Werribee TM came first in three out of four contests in area level

Yesterday I went to the area contest, to support the members of  Werribee Toastmasters who are participating at the second level of the competition. I was quite happy to see, close to half of the active Werribee Toastmasters at the Geelong Area Contest. It was a great opportunity for our members to contest in area level with other Toastmasters clubs in the Area. I was very glad to be there and listen to a very talented bunch of Toastmasters from the area.

Werribee came first on three out of four contests

Humorous Speech Contest - Venky S.

Table Topics Speech Contest - Greg H.

International Speech Contest - Venky S.

I'm proud of all our contest participants (Venky S, Wendy P, Julie W, Carol M, David G) and our members who were doing official roles and helping the event to be a success. Our Area director Debbie Horoba did an excellent job to make the event a success.

Udana A.

President 

Werribee Toastmasters Inc

Meeting No.787 'Pathways Presentation'

A truncated but interesting meeting this week due to Paul and Liz giving us a second presentation on Pathways. the new personal training direction of Toastmasters.
Our Toastmaster for the evening Julie W summed it up beautifully in her closing segment by saying (and I’m paraphrasing here) “we are all resistant to change but change is inevitable. The Pathways program delivers lots more individual choice and opportunity, but it will take time for us to absorb and appreciate. In ten years’ time, we will be saying ‘how ever did we manage with the old manual/catalogue system”.
Words of wisdom Julie and thank you for summarising the Pathways challenge so concisely.

Two Speakers only this week and both Speakers giving their Icebreaker speeches.
Although it may be said that the Icebreaker is the toughest speech (because it is the First) I sometimes think it is the easiest because, because essentially it is about our life ie; where and when we were born, how we transitioned through life and what our aspirations are.

Stuart and Heman both exhibited confidence in delivering their Icebreakers and both were effectively evaluated by Wendy P and David G .  Both Evaluators delivered well earnt praise as well as in sight-full advice for future improvement.
Congratulations to Stuart and Heman for taking an important first step in your Toastmasters journey. You should both feel well pleased on your performances. Good luck for the future.

We welcomed four guests Tayla H, her mother Angela H, Jinal M, Arun J as well as Hirav P a previous Guest and who signed-up for membership. Hirav was accompanied by his father (sorry I did not get his name) who is visiting from India. Congratulations Hirav for taking that important first step in transitioning from Guest to new member.

To our Guests for the night, can I suggest that you attend our next meeting (1St November) in order to get a truer experience of what Werribee Toastmasters has to offer.
I think it fair to say that the attendance level on Wednesday was an indication of the strength and functionability of Werribee Toastmasters. We look forward to your future involvement and the opportunity to help you progress in public speaking and personal confidence levels.

Toastmaster Julie commenced the meeting by asking us to consider a single but beautiful yellow rose which she brought to the meeting. I must admit to being non-plussed as to the significance of this item. At the conclusion of the meeting Julie explained the personal significance of the rose in relation to her and her mother’s recent life journey. Wendy P also advised that the rose was indeed a Freedom Rose that has meaningful connections to the end of WW2.
It’s amazing, but not surprising, the stories that one simple but beautiful rose can evoke, Thank you Julie and Wendy.

In summary, a well-attended meeting, but one that diversified from our normal meetings.

Paul von Harder
VP Membership

“Werribee Toastmasters is not a destination, it is a journey to be enjoyed”



Three events to diarise:

1) The Area Speech Contest
Sunday 28 October
Holy Spirit Hall
Cnr Narmbool St & Bostock Avenue
Manifold Heights, Vic 3215
10am – 3.00 pm (followed by the Area Council Meeting)
Lunch options:
$5 per person share in a subway platter, confirmation payment on arrival for delivery
BYO Lunch or there are a few takeaway venues in area. 

