Courage - 23 April

In the absence of the “official” blogger – you are going to get the ramblings of the “technical assistant”. Well not exactly ramblings – since you know that IT people are logical, direct and to the point- and so there will be an adjective-less, succinct blog – with clinical details of the evenings proceedings!

As usual – the meeting started on time. The President – who then morphed into the Toastmaster – warmly welcomed all – including a large – okay 8 – contingent of visitors.

The Table Topics was an attempt by Deborah Stephenson – with the assistance of Wilbur Smith - to get us to develop a truly warm, rural, African bush story. All was going well until Tom took to the floor – and the story was hijacked by an urgent WhatsApp message on a cell phone and a quad bike excursion to a party down the road!! This side-lining of the story won Tom the Impromptu speaking award.

The formal speeches once again covered many things – not quite “of shoes and ships and sealing wax – of cabbages and kings” Midlife – by Barbara de Scande (CC4) to a truly motivating Secret of Success from Gideon Smith (CC3), to an excruciating overview of Dental Pain from Mike Brosnahan(CC4) and finally a plea from Glenis Whitehead with Tots and Technology(CC9) to balance exposure of children to IT with a nostalgic look at what is truly remembered from childhood. So besides being entertaining – the speeches provided food for thought.

but moved from a hilarious overview of

With the Toast to Seasons – Ana Heydenrych toasted both the wonder we experience with the change of seasons as we transition from Summer into Autumn but also the transitions through the stages of our lives. This was so apt as Ana moves towards her role as mother.

As Top Toastie last week – Barbara awarded the Top Toastie this week to Reinhardt Botha for the enjoyable, encouraging evaluation (do I detect an alliteration?)

Our warmest congratulations to Marianah Lourens for coming 2nd in the International English Competition and Jessamy Kromhout for coming 3rd in the Evaluation Competition in East London this last week-end.

So where does courage come in? – You may ask! It was the theme for the evening – and as we know public speaking takes courage !!!

Yours in the interim

Belita

How do we keep going? - 26 March

Our last club meeting saw us having our annual Club Speaking Competition in preparation for the run of contests leading up to the Division and finally, the District Competition at MaxiCon in May.

There is a saying (borrowed from the Robert Burns poem To a Mouse) about the best laid schemes of mice and men; and sadly, this event turned out to fraught with all sorts of problems. It was not that there had not been enough warning; we had known about it for ages. It was not that there were initially not enough entrants for the International and the Evaluation Competitions; there were. It was just a case of LIFE, with all its complexities and problems, happening.

Despite the limited number of entrants in the final competitions, I believe that we all – and the four or five visitors who were present – learned a lot. Glenis Whitehead (our Division Governor), in her role as Chief Judge, took us through the rules and discussed some interesting items which had been raised by Shaun Goodbrand, District Chief Judge in a recent On a Point. It was an enjoyable evening as always. Mariannah Lourens and Jessamy Kromhout went on to represent Algoa at the Area Competition at Victoria Park Grey on Saturday, 6 April.

This Competition saw entrants from all the clubs in Area E1 competing: Algoa, ACT, USpeak, NMMU and Rhodes. The results were as follows: Jessamy Kromhout won the Evaluation Contest, followed by Charlie Msimane from Rhodes; Michael Travis (also from Rhodes) won the International Contest with Mariannah Lourens in second place. All four of these contestants are allowed to compete at the next level and we wish them the best of luck!

20 April will have competitors and supporters leaving PE and Grahamstown very early in the morning to travel to East London for the Division Contest to determine who will be representing us in the District Competition at LeaderCon in Fourways from 23 – 26 May. If anyone would like to support the contestants from Area E1, please speak to Glenis Whitehead or Colleen Love about transport arrangements.

* * *

I found myself wondering after the club competition though: How do we keep going? We are all so aware of the treadmill lives that we lead. Taking it easy translates these days into being lazy – and if we want to achieve any level of success, either personally or at work, we cannot be seen to be lazy! So, we load our metaphoric plates until we really cannot do any more – and then we sometimes have to face the consequences in poor health, a lack of family time or even nervous breakdowns. I guess the only way to ‘have it all’ is to find balance.

This is not a new topic of conversation at Toastmasters; I have devoted most of a previous blog to it. However, I keep coming back to it. Renowned theologian, Thomas Merton, had this to say:

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony."

So, if we are looking for a way to achieve our goals without falling apart or of driving ourselves too hard, we must find a way to devote time to each of the following areas: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social/Emotional and Material. Looking online, I found a really simple article at http://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Balanced-Lifestyle which sums it all up.

