FW: Convivial conclusion

Hi all, the last RT ‘meeting’ of the year was held last nite at Robbie’s Rangiora.  A large percentage of our members surrounded the round table in the Snug for convivial conversation – a relaxed and pleasant conclusion to a good year for our club.

The consensus was that we should ease our way back into t/ms in the same fashion on the 8^th of Jan 08 – so if you should be about then be there from 7.30pm.

15^th Jan we will be back at the RHS library for a informal fun toastmaster-y sort of evening then on the 22^nd we’ll be getting back into the normal program.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, Tim

FW: 2007's last formal t/m meeting

Hi all,  a balmy evening in a denuded library would  describe the scene of the last Rangiora Toastmasters meeting  for 2007.  The air was toastie and the library had been stripped out for a repaint over the holidays. A jovial meeting in a huge empty hall, strange but fun.

Norma was MC and had organized things to perfection – and made things run perfectly as well – great bridging.  Erika delivered her practice 10^th speech on Christmas in Switzerland – they get two shots at it over there apparently – the 6^th and the 25^th of December!  Her real full on #10 CTM speech will be delivered early in the new year. Doug revealed his latent local body politician persona by leading a lively discussion on the merits of the Rangiora pool options.  Oh yes – I can sense that we will be hearing more on this subject.  We had a good dose of time available for table topics and so just about everyone present had a go.  Good to see Pam, Brian and Michelle back and so keen to get into TT’s – absence makes the heart grow fonder obviously and they used their allotted times with relish.  Even new – about to be member, Ray - really got into it tonite.  Can see some valuable contributions to the club coming from him some time soon.  Kev was GE but has escaped being TM next week – he’ll no doubt do the honours early in 08.  Club goal for next year – at least 1 education every fortnight.  Next Tuesday?  7.30pm at Robbies, Rangiora, we’ll have a few drinks, dissect the year gone and maybe chat about the one coming.  Hope to see you then, Tim.

FW: Tuesday 27th Nov review

Hullo Fellow Toastmasters   

8 keen Toasties turned out in bucketing rain for a night of scintillating debate.   Where would we be without Dave who so capably organised and guided us through the evening.   Debating is a fairly new experience for some of us so it was really educational. 

After drawing lots Bev, a debater of long experience, adjudicated with Dave as Chairman and the subject was "That schooldays are the best days of our lives." 

Kevin, as leader of the Affirmative team, defined the subject well, (don't know what school he went to but evidentally they were extremely well fed there), Erika (2nd affirmative) had to RUN home through those Swiss hills during her schooldays, during which she met lifelong friends, while Patricia  (3rd affirmative) was privately educated by some wonderful nuns.   It all sounded pretty idyllic. 

A different picture was painted by the Negative team led by Tim, who fired many salvos at the opposition, stating that schooldays were miserable days, endorsed by 2nd negative Norma, who had her fingers squashed in her crayon tin by Terrible Terry on her first day, then Corran, (3rd negative) who was bullied and brainwashed.

The speakers were expertly evaluated in the usual Toastmaster style by Dave and Bev and this proved really useful.   We were all winners on the night!

December 4th looks to be another interesting evening with good speakers so hopefully we'll have a good turnout.

Cheers, Norma

 

FW: Tuesday review

Hi all, Toastmaster Doug ran the show tonite with typically suave aplomb – he even ran a mini educational (or should I say informational?) about club member mentoring – do remember to contact him if you would like to have some such assistance.  Cayenne Corran tried to convince us to give up having nose bleeds by quaffing doses of pepper – his speech was hugely more entertaining than swallowing his suggested cure!  Bev had us teetering on the edges of our seats as she slipped from her harness backwards over the abyss – a most heart hammering but ultimately enjoyable experience for us all.  Michelle revealed her caring nature in table topics – sadly some of us couldn’t raise ourselves above the flippant to match – but most actually did and we were duly inspired.   Dave dumped his scheduled ‘day in history’ slot in favour of ‘jokester’ which had us amused (and bemused).  First time toastie Olivia delivered the timers report like a seasoned campaigner – wow!  Bryan was Mr GE tonite and didn’t put the boot in too much – he’s feeling relaxed as he and Michelle head away for a few weeks in the sun – enjoy, we look forward to seeing you back.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Next week we will depart from normal programming and have a club debate.  These are truly the best of nites – heaps of fun, laughs – and challenges!!  Don’t miss it for the world.

I’m really pleased to report that our Gerry is well on the mend and is already back to pounding the pavements (without over doing it – yet!)  Looking forward to him returning for some of his famous perspicacious participation.

