Hot topics keep it toasty at Speakeasy club’s online forum
TABLE Topics at Speakeasy Toastmasters can be moments of entertainment and opportunities for a bit of fun. But, the Topics Session can pose some challenging questions.
At the last meeting, the Topics master, Vincent Harris, elicited strong views and firmly held positions on the vexed question of attending St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in The White House with newly elected President Joe Biden. This Annual Ritual, when a small island can monopolise media attention and foster Global goodwill, was viewed as secondary to the health of our community. An example needed to be set.
It would be deemed as hypocritical if Taoiseach Michael Martin decided to travel abroad while imposing restrictions on everyone else. It seems that members had their fingers on the pulse as this year’s Ceremony will be an online event.
If online meetings are good enough for Speakeasy, then they should be good enough for Michael Martin.
The use of robotics to perform menial and repetitive tasks was debated. To Eileen McSweeney, joining in from sunny Australia, the idea of a robot to perform tedious household chores was an alluring one. However, as Sara O’Mahony pointed out, some jobs like Health Care can never be outsourced to robots.
And then, we find ourselves like Noel O’Connor, dialling a helpline and being confronted with a machine that leaves you waiting and failing to understand your accent. Ah yes - those dreaded words - “Your call is important to us, please hold”.
The work-life relationship elicited some earnest reflection from Brendan Foley. Prior to specialising in human resources, he worked at landscaping. He thoroughly enjoyed it but his employer pointed out, he was “blind” to the crucial difference between plants and weeds. He removed both species!
On the other hand, Bobby Buckley always had a hobby that acted as a release from work life. While working as an Office Clerk, he relieved the tedium by athletics. As a Teacher, he took up a horticultural hobby. Now, in retirement, his pastime is Toastmasters and the joy of oral communication.
We are familiar with the term “silver surfers” to describe retirees becoming Internet savvy. Silver speakers could apply to Bobby and other retirees who are excellent in Toastmasters.
Davy Fitzgerald’s latest TV programme, Davy’s Toughest Team, provoked a dissertation on the importance of good role models for young people. He stressed the essential role that having passionate pursuits can play in staying on the right path and avoiding numerous pitfalls in life.
On the other hand, Theresa O’Reilly addressed the troublesome question of Trans-gender athletes. The case of South African athlete Caster Semenya is a chilling example of what could happen if Trans athletes are allowed on the same playing field. And then, there can be the bizarre issue of athletes being forced to use non-performance enhancing drugs
. At the end of a hugely productive session, the Meeting’s General Evaluator, Anne O’Donovan had plenty choices for the Best Topic Award. Ultimately, Theresa O’Reilly was the worthy recipient. However, it was a case of “one for everyone in the audience”, such was the standard of the online discussion.
Speakeasy Toastmasters returns for another online meeting on this Thursday Night, February 18, at 8pm. As always, guests are welcome to attend and are never obliged to speak unless they wish to do so. With an extended Lockdown looming large and the wintry weather prevailing, Speakeasy provides an ideal opportunity to do something different. We look forward to seeing you. Meeting ID - 82975379848. Passcode - 425064. Please login by 7.55pm.
For more information about the ST Club, please check out website speakeasytoastmasters.com or Facebook page.