Friday Night at District 86 Fall Conference Promo

Down Time at London Western Toastmasters

This week was a little bit of a down time at London Western Toastmasters, but not in a negative way.   We put business for the most part aside and had a social.   We congregated at a member’s home and a participated pizza potluck party.   The newer members had an opportunity to talk to the more senior members and learn a little about them and how they became a Toastmaster.  It also gave the more senior members a new look at what the membership rosters are going to look like in the years to come.   At the end of the night, I believe our club grew with tighter relationships and a better understanding of what London Western Toastmasters is.  We also had a breath of fresh air and chance to recharge and prepare for the year to come.

What Toastmasters is to Me

I am on my sixth speech from my first manual.   I have been with London Western Toastmasters (www.londonwestern.info) for two years.  When I had joined I was a Software Developer working in the back room with limited access to the general public.  In my employments prior to my current, I had to report in the boardroom on a weekly basis.   I was very awkward during our meetings.

Toastmasters gave me the chance to work through my nerves.  They allowed me to shake and stumble over my words.  They taught me work through my fears and step up.  I am now able to stand with confidence.  I am nowhere close to being perfect, but I am thousand times better.   I think every employer should offer this as a benefit.  I talk to customers and employees with more professionalism and I can walk with confidence.  No more staring at the ground. 

I believe in Toastmasters so much, that I had run for the executive this year.   I am VP of Membership.   I would have never done a speech or taken on such a role before.   Feels amazing knowing that I can do more now.  Toastmasters have really helped me with my communication and leadership skills.

Speech Number Six

Tonight was a big night.   The new executive team got inducted into their positions including myself.   We are all ready to take on the new positions with great enthusiasm and joy.

Tonight was also speech number six for me.   I must have rewritten my speech a dozen times before I actually gave it.   The final rewrite was done in my care on the way to the meeting.   I based my speech on a blog I wrote in my programming site about “How To Be Awesome” (Link to Ref.).   The speech had the focus of what Awesome was to me rather than how to be awesome.   I started with a story from my childhood and brought today.   I shared how my view of being Awesome had changed over time.

During my evaluation, I was said to be off to one side, which showed lack of confidence.  It was partly true, but I was mostly off to the side because I planted myself there while waiting for the podium to be moved.  Either way, there is no excuse for where I was standing.  It was also said that I could have used more adjectives to paint the pictures.

My biggest compliment came from our club founder.  He said my ideas were marketable and that I have come a long way from my first speech.   Imagine, my ideas marketable.  Thanks, that lifted my spirits a lot.  I may have to change some of my career focus.