I know it’s not always easy, but if we make small, deliberate changes to the way we live, we would be surprised at the results that will yield.

Until next time
Ricky Woods

Unsung Heroes - 12 March

I want to start this blog by giving you two pictures; two things to think about:

Some years ago I travelled from Port Elizabeth to visit my parents in what was then the Transvaal. On the way I stopped for a while at the Gariep Dam (in the San language this word means ‘great water’). There had been quite a lot of rain in the preceding month, so some of the sluices were open and I was amazed at the immense power I was witnessing. Much of this water flow really is harnessed and converted into hydro-electric power. I was left wondering about the machinery within the bowels of those great walls that make it all happen.

St Teresa of Avila, co-founder of the Carmelites

I have always had a fascination for those men and women who find themselves called to serve in the Church; those with a religious vocation. What amazes me most is that at a time when the world seems to be losing its sense of focus and morality, the strictest of these religious orders are the ones which appear to be the most attractive. One such order is that of the Discalced Carmelites. These men and women dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. The nuns, in fact, are an enclosed order who follow an entirely contemplative life.

By now you must be wondering what it is that I am trying to say? These two pictures seem to have nothing in common. Yet, the thread that connects them is one of unseen power. Without the giant machinery within the walls of the great Gariep Dam, those sluices would not open and the massive force of water would not be translated into electric power. Without the selfless devotion displayed in the prayer ministry of those Carmelite nuns many of those who serve carrying out the work of the Church would not feel themselves sustained.

What does this have to do with us at Toastmasters?

Everything. For most of us, when we arrive at our Club meetings, the venue has already been set up. Did you know that the venue we use serves another purpose during the day? Our Sergeant-at-Arms and one or two other members arrive early to set the venue up for us so that we are ready to go.

Every year, approximately ten schools in Port Elizabeth benefit from Youth Leadership Training courses. On top of that, various Speechcraft courses are run, either for corporations like ABSA, or for the general public. Who does this and what do they get for doing it?

Members of your club run the various courses, and other members assist them in a variety of ways by doing educational speeches or by helping with evaluations. Any payment that occurs is for the benefit of the clubs concerned. It is money from courses like these that enable clubs to subsidize the fees that we pay bi-annually to Toastmasters International. This money also allows our Executive members and those who are participating in the Speech Competitions to attend the Conferences that are held twice a year.

So, back to the two pictures and Toastmasters. I want to pay tribute here to the unsung heroes in every club who make things happen. If it were not for you, our experience of Toastmasters would be a pale shadow of the vibrant, active club that it is.

That said, I want to encourage members to enter the speech competition which will be held at our next meeting on Tuesday 26 March. Two competitions will take place, namely the International Contest (English Prepared Speech). Members must be CC6 to enter. Speeches are 5-7 minutes long. The other contest is an Evaluation Contest. A model speech is evaluated by contestants, who are then judged on their adjudication.

Winners of these contests will compete in the Area Contest (all the clubs in PE) on 6 April. After that, the Division contest will be held (against winners from Grahamstown and East London) – and the victors will represent Division E at the District Competition at MaxiCon. Please give your name to Alison Immelman today!

For those of you who are going away for the holidays, may you have a real rest.
Until next time

Ricky Woods

Every visitor is a potential member - 26 February

After fifteen years as a Toastmaster I still get a kick out of every meeting. Last night though, I saw something quite amazing – of the thirty people at our meeting, fourteen of them were visitors!


As usual, our President asked each visitor to give a short introduction. Their responses were all similar: “I want to improve my public speaking skills” or “I want to overcome my fear of speaking in public.” What became overwhelmingly evident to me was what we at Toastmasters have known for so long:

1. Many people really fear speaking in front of others;

2. Being able to speak confidently to groups of people is the key to personal confidence and to career success.

Many of the visitors indicated that the requirements of their jobs meant addressing groups of people in order to train them or to try to sell a concept to them. They recognised that it was a skill they would have to master in order to succeed. There exists in all of us a desire to grow; to improve and to fulfil our potential. Why else would so many people have deliberately put themselves in a place where they would have to acknowledge and face their fears?

That got me thinking about how clubs succeed. I believe in serendipity or synchronicity and last night’s meeting was yet another example of such a chance encounter. Antoinette Baatjes gave a delightful educational speech on How to Motivate People, which started with words attributed to Dr Phil (but which I have subsequently discovered to have been used by a host of other people): “You can’t give what you don’t have”.

I believe that is the root of the success of a club like Algoa – we give what we do have. It all starts with club members who are already motivated. When individual members are feeling a little down, or not as ‘on track’ as they would like to be, there are others who are ‘up’ and that enables them to act as a motivating force. Regular attendance at meetings therefore ensures a level of motivation. We keep going because of the encouragement of others.

