TOASTMASTERS STRUT THEIR STUFF

By Shirley M. Carolan, ATM-G

Last week I had the privilege of conducting a workshop with two fellow Toastmasters from my club at LegoLand. Following is the report I wrote.

Recently, Tick Talk Toastmaster Club 2113, Carlsbad, CA was contacted by LegoLand to see if they would be interested in conducting a brief presentation on the “Art of Public Speaking” to tsome of their management team. They specifically wanted to know the components of putting together a good speech and the fine points of delivery. They were also interested in how and when to use audio/visual aids effectively.

Three advanced Toastmasters rallied to the occasion: Marc Weyl, who handled the audio/visual portion; Shirley Carolan, who spoke on the importance of good organization and “Substance, Style and Staging;” and, Pat Rarus, who spoke on “How to Use Humor” effectively, and appropriate grammar and word usage! A question and answer session followed each presentation.

If “a picture is worth a thousand words” then Marc Weyl did an outstanding job of designing his slides and using a laptop computer to convey the latest in technology and how to use it effectively.

Shirley Carolan, a freelance writer, well-known for her English accent, captivated the audience with vocal variety, gestures, and enthusiasm.

Pat Rarus, a marketing professional and former English teacher, showed her talent with words, grammar and lively humor.

Thus, each Toastmaster brought something unique to the overall presentation, complementing each other and Tick Talk Toastmasters! They stressed the importance of Toastmasters in their personal and professional lives, what growth they’ve experienced and risks taken as a result of their Toastmaster membership. Pat Rarus gave an overview of what Toastmasters is all about and Shirley Carolan held up “The TOASTMASTER” magazine, highlighting the additional benefits of membership.

All agreed that this was a win-win presentation. LegoLand got to hear presentations from some top-notch Toastmasters, and Tick Talk Toastmasters got a bold opportunity to promote their Club. While this was the first time Toastmasters joined forces to give their all to promoting their Club and increase membership, it certainly won’t be the last!

Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Writer ● Speaker ● Artist
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com

Copyright© 2010 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.