Tag Archives: Toastmasters New Zealand

Learning through Improv Comedy with Chris Neilson

Posted on by
Reply

We had a wonderful Zoom session learning how to use the principles of improv comedy to help us to be better leaders. Leadership Coach and “Fear-Less Speaker Coach” Chris Neilson led us through his 7-step process and we had a wonderful time.

Chris Neilson

Chris is an American trainer and coach based in the U.S. He’s helped numerous corporations and non-profits including the Alzheimer Association of San Diego to improve how they do things using his techniques.

He certainly invigorated our meeting, and we agreed it was an enjoyable and informative afternoon. We had visitors from around New Zealand including a number from Wellington Toastmaster club Capital Chatterers zoom into our meeting of Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters. Thank you Chris!

We will continue meeting on Zoom as required, but are looking forward to returning to socially-distanced meetings at our regular venue The Village on Frank Street in Papanui on Friday 17 September at 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

If you’d like to contact Chris Neilson you can visit his website here.

Moving to Zoom in Level 4

Posted on by
Reply
CWC Toastmasters will be meeting online until further notice.

Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters meetings will be moving to online-only as New Zealand enters lockdown Level 4. The government announced the measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 after a case was detected in Auckland.

Members will be emailed a link to the Zoom meeting. The same link will be used each week, so remember to save it to save time.

How to win the Toastmasters Humourous Speech Contest!

Posted on by
Reply
Laura Bruce holding the district 72 Toastmasters Humourous Speech Trophy, with Erin Daldry DTM
Erin Daldry, DTM presented Laura with the District 72 Humourous Speech Trophy in July 2020.

Today at Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters’ online meeting, Laura Bruce DTM will present an educational speech to help you win the Humourous Speech Contest. The meeting will be an online meeting, and guests are very welcome.

To help you take notes, Laura has created this worksheet which she suggests you print out ahead of the meeting. Download the worksheet here

Laura is the 2020 District 72 Humourous Speech champion, so she knows a bit about winning the contest. You may be surprised to learn, however, that most of what Laura knows came from many year’s experience losing the contest. Until 2019 when she won the Christchurch Women’s Club Humourous Speech Contest, Laura had never won the speech contest at club level.

Laura credits Toastmasters with giving her both the skills and the confidence to try stand-up comedy. She made her debut in Scotland but really got stuck into comedy once she relocated to New Zealand in 2019. In December 2020, she was voted “South Island Newcomer of the Year” by members of the New Zealand Comedy Guild.

Prepare to be motivated and inspired by her presentation today!

Enjoy!

Become a better business speaker: free seminar 26th March in Papanui

Posted on by
Reply

Need to do a business presentation but have no time to prepare? Learn how to cut your preparation time and present a powerful, well-structured speech that your clients will remember.

Sheila Hailstone, MBA, DTM
Sheila Hailstone, MBA, DTM

Have something important to say at a networking meeting but the moment it’s your turn, your legs turn to jelly and you just want to sit down?

Come along to this 40-minute lunchtime session sponsored by Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters. You’ll learn helpful pointers that will change your approach and improve your results. 

Distinguished Toastmaster Sheila Hailstone MBA, a former European Training Manager and CEO, will present this free seminar at Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters’ Open Meeting Friday 26th March from 12.30 to 1:30pm. The workshop will be held at The Village, 460 Papanui Road at the corner of Frank St. Free parking is available at the rear of the venue. Everyone is welcome.

Tickets are free but registration is recommended. Secure your place by booking via Eventbrite. Click here to reserve your free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/become-a-better-business-speaker-free-lunchtime-seminar-tickets-143906402925.

Humourous Speech Contest 2021: new member triumphs!

Posted on by
1

Congratulations to Esther Skinner, winner of the 2021 Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters club Humourous Speech Contest!

Esther was competing in her first Humourous Speech Contest. She wasn’t even a member when we held our previous one, in September 2019! Esther came along to her first meeting in May 2020, attending online via Zoom due to pandemic restrictions on on-person meetings.

Esther’s performance shows that even new members have a chance when it comes to taking part in speech contests. Well done Esther!

Congratulations to everyone who took part. Second place winner was Lovey Ratima-Rapson (below, second from left), and third place went to Steph McDade (left).

Photo of speech contest winners holding their certificates, with contest chief judge.

Thank you to all the contest officials, especially Chief Judge John Ballantine of Bishopdale Toastmasters (above, right).

Our next and final contest of the Toastmaster year is the International Speech Contest which will be held at our meeting Friday, 26 February at 12.30pm. Visitors are always welcome! 🙂

If you think Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters may be for you, please join us at one of our meetings. Click here for details.

Back in action: in-person meetings resume at Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters Club

Posted on by
Reply
We’re bursting with excitement as meeting in person again — at last!

Today marks our first meeting back and we can’t wait until lunchtime to resume our normal Friday meetings at Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters Club!

Toastmasters is a big part of our lives, and meeting our club members each week, sharing a laugh, and watching each member progress in their speaking and leadership journey is truly gratifying. While meeting on Zoom was a helpful stop-gap during the Covid-19 lockdown, we are really exciting to be meeting in person again from today.

Are you a woman in Christchurch who would like to develop your public speaking skills, your confidence in team meetings and social interactions? Would you like to develop your leadership skills? All these things are possible with Toastmasters.

Come along to a meeting Friday at 12.20 and see if it feels right to you. You can attend up to 3 meetings before making a decision about joining. Membership costs about the same as a fancy coffee once a week, so most people can afford to join Toastmasters.

Any questions? Just drop us a line! See you soon!

Best of luck Laura at the District final!

Posted on by
Reply

Best of luck to Laura Bruce ACG, ALB from Christchurch Women’s Toastmasters Club. Laura, who serves as the club’s Vice President of Public Relations, will be representing our Division at the New Zealand District 72 Humourous Speech Contest on Saturday 23 May, 2020.

Laura triumphed at club contest in September, then at the Area contest in December. She won again at the Division Contest in April, and now progresses to the ultimate arena, the District Contest, tomorrow.

Laura said, “Having never won the Humourous Speech contest at my club before, I am absolutely over the moon to be representing Christchurch Women’s Club at the District 72 Conference contest tomorrow!”

Three of the club’s members — Laura Bruce, Sheila Hailstone and Nicola Tiffin — were successful at Area level contests — a sweep by Christchurch Women’s Club at Area 4 — and all three went on to compete in the Division Contest in April.

“Our club’s motto is ‘supporting women to succeed’,” said Club founder President-Elect Sheila Hailstone DTM. “Laura embodies that drive for success, and we will all be there tomorrow to cheer her on!”

To cheer Laura on, you can join the conference virtually, on Zoom, via the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/7272720000?pwd=MWxhZ0hMWktRb2xMY3I1RVNqQzBxQT09
Or you can join with meeting number 727-272-0000 and password 727272 via your Zoom account.