Florida Toastmasters beat the lockdown by going online
Florida Toastmasters held their annual speech contest online by using Zoom.
Members from the Florida Toastmasters Club beat the Covid-19 blues by going online to host their annual speech contest.
The meeting, chaired by Victor Chewe, saw 20 attendees who were thoroughly entertained by three speeches touching on how to cope during the national lockdown.
The meeting was made more enjoyable by the skilful handling of the Zoom host, who ensured that all the speakers enjoyed their time in the spotlight. All attendees could not only hear the speech, they could also see the deliverer of said speech.
William Kelly was the first speaker. In his speech, Brave new world, he touched on our present Covid-19 situation, and how it could be compared to The Lord of the Rings and the quest for the ring. He also compared how we react now to reactions during the 9/11 disaster. William reflected that although we lived in an incredibly advanced world, we had been reduced to the Covid-19 disaster, possibly by an infection transferred from a humble pangolin.
Robert de Kramer’s speech, Always enjoy, touched on the fact that the lockdown has taken us back to simpler times of our childhood, where we watched movies from video cassettes and spent time together at family gatherings. He added that we were so much closer then, and that modern times seem to have distanced us.
Douglas Kruger said in speech, Sad little cubbyholes, the Covid-19 lockdown was actually causing us to innovate, to think of what we have to do and how we can do it under the present circumstances. He remembered how he had organised a meeting a few years ago, but the organisers had double-booked him and offered him a large broom cupboard instead! Fortunately, only three people turned up and because they improvised, they had a successful meeting. He believed that this experience had armed him to handle the isolation during lockdown
William won the International Prepared Speech contest and will now advance to the Area S2 contest, while Robert aced second place in the contest.
For information, contact Robert (President) at robertd@nedbank.co.za or on 082 823 1387. Alternately, contact Dawn Hemming (Vice President: Public Relations) at gaildawnh@gmail.com or on 082 330 9215 / 063 736 0282.
