Vicky McCarthy, President of Tralee Toastmasters, has been appointed as Assistant Area Governor for Area 36.

Speakeasy Schools Public Speaking Contest.

Speakeasy Toastmasters held their schools public speaking contest on Wednesday 30th November at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. Six schools took part from Mallow, Kanturk & Buttevant. Hazel Hennessey, St. Mary's Secondary School Mallow won first prize as the best individual speaker while Davis College Mallow won first place in the best overall school.  A photo album of the contest can be viewed at

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fsean.ei5he&h=bAQFtZMcrAQH2RXn4boWO_Nk3OrtQ95gkm8mR3oT9ZDhiJQ

Hazel Hennessey receiving first prize as best individual speaker from Teresa Gore, Hibernian Hotel, Mallow,
prize sponsor.

Aidan. J. O' Flynn & Eilis O' Callaghan, Davis College Mallow, receiving first prize for the best overall school from Jerry O' Callaghan, Mallow Credit Union, prize sponsor.

Speakeasy Toastmasters schools competition.

Speakeasy Toastmasters will be holding their annual schools speaking competition at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Wednesday 30th Novemeber at 7:30 pm. Schools from Mallow, Kanturk, Boherbue and Buttevant will be taking part.

Internet workshop

The Division A Internet workshop was held on Thursday 24th November at Cork Airport. The workshop was chaired by Eddie O' Mahony, who delivered presentations on the District 71 website, Facebook, Twitter, Tweetdeck and Freetoasthost 2. Eileen Twomey delivered a presentation on the Toastmasters International Website and Ray Ryan delivered a presentation on Blogging.

Workshop in progress

Division A internet workshop in progress. More details to follow.

Internet workshop

Division A will be holding a workshop on Toastmasters & internet usage for club officers on Thursday 24th November 19;00-21;00 at Cork Airport.
Topics covered will include using the District 71 and Toastmasters International site, using Freetoasthost 2 for club site hosting, and using internet facilities such as Facebook, Twitter, Tweetdeck & Blogs for club publicity.

Questions and Answers with Division A.

All your questions about Toastmasters are answered!  The question and answer session is included thanks to John Finn, Midleton Toastmasters, who created the original version for the East Cork Journal.

Questions and Answers with  Division A Toastmasters.

Q. When I googled the definition of ‘Toastmaster’  I got ‘An official responsible for proposing  Toasts, introducing speakers and making other formal announcements at a large social event’. I sthat what Toastmasters is about?

A. Not at all! Our organization’s aim is to develop the ability to communicate confidently in public, something that most of us will have to do at one time or another;  for example  giving a presentation at work or a wedding speech.

Q. Speak in public! That’s enough to frighten the living daylights out of most people. How can Toastmasters help?

A. We introduce people to public speaking in a supportive environment. Everyone learns at their own pace and is given help and encouragement along the way.

Q. If I went to one of the meetings I might be asked to speak. I’d be mortified! Why  should I attend?

 A. Guest will not be asked to speak (unless they wish to do so at the topics session.) You have no fears in that regard. Why not attend a few meetings of your local club and see how we operate?

Q. What is a typical meeting like?

a. There are three parts in a normal Toastmaster meeting;  Prepared speeches, Topics and the Evaluation session.

Q. What are prepared speeches?

A. When you join first, you make a series of speeches from the basic Toastmaster manual Competent Communication. There are ten speech projects in the manual, each of which have specific objectives such as organizing material and using vocal variety. The subject of each speech is up to the speaker, once the speech covers the objectives of the project. The first speech icebreaker  is about the one subject you are an expert on, yourself! When one has completed the basic manual, you can deliver speeches from specialized manuals, which cover humorous speeches and storytelling, for example.  There are a great variety of speeches at each meeting. At the end of a typical meeting you will leave both enlightened and entertained!

Q. What are topics?

a. Topics are subjects chosen by a club member who acts as the Topicsmaster for the meeting.  The topics are not known by the other club members. The topicsmaster will ask individual  club members to speak on topics for up to two minutes. Topics can be serious or frivolous, for example  ‘What was your worst fashion disaster’.

