We started our Club Improvement Day program this morning. Donna was the Toastmaster and she presented the "Beginning Your Speech" module from the "Better Speaker Series". For our club members who could not make it to our meeting this morning, here is a quick recap on the "Beginning Your Speech" educational module:
1. Criteria for a successful speech openings:
- Get the attention of the audience
- Introduce the topic
- Establish rapport
- Take less than five to 10 percent of the entire speech time.
2. Some opening techniques:
- State the importance of your topic
- Make a startling statement
- Arouse suspense or curiosity
- Tell a story or anecdote
- Ask a rhetorical question
- Begin with a quotation
- Reference the occasion
It was a good educational module for our new members and a good refresher for the seasoned Toastmasters as well. We tend to select a few opening techniques that work best for us and kept using them. Over time, this had become a habit and we had forgotten to try out some other techniques that we are not familiar with.
Donna did an excellent job this morning. She presented the information in a very concise way, easy to grasp and easy to understand. She also managed the time very well as a Toastmasters: we had two longer speeches this morning and with all the information presented, we still ended the meeting on time.
Our "Club Improvement Day" is still under evaluation (and scrutinization). It seems to work well this morning with Donna as our Toastmaster. Maybe Donna is an experienced Toastmaster and that's why it turned out right. We do not know yet. We will continue to monitor the progress in the meantime and make adjustment if it is necessary. If any of you have any comment or suggestions, please feel free to let us know.
