Hey Bloomers!

Yep, we’ve tried something new there. Does calling our collective ‘Bloomers’ work? Or does it make us sound like we collect vintage underwear for a living?

Either way, it’s a new year, so we’re standing by it (for this newsletter, at least!).

And because it’s a new year, we want to start by reminding you that whether you’ve been to Bloomsbury Speakers a thousand times or you’ve signed up for our newsletter but never attended a meeting – everyone is welcome.

The perfect place to improve your public speaking skills.

As soon as you step through the door, you’re in a warm, supportive environment that allows you to practise performing speeches.

And the best part?

All feedback is constructive.

We don’t do unhelpful criticism – vital if you’ve lost confidence speaking in front of a group or you’re a first-time speaker.

So, if you’re a former member or guest, come to one of our meetings this month and see for yourself.

2024 – an exciting year ahead!

If you can’t stomach eating the last of the Celebrations, leave 2023 behind and celebrate the exciting events lined up in 2024.

Check out how great the start of the year is:

•  29^th January 2024: Your Words Can Inspire – writing an inspirational speech that connects, with Freddie Daniells

Ever wondered what it takes to write an inspiring speech that could take you to the finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking at the Toastmasters International world convention in August?

Then this workshop will help you understand how to:

• Choose a message
• Structure your speech
• Create the right type of content required

You’ll also learn foundational lessons useful for speakers of all levels, whether speaking in Toastmasters, at work or in your community.

And with the help of Freddie Daniells, you’ll learn from the best.

Freddie has attended five World Championships, was a judge in the 2013 finals, and has provided speech mentoring and advice to District Champions, semi-finalists and finalists in the World Championship of Public Speaking.

He’s also a professional speech coach, having worked with companies like Google, Hewlett Packard, Ernst & Young and many others.

Join us on 29^th January 2024 and take your first step toward becoming a more inspiring speaker.

Date: Monday, 29^th January
Time: 6:45pm-9:15pm
Venue: The Union Tavern, 52 Lloyd Baker Street, London, WC1X 9AA (Map)
Price: £5 or FREE for members of Bloomsbury Speakers

Book your ticket

• 26^th February 2024: International Speech and Evaluation contests

Freddie’s workshop leads nicely into the first round of the International Speech contest itself, which starts at club level and culminates at the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Our club contest night on 26^th February will consist of both the International Speech and Evaluation contests:

• The International Speech contest

This event involves giving a 5–7-minute speech on a topic of your choice.

The timings are more important than in a regular club meeting because speaking for less than 4½ minutes or more than 7½ minutes will mean you’re disqualified – but the timing lights will guide you.

To be eligible, you must be a paid club member and have completed Levels 1 and 2 of your educational Pathway.

• The Evaluation contest

All contestants evaluate the same speech, with a mystery speaker invited to give a speech, after which the contestants are escorted from the room and given five minutes to write up any notes.

At the end of the five minutes, you’ll be called back into the room to deliver your 2–3-minute evaluation.

You need to speak for at least 1½ minutes and no more than 3½ minutes; otherwise, you’ll be disqualified.

All paid members of the club are eligible for this contest, regardless of your progress in Pathways.

The winners of each contest will represent Bloomsbury Speakers in the next round, facing the winners from the other clubs in our area.

Please let our VP of Education Andrea know if you’d like to take part.

Oh, and good luck!

• 3^rd-5^th May 2024: District 91 conference

2024 is the centenary year of Toastmasters International, and District 91, which represents clubs in the south of the UK, will be marking this milestone with a weekend of workshops, networking and speeches in Bristol.

This event will also include the finals of the Humorous Speech, Table Topics and Evaluation contests, as well as the fourth round of the International Speech contest.

Don’t miss out; early-bird tickets are available now at a reduced rate.

Book your ticket

Celebrating awesome Bloomsbury Speakers!

In November ’23, our members Andrea and Matt competed at the Division C (central London) finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests.

This being the third of four possible rounds, the competition was tough, and they both did an excellent job, with Andrea placing 3^rd in the Humorous Speech contest and Matt coming 2^nd in the Table Topics contest.