2) Our end of year Club BBQ
Held Sat 9th December at Daniel’s home

3) An all-important Bunnings Sausage Sizzle fund raiser to be held at Bunnings Warehouse, Cherry Street, Werribee on Sunday 10th December.
All members are asked to help-out for at least a couple of hours. It’s fun, easy and of course financially rewarding to our Club revenue. The day will commence at 8.00am and conclude at 4.00 pm.
Please contact Paul von Harder to advise your availability (Email and Phone number can be found on Meeting Agenda printouts.)

May Wilson's Toastmaster Journey 1994 to 2017

I am a very shy person. In early 1994 Debbie (my daughter) asked me what I would like to do with my life. To which I replied, that I would like to do something in public speaking. Debbie nodded and said "Leave it with me." A few days later she returned with a contact number for me to ring. The first Toastmaster I spoke to was Lorraine Margerison from Werribee toastmasters. Lorraine gave me the meeting evenings, times and the length of the meetings, and where they were held. She encouraged me to attend the next meeting.

April 1994 was the first meeting I attended it was held at the Werribee Community Aged Care Home (Old Werribee Hospital) in Synnot Street Werribee. This was an interesting venue, we were sometimes visited by the elderly residents who would wander in and then leave after a while. Bruce Bedson evaluated my Icebreaker. Bruce calmed my fears, I was sure my terror was obvious during the speech, but Bruce said no. The club was supportive and very friendly; I gained confidence as I worked through my 1st 10 speeches. I was overawed when I achieved my 1st Competent Toastmaster. I would never have believed that I could do such a thing. My elation was increased some weeks later when I received a Competent Toastmaster Certificate from America. I had never achieved a certificate for anything in my life. In 1996 I was VPE then in 1997 I became President. In 1997 I was Area Governor for N3, for which I received a District Gold Elite Award for Leadership and Administration.

May Wilson induction, 2nd Feb 1994, Meeting 158

In about February 1997 Tom Boon asked me if I would be the Semi-annual Convention Chairman to be held in the August. With absolutely no experience in this field I lead an executive made up of members from Werribee, Williamstown and Footscray Skyline. 'Flying High' semi annual convention was held at Tullamarine airport in the Hotel that is there. The flying theme was carried right through the weekend. Ross Whittingham Chaired the Table topics as flight steward. We needed a key note speaker, someone suggested Suzy Maroney a marathon swimmer who had a swim school in North Footscray. I rang Suzy and asked her if she would be our keynote speaker, we discussed her charges for being our speaker, (Suzy could charge a large amount of money at this time). I explained the non profit status of Toastmasters and she agreed to get back to me. Suzy rang me a few days later and agreed to speak at the convention for $500. I was over the moon. Suzy was perfect she left the audience wanting more and feeling inspired. Just what we needed in a keynote speaker. The Convention was a great success. In 1998 Wendy Powell who was working at Footscray Council discovered a pamphlet about the hotel that was proposed to be built as part of the Werribee Mansion and was due to open early in 2001. A wonderful place for a Semi Annual Convention. A great idea was born. I made an offer to hold the Semi annual in Werribee at the Lilydale convention late in 1998 and a video promotion at the South Australian convention followed in early 1999. The building of the hotel still had not begun, although by the end of 1999 the building had begun. And still Toastmasters still did not about any of this.

Once again I was Chairman of the convention committee. Wendy and I kept the committee informed of the building progress and things were going very well. A booking was duly made.

The hotel was about 6 weeks old when the Convention was held in August it had opened in mid June. When May stood up and told the story when welcoming toastmasters to the Werribee convention on the Friday night, an audible gasp swept across the audience. Werribee members ran every aspect of the convention and excelled themselves. Every member grew in confidence that weekend. I was very proud to be a Werribee Toastmaster. Ross Whittingham who had achieved DTM in early 1999 suggested I apply for my DTM as I had completed all the requirements. I duly applied and was awarded my DTM in April 1999.

