January is when we set our new goals for the year ahead, and improving our public speaking and leadership skills should be on everyone’s list. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons our resolutions fail so quickly is procrastination – so don’t hesitate!
If you’re a guest, book your attendance at our first meeting of the year (next Monday) on Eventbrite or Meetup and get 2021 off to a new, exciting start with Bloomsbury Speakers. If you’re already a member, book your first speech or role of the year on ToastmasterClub.org.
We’re really looking forward to welcoming lots of new and familiar faces to the club this month.
What’s in this newsletter?
- International Speech and Evaluation contests – Monday, 8th February
- Puzzled by Pathways?
- Club social
- Next meetings
- And finally…
International Speech and Evaluation contests – Monday, 8th February
Spring contest season is arriving early again this year. On Monday, 8th February we’ll be holding our club round of the annual International Speech and Evaluation contests.
The Evaluation contest is open to all paid members of the club and involves each contestant giving their own 2-3 minute evaluation of the same speech.
The prestigious International Speech contest, where contestants give a 5-7 minute prepared speech on any subject, is open to paid members who have completed the first two levels in their chosen Pathways educational path (or at least six speeches in the legacy programme).
Will last year’s winners, Mara and Helen, retain their crowns? Or do you have what it takes to dethrone them? It’s only five weeks away, so sign up on ToastmasterClub.org to book your place now!
The winners of each contest will go on to represent Bloomsbury Speakers in the next round against the champions of the other clubs in our area of London – with the International Speech contest eventually culminating in the overall winner being crowned World Champion of Public Speaking.
For inspiration, why not check out the recording of last year’s World Champion, Mike Carr, on the international virtual stage?
The whole of last year’s final is also available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9edim8P4TnY.
Puzzled by Pathways?
In last month’s newsletter, we reminded you that Level 1 in our Pathways educational programme is always the same for every path, so any of your fellow club members, including your mentor, can advise you on how to complete it.
Level 2 involves completing three projects – the first two depend on which path you’re working on, but the third one is the same for everyone and is called Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring. This project covers the qualities of a successful mentoring relationship and requires you to give a speech reflecting on a time you were mentored by someone else.
Click here to download and review the content of the project.
Once you’ve completed Level 2 of your path (which is required to compete in the International Speech Contest) Pathways also contains a mentoring programme in which you can become a mentor yourself, which is an excellent development opportunity.
Club social
Despite the continuing lockdown, we had an amazing Christmas social online with lots of interactive games hosted by Margarita and musical performances from Atul, Swarajit and Yassine! We hope to have more in the year ahead, whether they are online or face-to-face.
Our president Yamina also announced the winner of the Member of the Year award which was shared between Matt, Swarajit and Yassine. Congratulations!
Next meetings
We will continue meeting online until further notice, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Our January meetings are on the 11th and 25th, and our first meeting in February will be our contest night on the 8th. Please book your attendance on Eventbrite or Meetup.
And finally…
We’re pleased to welcome our newest member Peter H to the club along with returning member Elena – we can’t wait to hear their first speeches in the Pathways programme.
See you at next Monday’s meeting!
