A peek into a Toastmasters open house in Winnipeg

Yesterday afternoon was the Open House at UM Masters!

The theme for the meeting was Lighten Up! Members and guests in our Toastmasters semiannual Open House shared many different ways they were lightening up their lives in 2011.   Laughter filled the room when Anna described her alter ego “Anxiety Girl” who emerges when she gets overloaded. 

The speech, on a cold Winnipeg afternoon, was “Fear Lurks in the Darkness" by Bev Doern. It is a Research Your Topic presentation from the Competent Communicator manual. Bev illustrated with stories how powerful fear can be – how the primitive brain assesses each threat it faces based on previous experiences (stored on old tapes – older than 8-tracks).  Our job is to update those threat assessments.  Bev shared an exercise from Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP) that can anchor a different cellular memory to help with this.  

Table topics gave members the opportunity to speak on their feet on the theme of lightening up.  Our visiting Area Governor Bonnie Taylor braved the cold Winnipeg streets to attend and applauded the meeting, making note of Dianne and Cathy’s evaluations.  They were specific and encouraging while still giving people ways they could improve.  

Jose, a guest, thought the meeting was highly entertaining and was glad he could take part.  It was a great way to lighten up the week!

As a reminder to anyone else who is in the Winnipeg area and would like to attend a UM Masters meeting, just let us know! There doesn't have to be an open house to just sit in on a meeting. Come in and experience a Toastmasters club in Winnipeg located at the University of Manitoba!

We look forward to seeing you!