62 Poems – (TTC #345)
Speech Introduction: Laura McHarrie started her WordPress site in 2007, alongside several friends that did likewise. She didn’t know what she wanted to share back then … and even now […]
To Whom It May Concern – (TM speech)
“Having mentored for years, Laura has studied Catherine Kram, David Clutterbuck, and Norman Cohen’s works on the very subject. She has been trained by The Princes Trust and delivers workshops […]
The Sound Bath (Discover Prompts #21 – INSTRUMENTS)
Here I am lying on my back, with 15 or so Media Lounge colleagues each wrapped in a soft, cozy, cuddly blanket. It’s a tad too quiet and I’m thinking […]
Talk to the Hand …
Introduction “Our next speaker, Laura McHarrie has been a volunteer supporter for the Young Enterprise Programme for 11 years and prior to that, a business mentor with Princes Trust. For […]
Pathways – Step by Step
Introduction “Having spent 10 years enjoying the old Toastmasters educational system and being fairly fluent with the content, Laura was keen to embark on the new Pathways Programme. She signed […]
It’s Poet’s Day
Today is Poet’s day. Let’s celebrate it. Much of what we deliver in our prepared speeches is poetic prose. It is a form of writing that uses the aesthetic and […]
Battle of the Sexes
Introduction “Laura has been fascinated by the study of communications or rather miscommunications, since 2007, when she picked up a copy of John Gray’s book entitled Men are from Mars, […]
“Everything changes, but nothing changes.”
New Parenting Model for the 21st Century – I don’t think so Fellow Toastmasters I am not a biological parent, I have three step children, a sibling, a nephew and […]
Sowing Seeds for Impromptu Speaking
The level three Pathways ‘Active Listening’ project asks the Table Topics Master to really ‘listen’ to the table topic responses. Then to make an appropriate comment on the talk as […]
Christmas Tunes Can Drive You Crackers
Introduction Laura McHarrie was a shop manager, when retailing … took place in bricks and mortar. There was none of this easy peasy, drop box, ‘clicks and sorta’ kinda stuff; […]
The Rest of the Story (TM Speech #7)
“Our next speaker, Laura McHarrie’s maiden name was Richardson. On the 21st November 1984 (almost 34 years ago), Ray Dukes, a Debenham’s employee wrote … ‘In response to your request […]
The Man He Killed – Speciality Speech #4
Throughout the UK communities gathered on 32 beaches as part of Pages of the Sea to say a collective thank you and goodbye to the millions who left our shores […]
How to be Heard (TM Speech #2&3)
Introduction “Here at Toastmasters, we live and die by our presentation successes and failures. The intros can have a massive impact how the audience reacts to the speech. I’m so […]
I’m Not Deaf – You Know …
“Our next speaker is Laura McHarrie. This speech was inspired by Rachel Knowles. When Rachel answered Julia Martineau’s table topic question – what invention could you not live without, she […]
Listen to Learn..
Introduction “The first three months of any Toastmaster year is called the Golden Quarter. The more that is planned and actioned in the first three months, the smoother the club […]
The Problem with the Pause.
“Laura McHarrie is a master of the strategically placed pause. She has been involved with Toastmasters for 10 years and has completed both the old communication and leadership programme resulting […]
Watch out little legs. My lanky ones are after you! – Special Occasions #3
This is Laura McHarrie’s 40th evaluated speech and the penultimate tick in the box towards Advanced Speaker Gold. She was the first member of Casterbridge Speakers having persuaded Steve Graham […]
The Five Es – High Performance Leadership part II
Laura is close to the end of her journey towards Distinguished Toastmaster. This is the penultimate project towards Advanced Leadership Silver. In this speech Laura takes a long hard look […]
To Boldly Go … Down Pathways –
Laura McHarrie has chosen to deliver her penultimate Advance Communicator Gold speech as part of her Area Director visit, as forthcoming changes to the Toastmasters learning programme lends itself to […]
Six Down; Six to Go – Speeches by Management #2
Speeches by Management (2011-05) #2 – Appraise with Praise (5:00-7:00 min) Demonstrate importance of feedback techniques personally used in daily life; Use constructive evaluation to help someone improve their performance; […]
Grow and Be Strong Pt 2 – Speeches by Management #3
Hey Hallmark Speakers – how are you doing? Me? I’m not doing too bad … now … after a few false starts and some key learning. In fact the learning […]
10 out of 10! Andrew – Special Occasion Speeches #4
Sausages, Sparkers and Fireworks! With this speech entitled The Secrets of the Seaside Andrew Knowles has completed the competent communicators manual. That’s ten out of ten! Lady President, Mr Toastmaster, […]
A Load of Old Codswallop – RIP Sidney Harold Richardson
“A Load of Old Codswallop” – you can just see him, now, tutting with a wry grin and a twinkle in his eye as he says it. Friends and […]
Breaking the Rules – Speeches by Management #5
Houston, we have a problem! Tis not as bad as the Apollo 13 incident but neither are we NASA. However, according to the 2016/7 speech contest rulebook says a club […]
Grow & Be Strong – Speeches By Management #1
Laura McHarrie, introduced a project as part of her high performance leadership project in October 2015. The project floundered in the first few months. Having reviewed the initial plans, […]
Over to You! – Special Occasion Speeches #1
The Toast – On 6th July, Laura McHarrie officially handed over the running of Toastmaster’s Area 42 to her successor Linda Parkinson-Hardman, simultaniously completing another in the special occasion speeches manual. […]
From Foolish to Flourish – Special Occasion Speeches #5
The Acceptance Speech The thing about Toastmasters is there is always the next challenge. Just when you think you have nailed one set of skills another advanced manual opens up […]
Ah Yes! It is Christmas … Storytelling #4
Introduction – Laura McHarrie stumbled upon the subject of this her fourth project from the Story Telling Manual having talked about a Christmas Tradition in a table topic last December. […]
A Letter from George – Storytelling #5
Betsy Loveless was beating the back out of a piece of meat with a weighty rolling pin. The occasional trapped rabbit with wild vegetables regularly put food on the family […]
Variations on the Death of Trotsky – Interpretive Reading #4
Laura McHarrie has chosen and for the purpose of timing edited, a short one-act comedy-drama written by David Ives. The play fictionalises the death of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky through a […]
The Flood – Interpretive Reading #3
Laura McHarrie has chosen The Flood, one of The Vagina Monologues, a compilation of plays written and performed originally by Eve Ensler in 1996. This is one that Laura thinks […]
Laura McHarrie @ The Hidden Edge 