Sunday 9^th December is Santa parade day – engrave this date into you work desk – and this year we will hold a bbq afterwards.

 

FW: An educational bonanza!!!!!

 

Hi all, what a night!! (Meeting No. 673, 6 Nov 2007)

 

Kicked off with transferring Toastie from the white wine capital of the South Island Patricia as Sergeant at Arms, warming the floor for Tim R our ever exuberant Toastie as Toastmaster for the evening, who went on to multi task as Grammarian who gave me a word I will never forget yet alone remember (If that makes an sense).

 

Norma came to floor full of trepidation as the Jokester but needn't have worried as handled role "printsly". Brian toasted toastmasters something I am sure we can all relate to.

 

Doug was here and there and everywhere performing his Educational on Body Language, I don't think I have seen so much body language from Doug in the entire time I have known him at Toasties and would encourage him to take on more Educationals as seemed to be a great learning experience for him.

 

Dave us a moral story about sticks and stones with a little twist at the end that saw a chappie get a thrashing he deserved who ended up being the victim and the person who dished it out was the villain. I had a little brother too!!

 

Erica gave us some good old Kiwi sayings to explain and in the process gave a wonderful educational and insight on how Table Topics can be applied to our everyday lives.

 

Tim R on "Dog Tucka" related to his life experiences towards the end of the 1st world war, back in the days when old sheep went in retirement villages. I didn't know we had a centurion in the club, I think we need to rename him Tim Eveready as he just keeps going and going and going, I hope I have half his energy at fifty yet alone a hundred. If you're out there Tim could you bring in the Telegram from the Queen next week as I have never seen one.

 

Norma took time to use her topic to embrace all that is Kiwi, Ellie got her perfect topic "She'll be right" as this methodology defines Ellie, the calming influence when things don't go quite to plan. Neil talked about his friend Jack who is apparently "One out of the Box". Our bright new member Ollivier showed she had an appetite for Table Topics and in fact literally "Pigged out" on her topic.

 

Elli gave an excellent Educational on getting our A into G with our Competent Leader manual and did it in a Joe Seager style that made it easi pesi,

I,m sure there are a few boxes I should have ticked in mine but haven't. What about you?

 

Patricia gave a very insightful evaluation of Table Topics and made some excellent observations.

 

Dave gave as a mini educational as part of his timers report, but believe Dave needs to appreciate time does not stand still when he takes the stage as believe he was well over his allotted two minutes!!

 

General evaluators Michelle and Neil gave a joint rap of the evening, my only disappointment is they will not be Toastmaster next week, as have never seen a night with joint toastmasters. However every cloud has a silver lining and am looking forward to this pleasurable role next week.

 

I look forward to your company next week.  Regards, Doug

 

P.S Could some one email me a phone list!!!

FW: Kev provides the goods - Toasties meeting review

Hi all, Kev did the honours with a well paced and planned Tuesday nite treat. Spkr#1: Neil took us out to the streams where the trout out feeding and gave us an interesting biology lesson on what’s going on.  Spkr#2: Bev (tonites Hooter award) trotted out her unused humorous speech on diesel pumps and rental vans – a classic and a ‘must enter’ for the next competition round.  Both were well intro’d and eval’d with outstanding performances by Norma and Michelle.

Ellie beguiled us with promises of choc if we performed well during TT’s – and it worked – an excellent session marred only by the overlooking of her Dave – he still got his share of choc though so the story ends ok!  Loved the vote at the end – permanent fixture?? Please!.

See you all next week when I am T/M – a couple of great educationals in the offing so don’t miss it!  Tim

 

FW: A Toast at Toasties

Hi all, Pam did the honours last nite and served up a splendid meeting to come out to.  1^st speaker Michelle motivated me to hook into a few spoonfuls of magnesium with my weetbix this morning (didn’t realise that eating my car’s wheel could be so good for me??!!) – a competent and clever use of ‘power point’ to support her message – a very slick presentation.  2^nd up was Dave with his moral yarn of a crack(ed)pot – you may drip but flowers will result – very proficiently and convincingly told.  Bryan had us in stitches with his table topics amusement park challenges – memorable moment will be a rocket powered Corran shooting across the floor.

A well deserved toast was drunk to Norma for her CC achievement – her CC-B manuals were presented at the same time – so much more entertainment from this source soon folks!

Kev is T/M next week with a couple of fine speakers programmed and an educational from our Doug – don’t miss it!

Tim (H) is taking a break for a while as he works on his over-scheduled schedule – all the best Tim and we look forward to your return in the new year.  Great to hear that our Gerry is safely back from the plumbers – 4 new pipes in his heart and he’s home already – amazing!