October, 2017

During my journey I was involved in the sponsoring and mentoring of 3 new Toastmaster clubs Williamstown North, Melbourne and Filoz. Both North Melbourne and Williamstown are still working, unfortunately Filoz closed in 2007. I am very proud of my Toastmaster achievements. Wendy tells me that I can now talk under water though I still feel shy, I now have the confidence to speak out when needed. I enjoy working with the students at Westbourne Grammar which has been running for 19 years and Seaholme Primary which has been running since 2000. I thank Toastmasters for taking me on this wonderful journey and the wonderful toastmasters I have met and worked with on the way.

May Wilson, DTM

October, 2017

 

Meeting No.786 'Books'

Now the club has finished all contests for the year and found our champions to represent us at area level at the end of the month, We went back to “normal” on meeting 786 to our full on educational program.
Although we had a few apologies, other members readily stepped up to cover for the roles left vacant by the absentees.
Our heartfelt thanks go to these members for taking up a role at a moment’s notice: Chih D., Meeting Toastmaster; Carol M., Sargent-at-arms, Word of the Day/Grammarian y Ah-counter (and this on top of her scheduled role as Table Topics Master!); Udana A., speaker; Patti K., timer and speech evaluator, Daniel I., evaluator.
Peter K. chaired the Business Session. Although it was his first time, he carried out the job with aplomb and efficiency. He gave a warm welcome to our guests for the evening, Afrasa and Ash.
The theme of the meeting was Books, and the quote of the week in the program was by Frank Zappa: “So many books, so little time.” I’m sure that Frank made this statement thinking of me!
With this theme, our affable Topic Master, Carol M. had all questions on books. Respondents were Stuart C., Heman A, and guests Afrasa and Ash. Best Table Topic for the night went to our guest Ash, who out-staged all other contestants with his description of the joy he feels when going to the library.
The Topics were ably evaluated by Julie W., who not only praised the respondents for their efforts and their good qualities but also managed to give them good feedback on how to go even better.

President inducting new members

After the tea break, the meeting resumed, and the first item was the induction of three new members: Stuart C., Heman A, and Patti K. Patti is an advanced toastmaster — ACB, ALB — who transferred her membership from District 69. Welcome to Werribee Toastmasters Stuart C., Heman A, and Patti K. We wish you lots of improvement and we look forward to your contributions to our club.
After the inductions, we had two powerful speeches.
Greg H., with humour and panache, gave his Icebreaker about his life in the Army, his role as a civilian contractor and why his mates knew him as Red.
Udana A., now approaching his CC accomplishment, gave a powerful speech on why all members should “subscribe” to the club’s website in order to receive news and other important relevant information.
Because we had only two speakers, no vote was taken on Best Speaker for the night.
The speeches were evaluated respectively by Daniel I. and Patti K. Both acknowledged the strong points present in the speakers’ present ability and also offered them information on how to advance another notch.
We did have a vote for the best evaluator, as we had three. This evening the best evaluator was Patti K. Congratulations Patti!
Daniel I., harkmaster; Carol M., grammarian, word of the day, and ah-counter; and Patti K., timer presented their reports efficiently and ably.
Finally, Immediate Past-President Elena M. presented the General Evaluation. Thank you, Elena, for reminding me I need to smile more. The highlight of Elena’s general evaluation was her comparing the lectern to the Olympic Torch. The Olympic Torch must be attended at all times. When the Torch-bearer relays the torch to another member, he or she is handing all the symbolic power of the Torch to the next person. And so is with the lectern. The lectern is the symbol of who is in charge of the meeting. And when a speaker needs to leave the speaking area, they need to hand control to the next person. The best way to do this is with a powerful handshake.
Thank you, Elena, for reminding us of this important aspect of the meeting, and your wonderful analogy with the Olympic Torch.
Before breaking up, we were reminded that we have a one-hour training session about the new Pathways program scheduled for next meeting on 18 October. Unfortunately, District has not been able to confirm the date yet. So, all members need to be prepared for a different meeting, with over half of it spent on training for Pathways.

Five Presidents, Udana 2017; Wendy 2000, 2011, 2012; Elena 2016; May 1996, 2005, 2006; Daniel 2014