Q. I’d imagine they can get pretty heated when political or religious topics are chosen?

A. There is a standing rule: no politics, religion or sex. Nobody will be embarrassed or made feel uncomfortable at our meetings. Also the aim of Topics to  encourage  impromptu speaking, not to catch out people with difficult topics.

Q. What is the evaluation session?

A. This is an important aspect of Toastmasters. Each of the prepared speeches will be evaluated by another club member and this will be done in a supportive manner. The evaluator will identify your strengths as a speaker and will suggest areas you can improve on for future speeches. By taking these suggestions on board, members improve their speaking abilities and such improvement will spill over into one’s everyday life.  

Q. How do I prepare speeches?

A.  Most members write out speeches at home and deliver it at home before presenting it at the meeting.  Using notes is acceptable. Yet as members gain in confidence it becomes easy to abandon  written notes.

Q.  Sounds good! Where and when?

A. Meeting times and the location of your local club are available at the Division A Blog. We are always looking for new members  for our clubs so guests are always welcome and can simply turn up to a meeting. We are a friendly bunch and value the social aspect of Toastmasters.

Flourish Conference Glasgow Report.

Division A was well represented at the District 71 autumn conference "The flourish conference" which was held in Glasgow on November 11th-13th.  Current Asst Governor Bridget Elliott was recognized for her outstanding work promoting Toastmasters in Division A by receiving a District Governor Commendation.
2010-2011 Division A Governor Maire Corbett and last years area governors were recognized for their achievements.Apple Cork our most recently formed club was welcomed into the Toastmaster family.

Pat Sexton and Michael Cronin represented Division A with honour in the topics and humorous speech contests respectively. The contest results were:
Humorous Speech contest: 1st; Ola Aralepo (London).
                                          2nd: Ciaran Blair (Dublin).
                                          3rd:  Gareth McHale (Bristol).

Table Topics:                      1st: James McGinty (Essex).
                                           2nd: Chris Boden (Marlow).
                                           3rd: Michael Collins (Shannon).

Great credit is due to the Flourish conference organizers for a well-run and entertaining weekend!

Marymount hospice speakathon

John Keating (Bishopstown Toastmasters) is organizing a 24 hr speakathon in aid of Marymount Hospice, Cork on November 25th-26th. Many Toastmasters will be taking part. For further details see www.speakupformarymount.ie

Division contest photos.

Photos of the Division A humorous speech and table topics contests are available at the District 71 website:
http://d71.org/album_cat.php?cat_id=16     thanks to Area 49 governor Eileen Twomey.

Division A Humorous speech & table topic final.

Division A held its Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest on October 23^rd at the Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig.  The contest was opened by Division A Governor, Catherine Kelly, and was chaired by Area 23 Governor, Maire ni Laoire. 

The District 71 Lt. Governor(Marketing), Luanne Kent  spoke on the changes which are occurring in the Toastmaster organization and made presentations of lapel badges  to Cait Murray (Speakeasy Toastmasters Mallow), who was the first toastmaster in the division to complete the Competent Communicator award in the 2011-12 Toastmaster year, and to John Keating (Bishopstown Toastmasters) who was the first DTM in the Division in the current Toastmaster year.

All of the participants in both contests exhibited a high standard, and the results were:

Humorous Speech Contests:    1^st  Michael Cronin, Speakeasy Toastmasters, Mallow.

                                                       2^nd  Mary Colbert, Talking Heads Toastmasters, Garryvoe.

                                                      3^rd     Anthony Garvey, Tralee Toastmasters.

Table Topics Contests:    1^st Pat Sexton, Speakeasy Toastmasters, Mallow.

                                           2^nd Paul MacGabhainn, Bishopstown Toastmasters.

                                           3^rd   Marian Harnett, West Limerick Toastmasters.

We wish Michael & Pat the best of luck as they will represent Division A at the District 71 finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests, which will be held over the District Conference, Glasgow, Nov 11^th-13^th.

Humorous Speech contest winner, Michael Cronin & Table Topics Contest winner, Pat Sexton, pictured with Contest chair Maire ni Laoire.

Division A contest countdown!

Division  A  Humorous speech  & Table Topics contest.