Regards Tim

FW: Tuesday's Speech- Fest - what a Feast!!

FIVE (!!!) brilliant speeches kept an appreciative audience on the edges of their seats tonite!

Bev told us of Washpen Creek reserve up by the Rakaia River Gorge – an obviously ‘must do’ place to visit – ‘obviously’ because Bev ably supported her speech with competent use of a power point slide show to illustrate the fact.  Corran took us back in time to those great days of steam – the ‘Fell’ steam engines to be precise hauling their heavy trains up the mountainous slopes of the Rimutuka’s – very well described (and acted!!). Erika inspired us to get out there, paint a few placards and get protesting, well actually to consider just how much benefit there has been to our society thanks to the efforts of those who have the courage or conviction to speak up.  Kevin told us of the family holiday to the deep south – what a jolly, sing along time they all had in their car packed with not a cc to spare – great memories being created here.  Great memories from Pam too – though from a much more challenging occasion – down grade 5 rapids in the Rangitata without a paddle – or a boat!!  Thank God she made it out alive – just – this speech wouldn’t have worked posthumously!

Our GE Bryan didn’t have too much to do tonite but did a bonny job of what he did anyway.  No Hooter tonite – Neil has it under repair.  

Dave gave us a heads up on the CL manual – looking forward to an Educational on this in a couple of weeks.

All the best Gerry, we’ll all be thinking of you over the next few days while you’re in hospital and are looking forward to seeing you fit and well on your return.

See you all next week, Tim   

FW: Ripping into it

Greetings, we started our 9th Oct session with toastmaster Neil seamlessly multi tasking as Sgt, and then after TimH introduced him Bryan gave us a ripping yarn which was no rip off but a great home improvement story. Erika introduced Doug's treatise on social engineering, the trouble Doug it was to simple for any Government to grasp, no matter the strength of your logic - and research.

TT Master Dave ensured that the cliché "If you want to get ahead get a hat" came true when he introduced us to numerous head garments.

Michelle's entry and exit was swift but she did mention wearing bikini. Ellie the McJamaican - as near as speechless as I've seen and heard, but she enjoyed it. But that accent! There followed a strangely posturing Corran, a Corran seen in a new light. Bev was a rootin tootin show time gal but the pedigree beast had disappeared.  I was impressed by Kevin's deep and utter knowledge of  Builder Bob [I go back to the days of the Magic Roundabout]. I think I satisfactorily marketed climate change. Toothy TimR's millinery [not hattery] was strangely reminiscent of another Tim - Tim the concrete… 

Corran's bard took us back to the good old days and brought us up to date all within the space of four minutes. 

Oh I almost forgot Richard Moffat spent a few minutes exhorting us to attend the Division G Speech Contests, and I too encourage particularly newer members to take half a day off on Saturday 13th October to hear the best speakers in our neck of the woods. 

And so endeth another best night of the week. 

Regards to all, Gerry 

Rangiora Toastmasters Club - details

Hi, Club details for those who may be looking to visit us…

Club meets every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm through till about 9pm (with a supper break)

Rangiora High School Library, access through Gate 1 from East Belt, Rangiora. (Go through the gate and walk up to the quadrangle area – you will see the School’s Library on the right – come on in for a warm welcome!)

You are very welcome to attend a few of our meetings (free) to see if Toastmasters is for you.  Don’t worry, we will not make you do anything or embarrass you – it’s a big step to walk through that door but all our members agree that it is one of the best steps they ever took!

Have a look at some of our weekly meeting reviews posted to this site for some idea of what goes on.  You can click the link on the left of the screen to take you to our website for more details of the club.  Please give one of the following members a call and discuss Toastmasters with them – any of them will be very happy to talk to you about our club.

Michelle 03 310 7873

Tim 03 313 3304

Dave 03 312 2219

Gerry 03 314 9376

 

FW: In the Groove

 

 

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Groovy [adjective] - informal, dated or humorous. Fashionable and exciting [e.g. a groovy new haircut - or a groovy toastmasters meeting]

Or Programming language a dynamic language to use alongside Java. [I thought Java was a place].

 

Tuesday 2nd October

 

Norma got the show on the road, with some family matters, and Ellie took over in usual Ellie fashion.

Grammarian Pam put us in the groove.

 

Corran filled us in on what he didn't know about Tim [join the club] - and Tim's macabre story of using Play Dough for heart surgery did nothing for my dickey ticker. However he embraced [metaphorically speaking] Guy Fawkes and used such words as forensic anthropology, arcane and gunpowder. All up to the expected standard.

