Toastmasters the cure for ‘foot-in-mouth disease’

AT the last Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting, the Topics Session was conducted by Bridie O’Connell who elicited a huge response with a wide variety of questions for discussion.

In response to the mantra - “Communities are doing it for themselves” - we got to hear about the simple, significant actions that make a difference. Gerry O’Callaghan cited his work with Mallow Credit Union and his continued involvement in a Trade Union as examples of his community awareness. And he also moonlights at the weekly bingo for the Mallow Day

Care Centre!

“Young people’s vocabulary - is it limited?” elicited diverse views. To one observor, the confidence and conversational skills of young people is a “thing of wonder”. The importance of an adequate pre - school system was also highlighted as the foundation stone of building language skills. Indeed, it can often take a non-national child up to seven months to say a word in English.

The Winning entry in this year’s Young Scientist featured in a question on gender bias on occupations. At a time when female applications for Third Level Education exceeds male applications, old stereotypes like the male engineer and female nurse still prevails in the minds of young children. It seems that children are still conditioned by the traditional blue and pink “little boxes”.

The issue of disruptive protests winning public sympathy brought up numerous examples of public demonstrations that tend to alienate. Can a group of farmers driving expensive tractors in the centre of Dublin ever arouse public goodwill was raised.

So too was the Anti-water Charges campaign where a female Government Minister was subjected to a baying mob. Alternatively, the nurses protest was met with a lot of public goodwill.

Perhaps those wishing to protest need to think through their campaigns in order to maximise public support.

The lost art of letter writing brought reminiscings about old letters written by relatives and parents that present a deeper understanding of these people and their relationships with their loved ones. But it seems to be a modern reality that letter writing and even the art of telephone conversation is fading fast, and has been replaced by a terse five word text, precise but impersonal.

Another opportunity to engage in the Speakeasy experience will take place in the Hibernian Hotel on Thursday February 6 at 8pm. Unlike other night classes and Adult - Education courses, one can commence in Toastmasters at any time. It is a continuously rolling programme.

For more information on this club, please check out website speakeasytoastmasters.com or on Facebook.