Reminder that the Division Finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests will be held at the ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL, BALLINCOLLIG on Sunday 23rd October. Arrive at 14:15 for 14:30 start. Admittance is 10 euro. Non-toastmasters are more than welcome to attend! In attendance will be the District Lt. Governor (Marketing) Luanne Kent.

Competing will be ( in alphabetical order):

Humorous Speech contest:

Pablo Alvarez

Mary Colbert

Michael Cronin.

Anthony Garvey.

Eddie Kelleher.

Andy Kirk (in place of T O' Donoghue)

Table Topics contest

Marian Hartnett.

Norma Hughes.

Louise Lyons

Paul MacGabhann.

Sheila McGovern.

Pat Sexton.

The winners will be competing at the District finals which will be held at the District convention in Glasgow on November 12^th & 13^th.

Area 17 final.

The Area 17 final of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contest was held in the Grand Hotel, Fermoy on October 18th. Results were as follows:

Humorous Speech contest:  1st Michael Cronin, Speakeasy Toastmasters, Mallow.
Table Topics Contest:  1st Pat Sexton, Speakeasy Toastmasters Mallow.

Best of luck to Michael and Pat for the Division final in Ballincollig on Oct 23rd.

Area 3 Final.

The Area 3 final  of the humorous speeech and table topics contest was held at the Garryvoe Hotel on October 18th. Results were as follows:

Humorous Speech contest: 1st Mary Colbert Talking Heads.
Table Topics Contest:  1st Shelia McGovern, Talking Heads.

Best wishes to both Mary & Shelia  for the Division final in Ballincollig on Oct 23rd.

Area 11 contest results.

Area 11 held their Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest on Oct 16th at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale.
the results were as follows:

Humorous Speech contest:  1st Pablo Alvarez, Clonakilty Toastmasters.
Table Topics contest:  1st Norma Hughes, Clonakilty Toastmasters.

Best of luck to both Pablo and Norma in the division final in Ballincollig on Sunday 23rd Oct.

Area 49 contest

The Area 49 Humorous Speech & Table Topics contest held at the Oriel Hse Hotel, Ballincollig, 16th October, chaired by Area Governor, Eileen Twomey.

The reults of the competition were:

Humorous Speech Contest: 1st Tim O' Donoughue (Powdermills).

Table Topics Contest: 1st Paul MacGabhann (Bishopstown).

We wish Tim and Paul the best of luck at the Division Contest in Ballincollig on the 23rd October.

Area 36 results.

Results of the Area 36 finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests held in McCoy's, Newcastle West, 12th October were as follows:

Humorous Speech Contest: 1st Anthony Garvey (Tralee).
Table Topics Contest: 1st Marian Harnett (West Limerick).

Best of luck to both contestants in Ballincollig on the 23rd October.

Area 23 final.

The area 23 final of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests was held at the Montenotte Hotel, Cork, on Tuesday 11th October and the results were as follows:

Humorous Speech contest:

1st: Padraig Carroll (Carrigaline).
2nd: Eileen Kelleher-Phillips (Crusaders).


Table Topics contest:

1st: Louise Lyons (Cork).
2nd: Eddie Kelleher (Crusaders)

We wish Padraig and Louise all the best at the Division final in Ballincollig on the 23rd Oct.

Division A Contests.

Division  A  Humorous speech  & Table Topics contest.

Division Finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests will be held at the ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL, BALLINCOLLIG on Sunday 23rd October. Arrive at 14:15 for 14:30 start. Admittance is 10 euro. Non-toastmasters are more than welcome to attend!

             

Area 11 Table Topics and Humorous Speech contest.

Area 11 will hold  the Area final of the Table Topics and Humorous Speech contest on
Sunday October 16th, at the Trident Hotel Kinsale, 14:30.

The Area final  will be co-hosted by the Bandon  and Kinsale & District Toastmasters.

Kinsale club contests.

Kinsale and District Toastmasters will host their club topics and humorous speech contests on
Wednesday 5th October, Trident Hotel, Kinsale, 19;45 for 20;00 start.

Clonakilty Toastmaster contests.

Clonakilty Toastmasters will hold their Club  Humorous Speech and Topics Contests on Monday 10th October at 20.00, O' Donovan's Hotel.