Nice one, Bloomers!

Get yourself to one of our upcoming meetings.

As usual, upcoming meetings and workshops will take place at The Union Tavern.

Here are the all-important dates for your diary:

• Regular meeting: 8^th January 2024 at 6:30pm
• Regular meeting: 22^nd January 2024 at 6:30pm
• Your Words Can Inspire (workshop): 29^th January 2024 at 6:45pm

And here’s what’s lined up for February:

• Regular meeting: 12^th February 2024 at 6:30pm
• International Speech & Evaluation contests: 26^th February 2024 at 6:45pm

Venues for February’s meetings will be confirmed soon.

As always, you can book on Eventbrite or Meetup to receive a handy reminder nearer the time. And, don’t forget, our regular meetings and contests are always FREE to attend for guests.

Oh, and before we go, here’s a snap from our Christmas social last month – it was a joint event with the other clubs in our area, but Bloomsbury Speakers definitely had the biggest turnout.

And why wouldn’t we?

We’re blooming marvellous!

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This month’s newsletter was edited by Matt at Indelible Think.

While we’re currently in the middle of the autumn contest season, it’s important to think ahead to the International Speech contest in February. This is because it is the only contest that has an entry requirement (on top of being a club member) – you need to have completed Levels 1 and 2 of your educational Pathway in order to qualify.

So, if you have aspirations to be the next World Champion of Public Speaking, make sure you’ve completed all the required speeches and roles in time to be eligible for the contest in the spring! Use easy-Speak or contact our VP Education Andrea to book yourself in for our upcoming meetings.

What’s in this newsletter?

• Contest results
• Division C conference – Saturday, 18^th November
• Christmas social – Wednesday, 6^th December
• New members
• Next meetings

Contest results

In September, we held our Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests. Our club champions, Andrea and Matt then went on to face the winners from the other clubs in our area, with Matt winning the Table Topics contest and Andrea placing second in the Humorous Speech contest. Both now progress to the next round at the Division C conference (see below).

Division C conference – Saturday, 18^th November

The Division C conference plays host to the third round of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests, as well as educational workshops on communication and leadership. Please go along and support our club champions Matt and Andrea who will be competing against the other winners from around central London.

Date: Saturday, 18^th November
Time: 10am-4:30pm
Venue:The University of Law, 2 Bunhill Row, EC1Y 8HQ
Price: From £3.41 (online) up to £16.96 (in person, including lunch)
Booking: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-speaking-conference-table-topics-humorous-speech-division-finals-tickets-743154905327

Christmas social – Wednesday, 6^th December

This year, we’re having a joint Christmas social with the other clubs in our area, including Experience French and Goldman Sachs. Save the date!

Date: Wednesday, 6^th December
Time: 6:30pm onwards
Venue: Mikkeller Brewpub, 37-39 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL

Meanwhile, here are some photos from our night out at Electric Shuffle last month.

New members

We’ve been delighted to welcome some new members to the club since the new Toastmasters year began in July. If you haven’t met them yet, be sure to say hello to Jen, Freddie, Minerva, Athena, Ihor and Josh who have all been playing an active role in our meetings.

We’ve also welcomed returning members Anastasia and Rupert – it’s great to have them back!

If you’re a former member or guest and are curious to see how we’re doing these days, you’re very welcome to come along to one of our next meetings – see below.

Next meetings

Our November meetings will be at our current regular venue The Union Tavern on the 13^th and 27^th. The venue for our December meeting on the 11^th is yet to be confirmed, so keep an eye out on our website and social media for the details.

As always, you can book ahead on Eventbrite or Meetup to receive a handy reminder nearer the time.

Monday’s humorous speech workshop Help! I’m Not Funny – with multiple speech contest champion Dan Magill – is sold out! There are still some free tickets available, but these don’t guarantee entry or seating and you may be turned away if the venue is full.

What’s in this newsletter?

• Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests – 25^th September
• Club social – 28^th October – Electric Shuffle!
• Pathways is changing
• A new World Champion of Public Speaking
• Next meetings

Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests – 25^th September

Our annual Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests will take place on Monday, 25^th September.

The Humorous Speech contest involves giving a 5-7 minute speech with added humour. The humour may arise from a funny original story, or from jokes embedded within the speech, but a humorous speech is not a stand-up routine or series of one-liners. As with any other speech, a humorous speech should have a topic, structure and purpose, but credit is also given for the audience’s response.

The Table Topics contest works just like regular Table Topics in club meetings except every contestant is given the same topic. Contestants wait outside the room until it is their turn to speak, and the topic will be read out to them just before they are introduced on to the stage. They then have 1-2 minutes to give their response. The best thing is that it requires no preparation at all!

See the Toastmasters contest rulebook for more information, as well as the ballot forms for the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests to get a better idea of how contest speeches are judged.

Both contests are open to all paid members of the club, so everyone should take part, even if you’re new. It’s a great way of pushing your speaking skills to a higher level and the winners will go on to represent the club at the next round, so let our VP Education Andrea know if you’d like to take part!

Club social – 28^th October – Electric Shuffle!

After a successful summer social at Bloomsbury bowling lanes back in June, our next event is planned for Saturday, 28^th October – which coincides nicely with the club’s own birth-week – so please save the date in your calendar for another fun-packed evening!

We’ll be playing Electric Shuffle near London Bridge, followed by food and drinks at the same venue. Contact us to confirm your attendance and for details of how to pay.

Date: Saturday, 28^th October
Time: 6pm onwards
Venue: Electric Shuffle, London Bridge
Price: £13 per person
Booking: info@bloomsburyspeakers.org.uk

Pathways is changing

Toastmasters International is updating its Pathways educational programme. As well as moving to an improved online platform next year, the 11 existing paths are being streamlined into six:

• Dynamic Leadership
• Engaging Humor
• Motivational Strategies
• Presentation Mastery
• Persuasive Influence
• Visionary Communication

Any paths you’ve already started will continue in the existing system and a new learning experience called Explorations will give you more flexibility in what and how you learn.

See the Pathways Updates and Education Programmes FAQ pages on the Toastmasters International website for more information.

A new World Champion of Public Speaking

As we enter a new contest season this month, the previous one has just drawn to a close with the World Championship of Public Speaking (WCPS) which was held at the Toastmasters International convention in The Bahamas last month.

Jocelyn Tyson from New Jersey in America was crowned World Champion for her speech “Have you been there?” Watch it now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEmawDu17AU.

Next meetings

Our workshop on 4^th September will be held at one of our old venues, The City Pride.

After that, we return to The Union Tavern for our regular meeting on the 11^th and the contests on the 25^th.

Our October meetings will also be at The Union Tavern on the 9^th and 23^rd.

Book ahead on Eventbrite or Meetup to receive a handy reminder nearer the time.

First up, we’re moving to a new venue for this month! Our two July meetings (on the 10^th and 24^th) will be upstairs at The Union Tavern, 52 Lloyd Baker Street, WC1X 9AA. It’s a bigger venue, so do invite all your friends, family and colleagues to create a fun and supportive atmosphere for the club.

What’s in this newsletter?

• IMPORTANT: Membership fees are increasing – lock in at the lower rate!
• Help! I’m Not Funny – a humorous speech workshop with Dan Magill (4^th September)
• Autumn speech contests
• Club committee 2023-24
• Next meetings

IMPORTANT: Membership fees are increasing – lock in at the lower rate!

Unfortunately, Toastmasters International are raising their six-monthly dues from $45 to $60. This means that all clubs are forced to increase their membership fees to meet this rise.

At the same time, it won’t have escaped anyone’s attention that costs are rising all round, including the costs of running a club – even a non-profit one like ours. As a result, our membership fees will be increasing to £96 every six months, charged pro rata depending on when you join (plus a one-off fee of £20 for new members).

