Toast ‘Mastering’
Toast ‘Mastering’
Dunes - On to greater heights
Topic Trouble?
How to get and stay there
R. Sunderrajan, AC G/CL Division Governor Division J, District 79 M: +97150 549 5829 E: srajan@emirates.net.ae
Finding speech topics has never been so easy
Dear Toastmasters,
for further action. But mostly this job will be done by the VP. Membership. Every year the
Please . . . Please … help me find a topic for my next speech!!!
According to me, external topics should be used
It is always heartening to see some one growing and advancing. So when I see Dunes Club grow I
Division conducts the officers training, so try to
This is a common plea that I hear when I visit
Competent Communicator manual, and of
can’t believe it is already two years now (this
get as many questions you have before attend-
Toastmasters clubs. Having given this extremely
course, as required for your Advanced manuals.
club was officially chartered on 8th of June
ing these sessions. Get your points cleared
difficult question quite a lot of thought, I think I
2006). Last year in its very first year of inception,
during the training.
have finally cracked it!
Internal topics
Below is ‘my’ take on this common all pervading
Internal topics are found within each and every
bug within Toastmasters.
one of us. These are typically issues, incidents,
the club achieved the Select Distinguished status with 6 points in the DCP and this year it
Setting Standards
has moved further to become the President’s
I am sure most of the members evaluate their
Distinguished Club.
progress
in
communication
after
joining
Toastmasters. One way is evaluation at the club
only for your P7 – Research your Topic, from the
experiences etc. that we undergo in our day to Topics to me are of two basic kinds: External and
day life with the only qualification that it should
Internal.
have created an emotion within us. Nobody
Planning ahead
level. The second is by taking part in speech
As you are aware, the DCP is based on the follow-
contests. Over the past years we find the quality
External topics
with and within you (or me) during that time.
ing criteria:
of speeches have come down. The main reason
External topics are topics that we pick up from
Mostly happenings that leave you with a lasting
> > > >
Education – CCs, ACs.
according to me lies in the evaluation at the club
various external sources like TV, newspapers,
impression are good for your talk.
Leadership – CL, ALB, ALS & DTM.
level. We tend to over appreciate the speeches.
magazines, libraries, internet, books, courses,
Membership – Getting new members.
This gives a false impression to the speakers. We
seminars, friends, colleagues, superiors etc.
Let’s look at a few examples:
Club leadership like, officers training, sending
must try and avoid using the superlatives like
These are usually ideas, opinions, issues,
> An achievement: could be a first rank / class
fantastic, excellent etc. and be frank in our
practices, studies or reports that impress us or
for an exam, selection
opinion. No doubt our evaluation must motivate
more importantly make us feel some sort of
I would urge the next term Excom to look into
the speakers to do better, so some critical points
emotion: love, happiness, anger, hatred, empa-
> A rejection for a particular course / position. > A parent’s reaction while witnessing or being
these and start a club action plan right at the
like some pronunciation mistakes, accent, some
thy, sorrow or any other. Because of the emotion
informed of his / her prodigy’s achievement /
beginning of the year. This way your club will be
mannerism etc. can be expressed on a one to
that we feel, we are attracted to, or impressed by,
lack of one.
able achieve more goals in a more planned
one basis after the oral evaluation. A good
the particular topic and we come to the conclu-
> A treasured moment/ a hated, terrifying
manner.
grammarian can be enrolled as a member, or can
sion that this is something worth talking about
moment
be invited from other clubs during the meeting. I
and sharing in a Toastmasters meeting.
the officers list and membership dues.
other than you (or me) knows what transpired
Stick to your responsibilities
am sure the speaker will also know if his speech
Every year clubs elect new officers in the month
was fantastic or not. From time to time we
The drawbacks with selecting these types of
> School days / College days > Bachelor hood / Family life > A holiday, a journey, an acquaintance – good
of May. These officers then try to better the
should also invite speakers who have really done
external topics are:
/ bad
achievements of the previous year. Sometime
a good speech in another club. This will help the
> The topic is borrowed from someone / some-
clubs have more members coming forward to
club members understand how speakers from
where and therefore we are not fully conversant
A few of this type of speeches that I remember
take up these roles. But sometime it becomes
other clubs perform and for this the VP. Ed. must
with it.
from clubs in and around our own Area:
difficult to find someone to take-up the roles.
visit other clubs and find the members who are
> The topic has to be researched thoroughly in
Have you ever thought why people avoid taking
doing some good speeches. Alternately the
order to convey some sort of confidence and
> > > > > > >
responsibilities? The reason being that most of
members also can get this benefit by visiting
convince your audience.
Start a club action plan right at
the time these persons had taken the responsi-
other clubs. The evaluation is the best tool
>
the beginning of the year.
bilities and then found themselves unable to
available to us, so let us make this tool a better
sometimes line by line.
This way the club will be able to
cope up with the responsibilities. The reason for
one in making our speakers the best.
> In case you get stuck in between, you need to
their failure is not because they could not do
Your entire speech has to be memorized
refer your notes.
audience with a message that is related to your topic, keeping in mind that you are talking to either Inform, Persuade, Motivate or Entertain
How to plan your vacation / travel Road rage – from the speakers perspective Visiting prospective brides
> You run the risk of getting it wrong, since the
which is not their own. So I would like to tell all
the coming years in all the above areas. Remem-
originator of the topic is someone else and
Always remember to leave the audience with a
the office bearers to do only the task needed for
ber that when you achieve something it should
sometimes the intent of the whole topic itself
message that is related to your topic, keeping in
them to do. For example even after allotting the
not be for someone else. It must be for your own
may get altered.
mind that you are talking to either:
TM of the day, the VP. Ed. will be seen preparing
self. Be your own critic, be your own trainer and
the agenda. The VP. Membership need not fill up
coach and do not fail to appreciate yourself and
Let’s look at a few examples:
the application form, he may help the member
for all these you must Believe in yourself.
> Global warming > Green buildings > Atom Bomb
collects the dues and hand over to the treasurer
Always remember to leave the
Spouse (husband / wife) baiting / bashing
planned manner
2 Voice of Dunes June 2008
M: 050 451 6822 E: eipe@eim.ae
A visit to an orphanage
So I would like your club go to greater heights in
the filled application forms to the Secretary and
Past Area Governor, Area 33 Past Asst. Area Governor Marketing, Area 30 Charter President, Creek Toastmasters Club
My grandfather
their work, but because they take up extra work
fill up, and send it to the TMI. He has to hand over
Asst. Division Governor Marketing, Div. J Division Governon Elect, Div. J
Driving back from work
achieve more goals, in a more
> > > >
Eipe Eapen, DTM
Inform / educate Persuade / convince Motivate/ Implore / plea / bargain Entertain
Come to think of it – no big deal after all, huh? Voice of Dunes June 2008
3