Area 17 club contests

Dates for the Table Topics and Humorous Speech contests in Area 17 are as follows:

Fermoy:  4th October, Grand Hotel Fermoy, 20:00.
Failte Charleville:   3rd October, Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, 20:00.
Galtees:                11th October, Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown, 20:00.
Speakeasy:           29th September, Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, 20:00.

Division A Facebook page

Division A has now launched a facebook page!
Check http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Division-A-Toastmasters-D71/193946050676915

Area finals, Areas 3 & 36.

Area 3 will have its Table Topics & Humorous Speech final on October 18th, Garryvoe Hotel, Garryvoe 20:00.

Area 36's final will be held on October 12th, McCoy's, Cork Rd, Newcastle West 20:30.

Area 49 contests.

Dates of the Table Topics and Humorous Speech contests in Area 49 are as follows:

Bishopstown: 1st & 8th  October, Bishopstown Library, 11:00.

Powdermills: 5th October, Oriel Hse Hotel, Ballincollig 20:00.

Apple:  Apple, Hollyhill, 6th October 17:15.

Area Final: Oriel Hse Hotel, Ballincollig, 16th October 15;00. Admission 5 euro.

Exceptional Evaluations Workshop

Freddie Daniells presented his Exceptional Evaluations workshop at the Cork International

Airport Sunday 19^th September.  In the course of the well-attended workshop, Freddie

demonstrated how evaluations can become more effective through the structuring

of material, by focussing on specific areas of commendation points for improvement

and by using concise language.

                                                 Freddie Daniells opening the workshop.

These points were illustrated when Conor O’ Brien (Galtees Toastmasters), Máire ni Laoire

(Douglas-Sláinte Toastmasters) and Ger O’ Leary (Kinsale & District Toastmasters) evaluated a

sample speech delivered by Jack O’ Neill (Bishopstown Toastmasters).  


Presiding at the workshop were Division Governor Catherine Kelly and the District 71 Governor,

Jim Hegarty.

Catherine Kelly with Jim Hegarty.

District 71 Executive

District Executive.

District 71 encompasses Ireland and Britain and is administered by the District Executive.

Members of the Executive are elected at the May Conference every year and the candidates

alternate on a yearly basis  between  British and Irish Toastmasters.  The positions of District

Governor, Lt. Governor Education & Training and Marketing and District PRO are elected

positions.

In practise, elections are only contested for the District PRO, who then advances unopposed

through the marketing and education positions, eventually becoming the District

Governor.  The Treasurer, Secretary and District Statistician are appointed by the District

Governor while the previous year’s District Governor remains on the executive in an ex-officio

Capacity.  Caroline O’ Connor, Blarney Toastmasters, is the current District Secretary.

The Current District Executive is as follows:

District Governor: Jim Hegarty (Limerick).

Lt.Governor Education & Training: Freddie Daniells (London).

Lt. Governor  Marketing : Luanne Kent (Dublin).

District Public Relations Officer: Hilary Briggs (London).

Treasurer: Martin Cowley  (Dublin).

Secretary: Caroline O’ Connor (Cork).

District Statistician: Rory Marriott (London).

Past District Governor; Teresa Dukes (Ipswich).

Facebook.

A number of clubs in Division A have facebook pages and below are links to those pages:

Bishopstown Toastmasters;   http://www.facebook.com/#!/bishopstown.toastmasters

Cork Leeside Toastmasters:   http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cork-Leeside-Toastmasters/105182162882670

Failte toastmasters Charleville:   http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002939237723

Speakeasy toastmasters Mallow:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Speak-Easy-Toastmasters/167687469936952

Tralee toastmasters:    http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001623300360

West Limerick Toastmasters:   http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001219205957

Exceptional Evaluations workshop reminder

 A reminder that the Exceptional Evaluations  workshop , conducted by Freddie Daniels will be held at the Cork International Airport Hotel, Cork Airport, 18^th September.  Admittance will be 5 euros. Doors will

open at 2:30pm for a 3:00pm start, and the workshop will last until 5:20pm.

Changing of the Guard

Ann Dinneen has resigned as Division A governor and we wish Ann well in her new endeavours.

