Wild Words Contest

In order to prepare good speeches, you need to be able to write.  Here's your chance to participate in a Wild Words Contest and get some great information.


SARK just announced SARK's Wild Words Contest! It's sort of combination between a writing contest and a treasure hunt...and EVERYONE who enters wins a prize! One person will win the JUICY GRAND PRIZE, which includes being FEATURED in your own "Magical Mini-Memoir" in the program - right alongside the other inspiring writers. Enter today - the contest ends April 8th! Plus, through April 8, there is an "Early Word Special" with a really nice discount. Enter SARK's Wild Words Contest here!








 
I love SARK
 
Fran
 

Poetry In The Valley - new video

Recorded after Valley VIntage Toastmasters meeting. 

Thanks to Dan Caldwell.  Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Poetry In The Valley is our first attempt at sharing a different type of communication with fellow Toastmasters and guests.

There are as many definitions of poetry as there are poets. Wordsworth defined poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;" Emily Dickinson said, "If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;" and Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: "Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing."


Poetry is a lot of things to a lot of people. Homer's epic,The Oddysey, described the wanderings of the adventurer, Odysseus, and has been called the greatest story ever told. During the English Renaissance, dramatic poets like John Milton, Christopher Marlowe, and of course Shakespeare gave us enough to fill textbooks, lecture halls, and universities.
 
So what is poetry?


Perhaps the characteristic most central to the definition of poetry is its unwillingness to be defined, labeled, or nailed down.

Don't shackle poetry with your definitions. Poetry is not a frail and cerebral old woman, you know. Poetry is stronger than you think. Poetry is imagination and will break those chains faster than you can say "Harlem Renaissance."


To borrow a phrase, poetry is a riddle wrapped in an enigma swathed in a cardigan sweater… or something like that. It doesn't like your definitions and will shirk them at every turn. If you really want to know what poetry is, read it. Read it carefully. Pay attention. Read it out loud. Now read it again.

There's your definition of poetry. Because defining poetry is like grasping at the wind - once you catch it, it's no longer wind.

from About.com, written by Mark Flanagan

May you enjoy all the poems you read!!

Fran Watson

Poetry Reading

Our local Toastmasters Club is having a special night on Poetry Reading.  This is the first introductory video about it.



I am planning to participate and will record a video for this as well.  I will post it as soon as it is available.

Poetry reading is a special type of public speaking as the speaker tries to interpret the meaning of the poem and give expression and vocal variety in the reading.  Poetry can be difficult to read and takes more time to think about than just reading a book or a newspaper article.  Participants will have an opportunity to challenge themselves while providing entertainment for the audience.  If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit the Neat Cafe in Burnstown, Ontario.

Fran

Free Hugs Campaign - Official Page (music by Sick Puppies.net )

Opportunity

Our theme for our weekly Toastmasters' Meeting this week was Opportunity and I had the opportunity to give the toast, so I wrote a poem on the subject.

Opportunities Taken


Expand my horizons?
Oh no, I’m too scared
I don’t think I’d know what to do.
I’ve grown used to the comfort
Of just coming and listening
And maybe doing timing, or ah counting or quizzing
But take on a role of Toastmaster, no way
I might make mistakes. What would I say?
And table topics is frightening, people might boo
When I introduce a topic or two.

Expand my horizons
Do you really think I could?
The thought just scares me to death.
Well ok, not quite, but almost, but then,
that’s how I felt before I began
my weekly sessions at Toastmasters;
So maybe I can..
Ok, yes I’ll do it, I’ll step out in faith
sign me up.

I did it, I did it and I did ok
I really expanded my horizons today
And it felt so good I’ll do it again,
Why let opportunity just pass me by,
Without even looking to give it a try?
Just give me that schedule
And I’ll put down my name
I’ll start with the story or maybe a toast
It will give me an opportunity to stand up and boast.
Perhaps next week I’ll give my next speech
Or maybe even the word of the week.

My confidence grows with every new step
And I look forward to things that I haven’t done yet
I’m expanding my horizons and I’ll continue to soar
As each week I’ll do something and then one thing more.
Opportunities given, opportunities taken
The growth is amazing, there’s no mistaking
So look around at the things you can do
Who knows what next can happen for you!