Motivation, according to Antoinette, can take three forms:

Praise - people are motivated when they feel appreciated or encouraged. There is little that spurs one on more to further action than acknowledgement of a job well done, whether that is a project speech or a task performed in service of the club. Evaluations should always be positive and encouraging, while at the same time making constructive suggestions for improvement.

Public recognition - as above, people enjoy this recognition at a meeting (in the form of an award like the Top Toastie, or Best Table Topic) or in a newsletter or club blog.

Promotion – this entails opportunities for advancement in the organisation. Members may be asked to serve the club in executive positions, in this way recognising their value to the club.

Fourteen people came to visit last night; fourteen people took a risk. Were we at Algoa motivating enough in our encouragement of them and of one another that they will stay to become members?

Until next time
Ricky Woods

It's all a matter of changing your perspective - 12 February

We are often quick to bewail our fates and to find excuses for the lack of success in our lives. Or should I say, I am? This weekend though, I read something in the newspaper that made me realise that it really is all about perspective. The writer of the article challenged his readers to try to re-tell every incident from different perspectives: he suggested four, but I would like to focus on two: victim and hero.

If, for example, you find yourself passed over for promotion at work because (according to you) the person who could have made it happen for you has a personal issue with you, you can choose to see the situation in one of two ways. Firstly, she doesn’t like you and she doesn’t realise your innate potential. You are far smarter than she is and she feels threatened by you. With an attitude like this, you might as well resign because you will transfer those negative feelings into every work scenario. Sadly, you will probably take that attitude with you into the next job, where things will probably not go any better.


Or, you could see the situation as an opportunity to grow. The person responsible for your promotion (or not) is in that position because those higher up have recognised qualities in her that they consider to be capable. If you are mature about it, you could ask her for advice or mentoring to ensure that when the next promotions come up, you will be sure to be in line. Another advantage to this kind of attitude is that you might even gain a friend in the process.
Ridiculous? Perhaps, but the second way will help you to sleep better. Why not try it? Even when it comes to progress with your Toastmaster's goals, a change in your perspective on matters can make a big difference. It really boils down to ‘glass empty or glass full’, doesn’t it?
* * *

I have been so impressed with the level of presentations that we are having at Algoa lately and this last week was no exception. Our Division Governor – and Algoa member – Glenis Whitehead, gave a particularly informative and educational CC8 (Getting comfortable with visual aids) using a PowerPoint presentation, about recognising and dealing with ADHD in our children.

Since more and more of us are using data projectors and electronic media to do presentations, perhaps it is time for us to have an educational input from one of the experts in the club on this subject?

Congratulations too, to Gideon Smith, Trevor Wells and Dxy Madikizela on completing CC2, 6 and 8 speeches respectively and to Mariannah Lourens on her AC26. It was wonderful once again to see such a range of speeches being completed. I am sure, from the comments of the visitors, that we will soon have more new members wanting to follow in your footsteps

* * *
Early Saturday morning, 16 February saw carloads of intrepid Toastmasters from Port Elizabeth make their way to Grahamstown for the first SummerCon, which was hosted by the very enthusiastic Area E1 members at Rhodes University.

David Preece, our District Governor, flew in from Johannesburgto preside over the training session, which a group of about 50 Toastmasters from all over Division E attended. Claire van Zyl and Glenis Whitehead provided training. Our very own Megan Judd and Marlene Vosloo assisted David in the training of Club Officers, new and old.

Afterwards, a picnic lunch was enjoyed by all.

Division E is set to host MaxiCon next year in May. To that end, the Rhodes Toastmasters presented a very spirited proposal.
That reminds me - it’s time to start registering for LeaderCon, which will be held from 23-26 May at the Indaba Hotel at Fourways in Johannesburg. Details are available on their website www.maxicon.co.za Trust me, it is an unforgettable experience.

Until next time
Ricky Woods

Indomitable? Indubitably! - 22 January

After what was a really lovely December holiday for most of us, the schools started again in mid-January. Our first meeting after that was amazing! Not only did we have a bumper turnout of 28 Algoa members, but we also had no fewer than 5 visitors. If things carry on in this fashion for the rest of the year, we are in for a treat.

I found myself looking at the range of experience represented in the programme; from Natalie van Aardt, who was doing her Icebreaker speech, and Anna Heydenrych, who delivered a very competent CC2 ( Organise your Speech) on Food; to Nicholas Mitchell, who provided us all with food for thought in his motivational AC29 speech from the Professional Speaker manual. In between there was also Deborah Stephenson (CC6 – Vocal variety) and Mimi Makupula (AC6 – also from the Professional Speaker manual).

