Category Archives: Uncategorized

Theme: Olympics; Role: Table Topics

A Real Ice Breaker

Today, I had the pleasure and privilege of evaluating the most “real” Ice Breaker I have ever heard. Any one who knows me even an iota knows that I love critiquing speech #1 – not because I am necessarily a harsh critic (although I am!) but more so because I enjoy giving useful feedback to [...]

A fine hint of…

Unfortunately I missed my High Noon meeting in Cambridge today due to the weather. The Guelph meeting in the evening was very enjoyable, and I have continued with my habit of fairly (but brutally) evaluating Icebreaker speeches, yet leaving the speaker with a positive and uplifting end note. I feel like I am talking about [...]

Closing 2009

Delivering my ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) speech during our High Noon speechathon today
Attending our Stone Road Holiday party tonight
Shopping for a gift this afternoon for the event
A celebratory pint with my fellow SRTM’s after the celebration

High Noon Holiday Party

A lovely success!

I am now wrapping up a rather serious speech to present tonight at Stone Road Toastmasters. Everyone has seen my buoyant and comedic side; interesting to see how they will react to somber.

A Pleasant Confirmation

I happened to be conversing with a friend recently over some fantastic craft beer. Shortly into the discourse, he mentioned to me, “Rebecca – you’re a really great listener.” What a pleasant confirmation of yet another way that Toastmasters has positively affected my life. I never used to be as engaged in the role of [...]

Active Listening

As much as I really enjoy shooting my mouth off giving speeches, I am really starting to thrive on the evaluation process. In so many ways, people treat listening as a passive process, when in fact, it is active. Evaluating is an excellent reminder of this.

Imbibing on Laughter

In my quest to obtain Toastmasters excellence – and my ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) – by the new year, I have been accepting and volunteering for any and all possible speaking roles. I have volunteered for 2 last minute speaking roles 2 weeks in a row, and today I find myself in an interesting predicament: [...]

Double Dip

General Evaluator at HNTM, Toastmaster at SRTM. What a challenge to be the chair and only have the agenda about 25% before the meeting… and to convince people to take a number of roles for the first time

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!