased. Sebastian, our table topic master did not miss any opportunity to make our guests talk in front of the audience and in the end, Peter, our guest from England, was table topic winner of the evening with the description of his hilarious movie DINOSAURS IN SPACE. Inspired, Peter signed up immediately for membership. Welcome Peter!!

I also don’t want to miss to share some highlights of past meetings.

On Jan. 19th, Burt bravely jumped in as speaker. And I, being the table topics master that night, called him accidently up on stage. Not nice. Never call up a speaker for table topics! Burt delivered an inspiring speech, as always, about failure.

Here are some inspiring quotes from his speech:

~”There is nothing neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.”
~Shakespeare

~”There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”
~Franklin D. Roosevelt

~”Life is, but thinking makes it so.”
~William Shakespeare

So don’t be afraid of failure! Greatest success often comes after greatest failure in life. Thanks Burt!

On Feb.2nd, our long time member Alfred delivered to our surprise his very last speech right before his 75th birthday. After 14 years of Toastmaster and around 70 speeches, 2 educationals, ATMB and ATMS rewards, he thought it is time to “let it go”. Although we do not agree that a 75th birthday means automatically termination of Toastmaster membership we respect Alfred’s decision to let it go and wish him lots of happiness for the time to come. Christopher was so kind as to give Alfred a good-bye gift from our club at the Ceterum Censeo meeting. As Alfred invited us during summer often to a Barbecue party we gave him some Barbecue goodies to enjoy during the next season.

After all, I must admit that not many members have showed up at the meetings during the past winter months. Was it to cold for them to leave the house?? We still had great and fun meetings but I wish for some more activity and enthusiam from you.

As our past president Petra rightly said: Only together we are strong.

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The core of every speech: our voice

Last meeting, I held my number 6 speech on “Why I became a Toastmaster – The real story behind”. Again, and as always, I was amazed by the amount and variety of feedback I received by my fellow Toastmasters.
I would like to give something back by giving you a short summary of the tips and exercises that I have mentioned during my speech:

  1. Take care: especially during the cold season, it is important to treat your speech equipment well.
    • Drink enough! Mild teas or water at its best. In particular sage is a good “medicine” against a sore or slightly infected throat. Avoid coffee, black tea and alcohol before a speech – although alcohol might relax you.
    • Use pastilles to prevent your throat and mouth from becoming dried out.
    • wear a muffler to protect your throat, especially if it is cold outside.
  2. Warm up: Start the day with some small exercises. (remember: No sportsman starts without warming up. Why should we?)
    • Drink (again)
    • Hum a melody: vary speed, pitch
    • Relax your body and especially facial muscles. Grimace (think of the Maori in New Zealand), stretch out your tongue
    • Yawn several times. This gives you a feeling for the possible “space” inside your mouth
    • But the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth. Now push the back of your tongue out to the front (do not do this in public!) as far as possible. Repeat several times.

  3. Breathing: Use belly breathing!
    • Lie down on your back. Put your hands onto your waist, fingers pointing at your belly button.
    • Breath in and out, deep and slowly. Feel your belly go up and down.
    • Now try to push your hands sideways, only using your breathing.
    • Alternative: Put a staple of books – not too many! – onto your belly. Now do some weight-lifting…

  4. Work on your articulation
    • Classic: put a finger or cork between your teeth. Now read out some paragraphs of a book or speak “freely”. Well, as free as you can.
    • Jaw breakers: Focus on the articulation, not the speed! I found two tough ones (at least for me) at Wikipedia:
      • “The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.
      • “The seething sea ceaseth and thus the seething sea sufficeth us.”

If you know more helpful tips, do not hesitate to post them as a comment.

Merry X-Mas and happy exercising!
Or as the Sole Splendid Speaker would say:

“SPEAK, SPEAK, SPEAK”

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