Vox Populi marked World Gratitude Day at the Toastmasters meeting on Wednesday 21st September. It was a lovely and welcoming theme during these challenging times. People noted their gratitude for good things that Autumn bestows such as hot chocolate, cosy pubs with warm welcoming fireplaces and the return of Strictly Come Dancing.
The evening commenced with Dan’s fun and varied Table Topics which tested our impromptu speaking skills. Members spoke on subjects varying from time travelling, social media usage, ideal first date venues (not the cinema, better go to the cosy pub!) and good things about Dublin (large parks, ability to navigate on foot, and 99 ice-creams on most street corners 😊).
In the prepared speeches section, Irene explained what the Toastmasters Executive Committee is, and described the committee roles: President, Vice President of Education, Vice President of Membership, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, Vice President of Public Relations, and Secretary. It was a clear introduction of behind the scenes at Vox Populi and set out the club’s expectations for the year. Eamonn gave a calm and detailed evaluation of the speech. Then Deirdre took us back to 1980’s pop music during the Open Mic slot, giving a movie review for recently released A-ha The Movie. This is one that music fans and movie buffs will enjoy!
Toastmasters got the chance to stretch their comfort zones by trying new roles at the meeting. First timers in their roles were Emmet as Timer, Susie as General Evaluator, and Carola in the Listening Post.
It was a fantastic and enjoyable meeting. Well done all! I’m looking forward to doing it all again on Wednesday 5th October 7pm at the Harcourt Hotel in Dublin.
By Deirdre McCabe