Catherine Kelly, Midleton Toastmasters, succeeds Ann as the new Division A governor. 

                                               Division A  Governor Catherine Kelly.

Eddie O’ Mahony, Blarney, Cork Leeside & PMG Toastmasters is the new Assistant Division Governor with responsibility for Education and Training.  We wish our new officers well for the coming toastmaster year.

                              Left-Right: Eddie O' Mahony, Assistant Division Governor,
                                                Bridget Elliott, Assistant Division Governor,
                                               Catherine Kelly, Division Governor &
                                               Ray Ryan, Assistant Division Governor.

DTM award

The highest accolade in the Toastmaster organization is the Distinguished Toastmaster Award  (DTM), which is awarded to those who have achieved both the advanced Communcator Gold award (30 advanced speeches) and the Advanced Leader Gold Award (organizational achievements). The latest  recipient of the  DTM award in Division A is John Keating, Bishopstown and Cork Leeside Toastmasters.

Other DTMs in the Division include Mary Brassell (Douglas-Slainte), Denis Heffernan (Powdermills) & Pat Sexton (Speakeasy Mallow).

Failte Toastmasters Charleville-Venue change.

Failte Toastmasters, Charleville have a new venue, the Charleville Park Hotel.
Next meeting will be on Monday 12th , 20:20 for a 20:30 start.

Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contests

                                          Humorous Speech & Table Topics Contest.

The first set of contests in the Toastmaster year are the Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests. Both contests are open to Toastmasters no matter what their level.  Competitors in the Humorous Speech contest deliver a 5 to 7 minute  humorous speech.  In the table topics contest, competitors are asked to speak on a random topic delivered to them by the contest chair. All the competitors speak on the same topic and are lead into the meeting room one by one to answer the topic. The humorous speech and topics contests start at club level and progress through area, division and culminate at District level.

Humorous & Table Topic contests are enjoyable events and an ideal introduction to Toastmasters international.  The  Division final will be held at

Oriel Hse Hotel, Ballincollig, Sunday 23^rd Oct,  14:15 for 14:30 start.

Following are dates of some of the Area Finals:

Area 17;  18th October, Grand Hotel, Fermoy, 20:00,

Area 23;  11th October, Montenotte Hotel, Montenotte Cork, 20:00.

Below is Michael Cronin, Speakeasy Toastmasters Mallow, who won the Division A Humorous speech contest in 2009, and then won the District final in Kilkenny.

Welcome from Division A Governor Ann Dinneen.

"Welcome to the first ever Division A Weblog! 

Thanks to the hard work of Ray Ryan this blog is being set up for the information and interaction of all the Division.  Here, you can promote your events, your contests, your stories.  We look forward to reading of the inspiring stories of how Toastmasters has helped to give a perhaps once petrified person the ability to stand and speak and voice their stories or opinions for the very first time.  How they have gone on to lead in their club and community - another learning side to Toastmasters that we don't often hear about - the training in Leadership that happens almost by default.  Tell it... tell your story and in doing so you may encourage someone out there to take their very first step...to freeing up their 'voice'.
 My thanks to Ray for setting this blog up and I look forward to reading all the 'news' of the Division and its members.
 Ann Dinneen, Division A Governor
District 71
Toastmasters International

Exceptional Evaluations Workshop

Freddie Daniels, District 71 Lt. Governor (Education & Training)  will deliver his evaluation workshop Exceptional Evaluations – 7 Simple Steps to Evaluation Success , at the Cork  International Airport Hotel, 18^th September.  A member of the  Holborn Speakers and Excalibur Toastmaster Clubs in London, Freddie will present an interactive workshop, which will allow you to

1.       Pick the best content to include in your evaluations.

2.       Structure your evaluations more effectively.

3.       Make your points so that both the speaker and the audience get maximum benefit.

Again the  workshop venue  will be the Cork International Airport Hotel, Cork Airport, 18^th September.

Admittance will be 5 euros. Doors will open at 2:30pm for a 3:00pm start, and the workshop will last until 5:20pm.

Toastmaster meeting 2: Cork City & environs

Area 3

Blarney Toastmasters.

Date: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & Venue: Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney, 20:00.

Website:  blarneytoastmasters.net

Glanmire Toastmasters.

