Lorraine Murphy and Pat Kenny, winners of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest at Mullingar Toastmasters.

October is Toastmasters Month

October is Toastmasters Month

Why? On October 22, 1924 there was a maiden Toastmasters meeting in Santa Ana, California. This was the first meeting of Club #1 – the ‘Smedley Chapter One Club’. The Smedley Chapter One Club is not only the oldest club in Toastmasters International, it is also where people visited, and then took the idea elsewhere to create new clubs. It is the birthplace of Toastmasters International.

Who? Ralph Smedley was the founder of Toastmasters. After graduating from university in 1903, he started working at the Bloomington, Illinois YMCA as its educational director. He saw a need for the boys and young men to learn how to speak at meetings, and how to run them.

He decided to call this club the Toastmasters Club. Mr Smedley was promoted to the position of YMCA general secretary and he raised the idea of starting a Toastmasters Club at the YMCA. The members decided that the training the club would provide was needed by the adult members, and the first Adult Toastmasters Club was created.

What? Two quotes from Ralph Smedley sum up toastmasters best for anyone looking to take an interest in the Toastmaster Community: “We learn best in moments of enjoyment.” “Whatever your grade or position, if you know how and when to speak, and when to remain silent, your chances of real success are proportionately increased.”

How? If you are looking for a chance and think Toastmasters can help you on your own personal Journey then contact us at Toastmasters Mullingar, who are celebrating 23 years in existence.

We had our club humorous and table topics contest last week. Never was humour more needed and didn’t it deliver!

What an amazing night, as five members stepping us to make us laugh. The quality of our speakers was so high. There were two Distinguished Toastmasters and one Advanced Leader Gold. Also there were last year’s area, club winners, and divisional finalists.

The speeches ranged from the challenges of Covid, technology and to the philosophical! Pat Kenny’s ‘Tommy Blue Eyes’ stole the show in the speech contest. The contest team were equally accomplished and divisional director Rob obliged with Zoom mastering. Therese exuded efficiency as chief judge and the contest chair Ger Smith, also DTM, covered every base on the night.

The table topics were of such high quality also and Lorraine Murphy rose to the top by staying young as she cycled with no hands on her bike! The dynamic Pauline McCabe was second in both contests. Congratulations to everyone that took part and thank you so much for making it a special evening.

When? Our next meeting is on 22 October at 8.30pm. We meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 8.30pm.

Where? Normally in the Greville Arms, but currently on Zoom. We welcome guests through Zoom. Please contact us with any queries.

Facebook: Mullingar Toastmasters.

Website: www.toastmasters.org.

Email: mullingartoastmasters@gmail.com.