Hot topics at Toastmasters

AT last week’s Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting, Gerry O’Callaghan was asked about what smell reminded him of his childhood. With a glint of mischief in his eyes, he spoke about his daily stroll around Mallow and stopping outside a well known coffee shop in Market Square where he took in the beautiful aroma - not of coffee but of memories of the piggery that his family had in that area when he was a child.

All these years later Gerry still recalls an unmistakable and unforgettable fragrance. This is just an example of the magic that can happen during a Topics Session at a Speakeasy meeting. The notion of speaking ‘off the cuff ’ is one that many readers and Toastmasters members find daunting. Yet, we do it all the time in our daily lives and finding ourselves, after a conversation has concluded, wishing ‘I had said that when I had the chance’.Table Topics gives members the opportunity to enhance their impromptu speaking skills. Like all aspects of Toastmasters, they learn by doing and the more frequently they do it the more accomplished they become.

The Topics Session helps people to speak more confidently in social situations, in work presentations and at interviews. Ably conducted by Noel O’Connor, last week’s Topics Session encompassed a broad discussion on several issues.

At the meeting’s conclusion,the award for Best Topic went to the aforementioned Gerry O’Callaghan. Table Topics will take centre stage at the next meeting and in conjunction with the Annual Humorous Speech Contest, the Table Topics Contest will take place. Here, the challenge for participants is to walk into the room and respond to the chosen Topic and display the skills of an impromptu speaker, composure, confidence and coherency.

Contest night’s are always a great night to visit the Club. You will be guaranteed entertainment and refreshments and a few good laughs.

The next meeting takes place in the Hibernian Hotel on Thursday, October 4 at 8pm. All are welcome.