Fran Watson
copyright Feb 7, 2011

Building Your Vocabulary

GROWING A VOCABULARY


Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds;

You can't do that way when you're flying words.

"Careful with fire," is good advice we know,

"Careful with words," is ten times doubly so.

Thoughts unexpressed many sometimes fall back dead;

But God Himself can't kill them when they're said.

—Will Carleton, The First Settler's Story.

The term "vocabulary" has a special as well as a general meaning. True, all vocabularies are grounded in the everyday words of the language, out of which grow the special vocabularies, but each such specialized group possesses a number of words of peculiar value for its own objects. These words may be used in other vocabularies also, but the fact that they are suited to a unique order of expression marks them as of special value to a particular craft or calling.

In this respect the public speaker differs not at all from the poet, the novelist, the scientist, the traveler. He must add to his everyday stock, words of value for the public presentation of thought.

A study of the discourses of effective orators discloses the fact that they have a fondness for words signifying power, largeness, speed, action, color, light, and all their opposites. They frequently employ words expressive of the various emotions. Descriptive words, adjectives used in fresh relations with nouns, and apt epithets, are freely employed. Indeed, the nature of public speech permits the use of mildly exaggerated words which, by the time they have reached the hearer's judgment, will leave only a just impression.

Form the Book-Note Habit

To possess a word involves three things: To know its special and broader meanings, to know its relation to other words, and to be able to use it. When you see or hear a familiar word used in an unfamiliar sense, jot it down, look it up, and master it.

We have in mind a speaker of superior attainments who acquired his vocabulary by noting all new words he heard or read. These he mastered and put into use. Soon his vocabulary became large, varied, and exact.

Use a new word accurately five times and it is yours. Professor Albert E. Hancock says: "An author's vocabulary is of two kinds, latent and dynamic: latent—those words he understands; dynamic—those he can readily use. Every intelligent man knows all the words he needs, but he may not have them all ready for active service. The problem of literary diction consists in turning the latent into the dynamic."

Your dynamic vocabulary is the one you must especially cultivate.

To building your vocabulary

Fran Watson

P.S.  Check out my book on Public Speaking

HOW TO LOWER YOUR STRESS BEFORE SPEAKING

 


by J.A. Gamache

Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking

Imagine that you're seated at a head table and asked to speak at the end of the meal. How can you relax when everyone's eyes are on you? Here are three simple ways to calm down in these situations.

1- DRAW A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL NUMBER EIGHTS

This tip comes from Laurent Duperval (www.duperval.com), an excellent trainer. Before a talk, he might give the impression that he's jotting down some ideas, but in fact, he's taking the time to discretely draw a series of beautiful number eights. Why? Because he has to calm down in order to draw the loops in the numbers, otherwise they would look awful. This type of exercise forces him to concentrate, which is soothing.

2- TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS

Have you noticed being short of breath when you're nervous? Taking the time to really fill your lungs loosens you up before speaking. Personally, to relax I take 10 deep breaths at a ratio of 1-4-2. For example, if I inhale while counting to 3, I then hold my breath while counting to 12 (which is 4 times 3), and then I exhale while counting to 6 (2 times 3). Taking in more oxygen can help you calm down.

3- CONCENTRATE ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF YOUR SPEECH

When you're stressed, your attention is often focused on the symptoms of your discomfort, such as your clammy hands, racing heart beat, and so on. This focus only increases your tension. Instead of concentrating on your fear and any potential disaster scenarios, think about why it is important that your message be heard. By shifting your focus to your audience, you might grow calmer.

Try the three above techniques the next time you can't retreat anywhere to relax before speaking in front of a group. Draw a series of identical number eights, take a few deep breaths and concentrate on the benefits your speech can bring. You may be surprised by the effectiveness of these simple methods.

Happy speech!
©MMIX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.

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PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:

This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com/.

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JA Gamache is a member of District 61 Toastmasters.

Thanks JA for your excellent article!!

Fran