Date: 1^st & 3^rd Wednesday of the month.

Time & Venue: Sarsfield GAA Pavilion, Glanmire.

Guardian Toastmasters.

Date:  Each Wednesday

Time & Venue:  19:30 , Garda Headquarters, Anglesea St, Cork.

Website:  www.guardiantoastmasters.com

Midleton Toastmasters.

Date: 2^nd & 4^th Wednesday of the month.

Time & venue: 20:00, McDaid’s Pub, Main St., Midleton.

Website: www.midletontoastmasters.org

PMG Toastmasters (Corporate Club, membership restricted to company employees).

Date: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & Venue: 19;30, Lough Mahon Technology Park, Blackrock, Cork.

Talking Heads Toastmasters(Garryvoe).

Date: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & Venue: 20;00 Garryvoe Hotel, Garryvoe, Co. Cork.

Website:   www. garryvoetoastmasters.org

Area 23.

Carrigaline Toastmasters.

Date: Alternate Mondays.

Time & Venue: 20:00, Carrigaline Court Hotel, Carrigaline.

Website: homepage.eircom.net/carrigalinetm/

Cork Toastmasters.

Date: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & venue: 20:00 Montenotte Hotel, Montenotte, Cork.

Website: www.corktoastmaster.org

Crusaders Toastmasters.

Date: Alternate Wednesdays.

Time & Venue:  19;45, Bru Columbanus, Cardinal Way, Wilton, Cork.

Website: www.crusaders.ie

Douglas Sláinte

Date: Alternate Wednesdays.

Time & Venue: 20;00, Rochestown Park Hotel, Rochestown Rd, Cork.

Area 49.

Apple Cork (Corporate Club, membership restricted to company employees but vistors more than welcome!).

Date: 1^st & 3^rd Thursday of the month.

Time  & venue: 17;15. Apple, Hollyhill, Cork.

website: http://d71.org/portal.php?page=1&c=325

Bishopstown Toastmasters.

Date: Each Saturday.

Time & Venue:  11;00, Bishopstown Library, Wilton, Cork.

Website: www.d71.org/portal.php?page=1&c=20

Cork Leeside Toastmasters.

Date: Each Monday

Time & Venue:  18;15, SOHO Bar, 77, Grand Parade, Cork.

Website: www.corkleeside.org

Powdermills Toastmasters (Ballincollig).

Date: Alternate Wednesdays

Time & Venue: 20:00, Oriel House Hotel (Inniskenny Suite), Main St,  Ballincollig, Co. Cork.

Website: www.powdermillstoastmasters.org

Toastmaster clubs 1: Kerry, Limerick County and Cork County.

West Cork (Area 11)

Bandon Toastmasters.

 Dates: 2^nd & 4^th Wednesday of the month.

 Time & Venue:  20:15, Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon.

Website: www.bandontoastmasters.com

Bantry Toastmasters.

Dates: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & Venue:  20:00, Westlodge Hotel, Bantry.

Website: www.bantrytoastmasters.org

Beara Toastmasters.

Dates: Alternate Tuesdays.

Time & Venue:  20:00, Cametringane Hotel, Castletownbere.

Website: www.iol.ie/~bearatoastmaster

Clonakilty Toastmasters.

Dates : 2^nd & 4^th Monday of month.

Time & Venue:  20:00, O’Donovan’s Hotel, Pearse St, Clonakilty.

Website: www.clonakilty~toastmasters.org

Kinsale & District Toastmasters.

Dates:  1^st & 3^rd Wednesday of the month

Time & Venue:  20:00, Trident Hotel, Kinsale.

Website: www.d71.org/portal.php?page=1&c=285

North Cork(Area 17)

Fáilte Toastmasters (Charleville).

Dates:  2^nd & 4^th Monday of the month,

Time & Venue:  20:30, Charleville park Hotel, Charleville.

Website: www.failtetoastmasters.org

Fermoy Toastmasters

Dates: Alternate Tuesdays,

Time & Venue:  20:15, Grand Hotel, Ashe Quay, Fermoy.

Website: www.fermoytoastmasters.com

Speakeasy Toastmasters (Mallow)

Dates:  1^st & 3^rd Thursday of the month,

Time & Venue:  20:00, Hibernian Hotel, Main St, Mallow.