 

Doug's Table Topics gave me my expected writing award, recognised Norma as a blood donor, Corran was awarded something but it seemed to a little insanitary. Tim as we would expect became Mayor, and Pam [also no surprise] businesswoman of the year.

Bard TimH sprang us into Spring with Garden talk - very appropriate I really must go out rake my sand.

 

Two newcomers to Impromptu entertained after the choccy biks. Pam drove through Brisbane - I think reluctantly, and Supergran Norma was just that - a groovy gran.

 

And so after the usual evaluations another toasty meeting sinks with the setting sun to below the horizon to become just a memory.

 

 Regards

Gerry

FW: Toastmasters - Incorrigible Corran Conducts

Hi Guys, a quick review of tonites fine meeting of North Canterbury’s FINEST Toastmasters Club!!!

Corran did the conducting honours and he did a bright chirpy enthusiastic job of it too – Very well set out program too old chap!  Two amazing speeches were delivered for our edification and entertainment.  Erika took us back to post WW2 Switzerland for a fascinating look at the life and times – more please!!   Dave then provided us with an equally fascinating history lesson on the Korean conflict – extremely well supported with simple and clear maps of the general action that took place, top marks!  It’s great to go along to Toasties, be highly entertained but also come away more knowledgeable of our world.

Michelle, our grammarian encouraged some humility but I don’t know that we saw too much displayed!  Tim H got us selling food products as on the spot advertisers during table topics – a barrel of laughs - weren’t we all feeling a bit peckish by the time we got to supper??!!  Doug delivered the dissection – in the nicest possible way.

A stunning Toast was delivered by Pam celebrating her daughter’s acceptance into the Navy – I can foresee a very amusing speech to follow some time soon.

Normal high standard of evaluations by Norma and Ellie while Bryan had to cope with a lectern that developed a mind of its own – you had to be there!

Looking forward to seeing our Gerry back next week after his Japanese jaunt and Korean carousal.

Ellie’s running the show next week – don’t miss it!  Tim

FW: Tuesday 11th September

Hi Guys

Half Yearly Dues

Just a reminder of the urgency in getting our half-yearly dues to Neil by next Tuesday. In terms of Toastmasters we need to have the money transferred to the USA by Sept 20th, so our time frame is tight. Your assistance in meeting the deadline would be most appreciated.

Dave

 

Tuesday Night 11/09/07

A milestone for Norma

Norma celebrated her 10^th speech and has achieved her Competent Communicator Award. Congratulations on a top effort. It always seems to be a fantastic achievement when you reach the milestones in Toastmasters and we as a club acknowledge the hard work it takes to get there. Norma’s speech was an inspirational look at volunteering through the "Meals on Wheels" service. Way to go Norma.

Through the years of music with Tim

Tim Hawke took us on another journey, through time. Using the medium of music, we had a whirlwind tour of the last 130 years or so. (Not long if you say it fast.) From the early cylinders of the gramophone to the sounds bytes of today, where no physical object, other than a computer, is needed, we have made a lot of progress in the technology.

Tim Rickard led us in an eclectic series of topics in Table Topics. Nearly all of us had a turn and the variety of answers/mini speeches was a lot of fun.

Area Contest results.

To catch up those who weren’t there on Tuesday, Ellie was placed 3^rd in the Table topics Contest and I too was placed 3^rd in the Humorous Contest. The standard was very high and the winners deserving.

Reminder re forward planning of tasks and speeches

Keep looking at the long-term plan and the shorter, 6 week, one, to see when you have tasks allocated at Toastmasters. If you are not able to attend, then try to arrange a swap with another member and if that’s not possible let me know as some people are now doing. Thank you.

Have a good week.

Dave (standing in for Gerry tonight)

Top Tuesday Toastie Time

Thanks for coming tonight all, it was a really great meeting and I certainly enjoyed it - hopefully our VP Publicity Gerry will sort the gremlins in his computer and post his weekly review here as well as to the email list. Welcome to our 2 newest contributors Ellie and Norma - looking forward to seeing contributions from you too.

Not the 'Last Post' - the 'First Post!'

Hi everyone and welcome to Rangiora Toastmasters new blog. To those of you out in the world who don't know who, what or where we are here's some general info...

We're a Toastmasters Club in the town of Rangiora which is about 25km from trhe city of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand.

We hold a Toastmasters meeting every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm until about 9pm in the Rangiora High School Library, (Gate 1) East Belt, Rangiora.

The meetings are open for anyone who has an interest in improving their public speaking and leadership skills (while having a bit of fun and a lot of laughs doing so!) - you are very welcome to come along and check us out.

We intend to post club news, things that are happening, club meeting reviews and probably lots of other things as we get into doing this.