In awe (Discover Prompts #14 – BOOK)
I love books, I mean I really love books. I quite like reading them, but get more pleasure in; what it is I discover, the turning down of the leaf […]
Meeting Roles and Responsibilities – A Toastmaster’s Education Speech
As a new Toastmaster you may well be confused with the meeting roles and responsibilities, this is a brief resume as to what you might be expected to deliver when […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
Distinguished Toastmasters Indeed!
In April 2008, 7.15pm for a strict 7.30 kick off, Steve Graham, Jan Thorpe with much bugging and instance from yours truly, Casterbridge Speakers was launched. That day, I started […]
Much Ado About Nothing!
Last weekend, Dave and I went to the open air Globe Theatre for our biennial visit. We always go in July and … it always rains! To date, we have […]
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 […]
COT MOP – Area Director’s Diary
(Club Officer Training – Mop up! Part 1) The joint area 1 and area 42 club officer training turned out to be a tremendous success. In pooling our resources, Diane […]
Live 2017 – Your Best Year Yet!
On Thursday evening, eight highly energised, exited and enthusiastic Hallmark Speakers took to the floor to give an amazing showcase of ideas on how to live life to the full […]
Talk Up Toastmasters – Area Director’s Diary
Talk Up Toastmasters is one of three challenges during the Toastmaster’s year to engage five new members to each of our clubs. Every club achieving five new members in this […]
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 […]
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. […]
Wrapping Up … A Toastmaster’s Area Director’s Diary
Wrap up, tie up any loose ends and reflect before gifting! With little over a month to go before the end of the Toastmaster’s year, it is time to do […]
Passing the Baton – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
What are you doing to ensure the ongoing success of your club? Planning an effective succession strategy for your club’s committee is not easy. We are all busy people, but […]
Variety is the Spice of Life – an Educational Speech
Introduction “Laura McHarrie, is here on her 2nd official visit to the club in her role as Area Director. Laura is close to getting her AC Silver award this year. […]
Entelechies! A Toastmaster’s Area Director’s Diary
Interesting how the half way point creeps up whilst you were snoozing over Christmas and slap bam wallop two clubs in the area have achieved Distinguished Club Status with a […]
Cindy – Interpretive Reading #2
In reading a poem our speaker Laura McHarrie won’t look at the audience as often as she might when reading prose. This is because direct eye contact may inhibit your […]
Be Bold! Be Brief! Be Gone! – A Toastmasters Area Director’s Diary
I think I’m addicted to the Corporate Club Meetings. Having been to three at Chaseside, the JP Morgan Toastmasters club – I think I should reveal their hidden secret. There […]
The Perfect Storm – Storytelling #2
Christmas 1997, I helicoptered into the best year of Excel Clothing’s 10 year history. Full of excitement at taking on my new role as Managing Director of this successful ladies […]
The Golden Quarter – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
“Everything we do in the first three months of the year is amplified when it comes to our overall performance in the year. Every new member of an existing or […]
Stepping In or Stepping Up – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
I went to Ferndown Speakers in my official capacity as Area Director this week. An unbelievable example of people ‘stepping in’ at the last minute to ensure the meeting was […]
The Emperors New Clothes – Storytelling #1
Tell a folk tale that is entertaining and enjoyable for a specific age group; Use vivid imagery and voice to enhance the tale. For the purpose of this speech, Laura […]
Follow Through and Follow Up – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
For a period of five years, I was the Regional Controller of what became a very successful remote team of New Look Area Managers. The success was theirs and theirs […]