When I left the meeting I was filled with admiration – for the indomitable spirit of man (or should I say people?). Every person at that meeting came there from a job; from a family; from their own commitments. Every person there decided that evening that they would forgo something else in order to be there. While I do not know all of your circumstances, I do know that for many of you being there would have meant sacrifice – either on your part or on the part of members of your family.

Every person there had chosen at some stage to invest in themselves. Whether it was once again a New Year’s resolution of the kind we are wont to make every January; or whether it was a conscious decision once again to continue along the road to success; every person was at that meeting out of a sense of needing to change.

I really want to applaud you in that. I know how difficult it can be at times to commit to preparing speeches and to fulfilling roles when your work and personal obligations already take up so much time. Let this serve as encouragement to you to follow this sometimes testing path, so that you can realise your dreams.

If you would like some help in achieving your Toastmasters goals, I have two suggestions: the first has to do with SummerCon, a training session which will take place in Grahamstown on Saturday 16 February. It will be run by our District President, David Preece, and promises to be both informative and entertaining. Lunch afterwards will take the form of a bring-and-share picnic and will most likely take place in the Botanical gardens. If you are keen to attend, please contact Denise Pudney at dpudney@hinet.co.za or any other member of the Algoa Executive.

The other method is less dramatic, but no less effective. I was reminded of it by Mimi Makupula in her motivational speech. It has to do with setting SMART goals. In order to achieve success in any venture, your goal setting should be Specific; Measureable; Attainable; Realistic and Timely. For some more information on this, have a look at http://topachievement.com/smart.html .
In the meantime, believe in your indomitable spirit. We were not created to fail. Or, as Bill Cosby once put it,

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure”

Until next time

Ricky Woods

Is there enough juice in your wheel? - 08 January 2013

The thing about a new year is that it makes you evaluate your life:

What was it about 2012 that was good? What should I have done differently? How can I ensure that in 2013 I do not make the same mistakes? Small wonder it was then that the theme for the first meeting of the year at Toastmasters soundly reflected this idea.
Asking for the Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions, Toastmaster for the evening, Ricky Woods found that the members were able to list many: weight loss and exercise coming in first, followed by the usual suspects, cutting down or out on smoking and drinking.



A little more probing elicited the fact that people often resolve to

learn something new (whether this was a new language or a musical instrument) and that they offer to volunteer at some charity, or at very least to support it financially. Then came the usual ones of getting organised; actually doing the things on your ‘to-do’ list and my personal favourite, reading more! Sadly, for all of these resolutions, Time magazine has indicated that they seldom last beyond three or at most, six months. The reason cited is not a lack of willingness or determination on the part of those who have resolved to do so; nor is it the fact that these resolutions are so difficult as to be unattainable. Instead, it has to do with the way we fill our lives.
This brings me to the one resolution which is often mentioned, but which we so often get wrong: having a better work/life balance.

We are all familiar with Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs. In essence, he states that we can only begin to achieve self-actualization once both our social and safety needs have been taken care of. Safety comes from employment; while our social needs are taken care of by friends, family and intimacy. The fact that the latter needs are higher up on the pyramid make them more ‘valued’ in a sense. However, as humans, we must take care of our safety needs first. Perhaps this helps us to understand why some folk spend so much of their time ‘married’ to their jobs – which is why they become so stressed that they do not allow themselves the time to do any of the things on their list of resolutions. So, as the New Year progresses, they pick up on all the bad coping mechanisms they were resolved to stop in the first place.

Speaking from the advanced manual, The Professional Speaker, Louise Solomons delivered a very interesting Professional Seminar (AC6), entitled most aptly, Balance.

Central to her discussion was an explanation of the wellness wheel. This is a concept that has been used and adapted for a variety of uses in different fields. The wheel consists of aspects of how we make up our lives. These aspects include: our occupations, health, emotions, finances, our social interactions and a number of other factors. Wellness ensues from finding a balance among these aspects of our lives.
A concept that we all found new was that of juice. Simply put, juice is what we do for entertainment or relaxation. It is, strictly speaking, not the same as social (which has more to do with relationships) – and in many cases, is an area that is neglected in our determination to achieve in other areas.

So, at a time when we are making New Year’s Resolutions, let us not forget the importance of playing. Let us, in an attempt to maintain a work/life balance, remember to ensure that there is enough juice in our wheels.

In the words of one of my favourite writers, Robert Fulghum, “Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”
(All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)

That said; let us still remember the need to set meaningful goals.
Until next time
Ricky Woods