On Thursday, 2 July the West Rand Toastmasters Club held another online meeting which was attended by four Club members, one visitor and four guests. The theme for the evening was ‘Storytelling’ and the word of the day was ‘flabbergasted’, which was used several times during the meeting.
Lynnette Harris, the Club’s Immediate Past President took on the role of Toastmaster of the Evening, while Club President Thato Majela handled all the formalities before the speeches commenced. Due to the small number of attendees, there was only one prepared speech, which was delivered by the guest of the evening, Lesego Nhlapo from Soweto Positive Speakers. Her speech, entitled ‘Coaching Noxy’, was for her Level 4 Pathways – Effective Coaching Improvement through Positive Coaching skills programme, and was evaluated by Michael Glencross.
She spoke about icebreakers, which are really an introduction to the speaker’s first speech, and told the attendees about the new member at the Club, a technophobic, she had coached by identifying the speaker’s strengths and congratulated her on going forward. Lesego said, “While the speaker was working online, she was interrupted by her son who pushed her aside and the speaker merely continued with her speech. This showed professionalism. I guided her on her voice variation which is essential for online speaking. I was so proud when she won the Best Speaker Award.”
Lesego concluded with the observation that members do not always want to speak online because they do not have the data or because the area is experiencing connection issues. Lynnette took on the role of Table Topics Chair. She started with a story and each guest or member she called on had to complete the story. Due to poor connection Lynnette changed Table Topics and asked speakers to speak on one word or several words.
Thato’s words were ‘coffee creamer’ and he said that he discovered that he had no coffee creamer at work, and while searching for the culprit who took his coffee creamer, he realised he had left it at home. Glen Campbell’s word was ‘sheet’ and she shared a story about making her bed at the age of nine at boarding school using hospital corners. She concluded by saying, “Whoever invented the duvet with a duvet cover should be hung, drawn and quartered as this is an extremely difficult task for me”.
Felicia, another guest, was given the words ‘red wine glass’. She said because she has worked in the hospitality industry she resonated well with the red wine glass. “One day the waiters were setting up for a function and used a red wine glass instead of a flute glass, and I immediately recognised this error.”
Tiffany Lee, the Club’s Vice President: Education was given the words ‘picture frame’, talked about her degree certificate that needed to be framed. She also talked about her hobby, micro photography, and said she would like to frame these pictures and also pictures of her pet animals.
Lesego was given the words ‘power cord’, and she said that she argues with her partner when he leaves the power cords out instead of putting them back. She concluded that power cords are convenient when placed in one position and they should all be mounted on the walls for convenience.
Temsie Beyta was given the words ‘pot plant’, and she said she liked to have pot plants because she can talk to them, and concluded, “If I don’t talk to them the leaves close. Pot plants show if there is happiness in the house.”Thato closed the meeting, and reminded everyone that the next one will be on Thursday, 16 July.
For more information contact Glen on 073 538 9560 or send and email to glencampbell@telkomsa.net.
