Toastmasters Hokitika

18/04/2018

Toastmasters was graced with three illustrious visitors last night and one rumbustious pirate! Not only did these visitors take on roles for the night they also sang for their supper. Well Steven Wockner had everyone singing after supper with his song introductions to Table Topics. Some members were tone deaf to these songs but Sue Asplin waxed lyrical about an old acquaintance of hers and Peter Cropp sang about living life to the full. John Sullivan gave insightful tips as the evaluator but failed to exhort any members to further their singing careers.
Jim Wafelbakker in his speech sang the praises of the dairying life, but not before he had given us the doom and gloom points as well. Dominique Tharandt practised her ‘Freedom of Speech’ speech for the Christchurch competition and everyone chorused in to give open evaluations.
Miriam Henderson’s word of the night ‘stoic’ was exemplified by all members as they did not flinch as Don Neale gave a thunderous pirate oratory about toilets etc.
Toastmasters meet next on Wednesday May 2 at 7.00. All visitors welcome.

05/04/2018

Toastmasters Night April 4
It seemed to be story telling night with members more informally sitting around reminiscing about past happenings. Miriam Henderson recounted three ice breaker situations she had faced starting new jobs. Jim Waflebakker spoke with warmth about what makes a good marriage and the fifty golden years he and his wife had just celebrated. Jim also through the night added a humorous tale about a couple of dates he had been on, which weren’t with his wife!
Sue Asplin recounted a terrible driving lesson taken with her father, while Michael O’Brien reminded himself and us about what precocious animals cats can be. Therick Ramlt remembered some strange foods he had eaten and ones he had avoided. Last but not least Dominique Tharandt told members about earning her first pay packet.
Congratulations to Dominique for her wins at the Area competition. Dominique will take her winning speech and her evaluation skills to the Division Contest in Christchurch.
Toastmasters meet next on Wednesday April 18 REAP House at 7.00. All visitors welcome.

08/03/2018

The theme was spontaneity though there were a few practiced speakers in the forms of Don Neale and Sue Asplin. Don with his knowledge of meteorology and use of large arm gestures painted a vivid picture of the north winds hitting New Zealand and the occurring damage. Sue took members on a quieter but just as sinister journey with her twisted tale of disjointed fairy tales.
Toastmaster Carmen Hartley, not fazed by evil witches or wild winds, introduced and thanked speakers warmly. She also gave members some healthy tips for good lunches in her Table Topics speech.
Miriam Henderson for Table Topics gave each member a spontaneous topic to weave a story around. John Sullivan tried to enthuse members about cricket, Raymond Roberts gave a well-rounded speech about air travel and Neville Major reminisced about mellow puffs he had eaten. Michael O’Brien also reminisced about small town Friday nights where going to the movies was a highlight. These spontaneous speeches were effectively evaluated by Sue and members were heartened that they had spoken coherently for the allotted time.
Grammarian for the night, Neville, put forth ‘obvious’ as the word of the night.The laughter and good cheer was an obvious sign that it had been a good and worthwhile meeting.
The next Toastmasters night is not until April 4 as members are combining with Greymouth on the 21 March for the International Speech Competition.

08/02/2018

Valentine Day was the theme. Love was not actually in the air but Greymouth and Hokitika members liked very much Sue Asplin’s summer fruit cocktails. They also liked very much Sue’s heartfelt reading about lasting love. Sue herself loved using her strawberries. She used them to draw with and she used the strawberry drawing as a presentation to Carmen Hartley, who needed recognition for introducing the word ‘kismet’ as word of the night. The night was in the hands and fate of Toastmaster Neville Major. He welcomed and thanked speakers and ensured the night flowed.
Mary Prendergast introduced Miriam Rees, who in turn introduced herself with her ice breaker speech. Michael O’Brien reminded everyone in his speech that we should value time spent with our children and Andrew Elphick with his Mindfulness speech tried to induce members to use calming techniques. However Dominique Tharandt’s Valentine table topics had members laughing out loud. Don Neale examined the shape of our hearts, Beth Davies gave us good reasons to love each other all year round and Michael O’Brien cynically said Valentine’s Day was just a marketing ploy.
Steve Wockner and Miriam Henderson evaluated the night positively.
Members hope you all enjoy Valentine’s Day and it is our fate to meet next on Wednesday 21 February REAP House at 7.00. All visitors welcome.

09/12/2017

Toastmasters Night December 8
Sue Asplin found joy (the word of the night) in opening a small gift. She had just won the ‘Family Feud’ Christmas game. Sue understands what 100 people might think about Christmas. She also understood atmosphere is important and bought reindeer hats and Christmas wreaths. So the night began with a shared tea and some wonky reindeer sitting around the table.
Michael O’Brien spoke about the joy past holidays in Hanmer had been for his family. And the reindeer hats were nodding as he explained that holidays are not the same once the children grow up and go to their own holiday destinations.
‘Never mind’ said Miriam Henderson as she threw another Christmas one liner into the conversation. Dominique Tharandt nodded when Miriam explained that giving a teenager some used bits of cardboard and innocently saying “Is there another meaning for x Box?” might solve the Christmas gift problem for her stepson.
A quote from the founder of Toastmasters Ralph C. Smedley “We learn in moments of enjoyment”. So as we laughed we also knew we were learning.
John Sullivan briefly outlined the new Toastmasters Pathways Programme which is an innovative, online system. Again the reindeer hats were nodding and members wished each other a Merry Christmas.
Toastmasters takes a break over the holiday period and resumes again in January.