The good news is that anyone (new, renewing or returning members) can lock in the current lower rate of £90 for the 9-month period July 2023 to March 2024 (plus the one-off £20 fee for new members), as long as you pay by Tuesday, 25^th July. Fees will rise to the new rates from August.

• New members can join in July by following the instructions on the joining page on our website and paying £110, no later than Tuesday, 25^th July.
• Rejoining members and existing Toastmasters should follow the same instructions and pay £90.
• Existing club members will be contacted by our new treasurer Michael this month.

While the high cost of living is affecting us all, we hope you’ll still find value in your Bloomsbury Speakers membership as part of your personal development and will continue your journey with us.

Help! I’m Not Funny – a humorous speech workshop with Dan Magill (4^th September)

We’re delighted to be welcoming 2023 District 91 (UK South) Humorous Speech contest champion Dan Magill – a title he also achieved in 2019 and 2022!

In his upcoming workshop, Help! I’m Not Funny, Dan will cover elements including:

• Where to find your comic inspiration
• Being aware of your audience
• How to structure a humorous speech
• Tips on delivery

There’ll be plenty of opportunity for audience participation and you’ll leave this workshop brimming with ideas, ready to start adding more humour to your speeches.

This workshop is open to all and tickets start from just £5.99, which includes pizza straight after the event!

Date: Monday, 4^th September 2023
Time: 6:25pm for a 6:45pm start
Venue: The City Pride, 28 Farringdon Lane, EC1R 3AU
Price: £5.99 (early bird) or £7.99 (standard) – includes pizza!
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/help-im-not-funny-a-humorous-speech-workshop-with-dan-magill-tickets-682286044927

Autumn speech contests

The above workshop leads nicely into the autumn contest season, which includes the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests in late September or early October.

The Humorous Speech contest involves giving a 5-7 minute speech with added humour. The humour may arise from an original story, or from jokes embedded within the speech, but a humorous speech is not a stand-up routine or series of one-liners. As with any other speech, a humorous speech should have a topic, structure and purpose, but credit is also given for the audience’s response.

The Table Topics contest works just like regular Table Topics in club meetings except every contestant is given the same topic. Contestants wait outside the room until it is their turn to speak, and the topic will be read out to them just before they are introduced on to the stage. They then have 1-2 minutes to give their response.

See the Toastmasters contest rulebook for more information, as well as the ballot forms for the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests to get a better idea of how contest speeches are judged.

Both contests are open to all paid members of the club, so everyone should take part, even if you’re new. It’s a great way of pushing your speaking skills to a higher level and the winners will go on to represent the club at the next round, so get practising!

Club committee 2023-24

We’re pleased to announce that the following members have been appointed to the club committee for the year July 2023 to June 2024:

• President – Swarajit Das – responsible for the overall success of the club, supporting other committee members in their roles, opening and closing every meeting and much more!
• Vice President Education – Andrea Sachtleben – responsible for putting the programme together for each meeting along with keeping track of the educational progress of individual members and the club as a whole;
• Vice President Membership & Mentoring – Matt Robertson – converts guests into happy members, ensuring new members have all the information they need when they first join, assigning a mentor to each new member and monitoring their relationship;
• Vice President Public Relations – Ernest Romanovskij – responsible for raising the club’s profile and attracting new guests e.g. via social media;
• Treasurer – Michael Haddadeen – responsible for the club’s finances, paying dues on behalf of members to Toastmasters International and making sure members pay their renewal fees to the club on time;
• Secretary – Elena Fanaberova – responsible for club administration, particularly with regards to decision making e.g. by taking minutes at committee meetings;
• Sergeant at Arms – Indi Rajpal – in charge of logistics (e.g. meeting venues) and club socials.

It’s brilliant to see some enthusiastic new faces on the team along with more experienced members from committees past. Here’s to an exciting year ahead!

Next meetings

As mentioned, our July meetings are on the 10^th and 24^th and will be at a new venue The Union Tavern, just a short walk from our current venue The Gunmakers and close to King’s Cross station.

Book ahead on Eventbrite or Meetup to receive a handy reminder nearer the time.