A look inside a Winnipeg Toastmasters Club on Reading Week

In recognition of “Reading Week” at the University of Manitoba, last week’s theme at our Winnipeg Toastmasters Club, UM Masters, was (you guessed it) – Reading!  We had many opportunities to weave the theme into our meeting as well as our word of the day “flummery” which means silly talk.

However there was little flummery in our prepared speeches by Colleen and Deb.  We were excited to listen to Colleen’s Ice Breaker speech where she had an opportunity as a new member to our Winnipeg Toastmasters Club introduce herself to the group.  She had us spell bound talking meeting her husband, getting married and moving all the way to Japan.   She had some of us in tears (some of us are very sentimental) when she explained to us that after many wonderful years in Japan, her and her children had to return to Winnipeg while her husband was in Korea and would be returning the end of March (the countdown is on).

It was very creative of Deb to toast Colleen as a new member and celebrate her new beginning as a member of UM Masters.  We all rose our imaginary glasses in a toast to Colleen.

This was definitely Colleen’s meeting as she received the Gold Star award for her participation.  Marc did an excellent job as Toastmaster and kept the meeting flowing smoothly and we finished right on time.  We had several guests attending the meeting and we hope that they return to see another exciting UM Masters meeting in action.

If you would like to take part in a UM Masters meeting, we’re located in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba. Our meetings are held every Wednesday from 12:05 –12:50 PM in Room 111 at St. John’s College (which is part of the University of Manitoba).

If you're in Winnipeg and interested in sitting in on a club meeting to see if Toastmasters is right for you, please feel free to contact Beverley Doern at  beverley_doern@umanitoba.ca

A look into a Winnipeg Toastmasters Club - UM Masters

This week UM Masters, a Winnipeg Toastmasters Club, decided “Celebration” was in order. As always, the events at the meeting mirrored the theme – there was lots to celebrate!  Tiffany tried the role of Toastmaster of the Meeting for the first time.  Ramogi did his first presentation to the club – the Icebreaker speech.  Colleen, a guest, tried out impromptu speaking as she wove a story around a Table Topics question. 

Ramogi’s presentation was “Me in 5 Minutes” and he put a lot of content in those 5 minutes.  He shared how a boy growing up in Kenya can end up as a student in (brrrr) Winnipeg.  He wondered, “Why have you people lived in Winnipeg so long?” and we had to agree, he makes a good point on a day with -29c windchill us Winnipeg folk deal with on regular basis.  Humour was one of Ramogi’s strong points as he shared a different perspective on the beer belly – did you know that in some cultures, it is a sign of wealth!  Whatever path led Ramogi to our club, it is something to celebrate.  Who knows, maybe one day he might actually enjoy Winnipeg’s cold weather!

Dianne, our resident story catcher, encouraged all the table topics presenters to pull something out of the box and share a story based on what they saw or felt or heard.  Jessica shared how she won’t quit until she develops the perfect banana chocolate chip muffin.  Anna was reminded by a lego block on the joy her nephews bring to her life. Did I mention that our guest, Colleen, took on the challenge of table topics?  Wow!  She received the gold star for that show of courage.

As always, the evaluators applauded participants for their strengths, gave them a way to improve on their presentation, and celebrated their achievements.

Lots of revelry, lots of celebration and lots of learning – another typical meeting at UM Masters!

What does Manitoba Merv and Toastmasters in Winnipeg have in common?

Did you hear the news? 

Manitoba Merv agrees with what Manitobans expect – we are in for another six weeks of winter.  That means hibernation for most people. But not for us Toastmasters in Winnipeg! 

February and March is the time to Talk Up Toastmasters in Winnipeg.  It is time to share with friends, colleagues and even complete strangers on the bus that Toastmasters in Winnipeg is a great alternative to hibernating!

You can talk up the content of the speeches at our meetings – always interesting and intriguing.  You can talk up the skills we develop in speaking off the cuff and providing feedback to others.  You can talk up the fun we have at meetings! 

Share why Toastmasters in Winnipeg is worth leaving our cozy homes and coming out to a meeting.  In more ways than one – it is a breath of fresh air!

Take that first step and be a fly on the wall or participate in one of our meetings! We're a Toastmasters club located in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba. Our meetings are held every Wednesday from 12:05 –12:50 PM in Room 111 at St. John’s College (which is part of the University of Manitoba).

If you're in Winnipeg and interested in sitting in on a club meeting to see if Toastmasters is right for you, please feel free to contact Beverley Doern at  beverley_doern@umanitoba.ca

Toastmasters Lingo: Sergeant at Arms

The Sergeant at Arms has nothing to do with the military I can tell you that much!

In a Winnipeg Toastmasters club, or any Toastmasters club for that matter, you will find a whole different set of roles that each individual guest or Toastmaster can become for the meeting.

Each Toastmasters club will have a Sergeant at Arms who takes on a variety of different tasks that are integral to the successful execution of a Toastmasters meeting. I’ll outline those tasks below:

The Sergeant at Arms:

• Serves as master host, which means they chair the weekly meeting by opening the meeting as well as closing it
• Makes the proper physical arrangements for all Club meetings
• Makes sure each member and guest is welcomed at Club meetings
• They control Club property between meetings
• Attends and participates in Executive Committee meetings

This role is often elected once a year in club elections. In UM Masters, our Winnipeg Toastmasters Club, we host elections in the spring and this person is voted in. This is common practice in most Toastmaster clubs as well.

However, if the Sergeant of Arms is unable to attend a meeting, anyone can take on the role!

For any new Toastmaster this is a great way to dip your toe into the water. If you are in the Winnipeg area and would like to take part in a Toastmasters club meeting stop by the University of Manitoba and visit UM Masters! We meet every Wednesday from 12:05 to 12:50 at St.John's College, room 111.

It’ll be one of the most efficient meetings you will experience. Come and experience a meeting by contacting Dianne Boulay at 204-256-7550.

We look forward to meeting you!...AT EASE fellow Winnipeg Toastmaster.