16/11/2017

Toastmasters Night 15 November
At the Toastmasters night on Wednesday Carmen Hartley, as a new member gave her ice breaker speech. Michelle Bunt as grammarian for the night introduced members to the word perspicacious (meaning having a ready insight into and understanding of things). After Carmen’s enlightening speech all members had a perspicacious knowledge of Carmen’s relationship with loose grey mince.
Toastmaster Miriam Rees kept the night running and members thinking as she gave many helpful hints on improving one’s speaking and one’s health. Plantain, as assured by Miriam is a very good poultice for aches and pains.
It was a Halloween theme night and Miriam Henderson spooked members by connecting the Table Topics to horror movies. Carmen related a travel misadventure which might have turned into a horror movie, while Miriam Rees had a personal interest in Zombie Movies as her son had starred in one. Michelle made everyone realise the horrors of life should not beat us and life is for the living!
Dominque congratulated members for keeping to their times and we all reminded each other that ‘um’ and ‘ah’ are not English words.’
Hokitika Toastmasters next meeting is Wednesday December 6, 7.00 at REAP House. Christmas theme. Visitors welcome.

02/11/2017

Toastmasters Night November 1
The Toastmasters demonstration night felt much like the film ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'. It was good to have visitors and potential members in the audience. There was a jolly good supper and the room was very colourful.
It did get a bit ugly when Don Neal began talking about the hazards of Sewel Street. However the humorous speech focused on the good and the bad and he seemed very happy to still reside there.
It was good that Sue Asplin in her educational described the five ‘P’s of speaking. For when Miriam Henderson took a big pause at the beginning of her speech the audience thought that it was intentional. A bad moment became good as Toastmasters in their supportive way helped Miriam regroup and carry on.
Was it bad that the Sergeant of Arms asked all to turn off their cell phones and then his went off in the middle of a speech? Was it bad when Toastmasters, who pride themselves on sticking to the time, went overtime? Maybe but It didn’t get ugly.
It was good to have very competent evaluators. Peter Cook, a visiting Toastmaster, enjoyed the humour of the Table Topic speakers. Miriam Rees congratulated Don on his pace and pitch. Miriam Henderson was mentioned for her expressive tone. It was also good to hear Paul Turners final evaluation of the night complementing Dominique Tharandt, the Toastmaster for the night, on her speaking style.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 15 November at REAP house 7.00.
Again all visitors are very welcome.

19/10/2017

Hokitika Toastmasters Meeting 18 October
A little bit of this and a little bit of that. Dominique Tharandt for her Interpersonal Communiction speech demonstrated how to give a little to get a lot! Michael O’Brien was in a lose-lose situation as he and Dominque role played negotiating for a pay rise. However the members were in for a win-win night as Sue Asplin played a bit of Blackadder and members got to read the script. Blackadder contained some funny moments when talking about war and Peter Breeze added the more serious tone. He outlined how wars were negotiated for the benefit of the profiteers. Peter’s speech emphasised that no-one wins in a war although there is money to be made.
Let’s was the word of the night. Let’s stand together and do what is right enthused Miriam Henderson. “Let’s have supper” said Peter and the night continued.
Miriam Rees for Table Topics had new and old members talking about bargains they had made, dentist chairs and being a night owl. Michael kept us on track with his timing and Sue gave everyone good feedback on their speaking skills.
Our next night November 1 is a demonstration night. A programme has been devised which should be entertaining, slick and rewarding for members, intending members, people interested in what happens at Toastmasters and anyone wanting an enjoyable evening.
Demonstration meeting November 1 Reap House 7.00-9.00. See you there.

06/09/2017

There was no time to have a wee doze listening to Sue Asplin’s after dinner speech. Sue’s brief for the speech was to be skilful in entertaining the audience. As Sue talked about her recent trip to Morocco she skilfully extracted from a large, tardis-like suitcase many Moroccan items. Members were soon arrayed in headwear and smelling soaps and perfume. At the end members felt they were the ones who had gone to the markets and ridden the camels.
Peter Breeze, as timekeeper, got lost in an Arabian mist and time was forgotten. Jim Waflebakker brought the audience back on track and reminded us it was spring with whitebait awaiting capture. Miriam Henderson continued the spring theme by using spring photos as springboards for members impromptu two minute speeches. Mike O’Brien talked about spring lambs and how he liked them roasting in the oven. Neville Major had us imaging kangaroos springing around his garden.
Dominique Tharandt summed the evening up dressed in a spring skirt and a Moroccan burka.
Hokitika Toastmasters next meeting is Wednesday 20 September, 7.00 at REAP House. Visitors welcome.

21/08/2017

Peter Breeze always sets a cheerful tone at Hokitika Toastmasters meetings, and tops it off by wearing a different Hawaiian shirt every time. It all came clear on our tropical island themed evening when Peter turned up with 35(!) of his favourite shirts as props for his speech about......you guessed it, 'Hawaiian Shirts'! Rumour has it that he has twice as many still at home, and we look forward to seeing them at Toastmasters.

Hokitika Toastmasters meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at WestReap, 72 Tudor Street. Guests are welcome.

21/08/2017

Contestants in the West Coast Toastmasters Humorous and Table Topics speech contest last weekend were Dominique Tharandt and Michael O'Brien from Hokitika, and Wendy Thompson and Trish Costelloe from Westport. Congratulations to Trish, who was the area winner for both contests; she will go on to compete in the Regional finals in Christchurch in October. Dominique came second in the Humorous speech Competition with her speech 'You are what you Eat' where she proved that eating chocolate can help you to lose weight.

17/08/2017