Website: www.speakeasytoastmasters.com

The Galtees Toastmasters (Mitchelstown)

Dates: 1^st & 3^rd Tuesday of the month,

Time & Venue:   20:00,Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown.

Website:  homepage.eircom.net/~thegalteestm

Area 36, Kerry & West Limerick.

Killarney Toastmasters.

Dates:  2^nd & 4^th Tuesday of the month.

Time & Venue:  20:30, Malton Hotel (formerly Great Southern Hotel), Killarney.

Tralee Toastmasters.

Dates : 1^st & 3^rd Monday of the month

Time & Venue:  20:00, O’ Donnell’s  Bar, MountHawk, Tralee.

West Limerick Toastmasters.

Dates:  1^st & 3^rd  Wednesday of the month.

Time & Venue:  20:30, McCoy's Cork Rd, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.

Toastmaster clubs-Meeting times.

Both of the following posts will include meeting times for Toastmaster Clubs in Counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick.  Important to note:

• Members of the public are welcome to attend any Toastmaster meeting and WILL NOT BE ASKED TO SPEAK!!
• Some clubs charge a modest door fee, usually 5 euro, for tea, coffee, etc, check the club website for further details.

Division A- How toastmasters are organized locally.

Division A is the territorial organization for Toastmasters in the South of Ireland.  Working upwards from the individual club, Areas comprise of three to five clubs, Areas are gathered into Divisions and Divisions are aggregated into Districts.  Division A consists of six areas, and in turn Division A is one of nine divisions which comprise District 71. District 71 comprises Ireland and the UK.

Division and Area Officers are elected for one year, commencing in July. This year’s Division A Leadership team are:

Division Governor:                            Ann Dinneen.

Assistant Division Governors:            Bridget Elliott, Catherine Kelly  & Ray Ryan.

Immediate Past Division Governor:    Maire Corbett.

Division Statistician :                          Sean Corcoran.

 Area Governors:     

            Area 3(East Cork & portion of Cork City): Shay Rochford.

           Area 11(West Cork): Ger O’ Leary.

                                               Assistant Area governor Sandra O’ Hagan.

           Area 17 (North Cork): Conor O’ Brien.

           Area 23 (Mid Cork, Cork Harbour and portion of Cork City): Máire Ní Laoire.

           Area 36 (Kerry & West Limerick): Mary O’ Donoghue.

           Area 49 (Portion of Cork City): Eileen Twomey.

                                                              Assistant Area Govenor Mary O’ Shaughnessy.

What goes on in a Toastmasters meeting?

Expect to find the following at a typical Toastmaster meeting. One of the club members will chair the meeting, acting as “Toastmaster for the evening”. A different club member acts as Toastmaster for each meeting. The core of the meeting consists of prepared speeches. An average of  three to  five speeches are delivered each night. All our speeches are based on manuals from Toastmasters International. The manuals comprise different projects which set criteria, such as organizing one’s speech, and so on. However, speeches can be on any subject once the manual objectives are adhered to.

Impromptu speaking skills are developed in the topics session. A club member, again a different person for each meeting, acts as Topicsmaster. The Topicsmaster asks other club members to speak on an unexpected topic for up to two minutes. Needless to say, non-members will not be asked to speak in the topics session, but are welcome to contribute.

The final part of the meeting consists of the evalaution session. A club member will act as General Evaluator, making observations on how the meeting was organized. The prepared speeches will be evaluated by other club members, who will comment on the features on the speech, and make recommendations on how the speaker can improve. Recommendations are given in a friendly and constructive manner. Finally, all contributions are timed by a Timekeeper.

Debut.

Welcome to the first post in South of Ireland Toastmasters, the webblog for Toastmasters in the south of Ireland! Toastmasters is an international organization which promotes communcation and leadership skills
The blog will feature meeting times and dates for Toastmaster meetings in Counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick, links to other divisions in District 71, which covers Ireland and the UK, and much more. Hope you will enjoy the blog and that you will attend a Toastmaster meeting near you.

Ray Ryan, ACS, CL, Asst. Division A. Governor