October 2021 News

Tis' the season for scary story telling!

Halloween is approaching and the eerie vibe in the air is especially spooky when the Bay Area fog coats the horizon. It’s also the perfect season for telling scary stories!

If you're looking for a way to challenge yourself or perhaps just to have a little fun with your next speech, try telling your own scary story.

When writing your spooky story, start off with reading classics such as Dracula or try watching horror thrillers such as The Exorcist for inspiration. Apply plenty of details to describe the things that the audience should feel, hear, and see so they can transport to the scene with their imagination. Build up the details and be sure to use your best scary story voice. When telling scary stories, it’s best to start off with a quiet and slow voice and then increase your speed and decibels when the action starts. If you’re telling the story virtually, get creative and lower your lights, invite participants to lower their lights as well. Light candles in the background to add to the chilling atmosphere. Have props on hand to use for sound effects.

Be sure to have a suspenseful climatic point that has the audience intrigued. Drum up the thrill by acting nervous as the storyteller. Engage your facial expressions to add more effect such as widening your eyes and lifting your eyebrows to look frightened. Once you get to the punchline, use a theatrical option to deliver. Try yelling the last line or jump up out of your own seat. Plant some seeds that this story isn’t quite done so that the audience might have something to gnaw on for later. 

Telling scary stories can be a fun way to add to your Halloween season this year; make it a speech for an extra spooky Toastmasters meeting! 

 

RTM Opens its Doors!

Rockridge Toastmasters opened its virtual doors to a smash of an open house last month. With 21 attendees including 3 guests, we had our computer screens full with Toasties. A special thank you to Megan for hosting and for choosing a fun theme that surely had everyone thinking critically about myths. Also a big thank you to everyone who attended and for giving a warm welcome to our guests. With ten folks staying afterwards for happy hour, it was a sure success of an evening!


We’d Love to Hear from You


This is YOUR newsletter! If you would like to write an article, send in a suggestion, or contribute a photo or artwork, we would love to hear from you. Please contact VP of Public Relations, Heather Rodgers.

Club Open House!!

It's that time of year again when many of us are looking to start something new. It could be a going back to school or starting a different sort of educational program. Maybe something like Toastmasters; to develop your speaking skills and your confidence in communication. If you're looking for a club, please join us on September 21 for our club OPEN HOUSE. We will meet at 7pm, followed by a social hour at 8pm.

We are a fun and warm club that can answer any questions you may have about joining and participating in Toastmasters. Contact us if you're interested in finding out more.

Note that this will be via zoom.

September 2021 News

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2021 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking


This year, 28 semi-finalists competed for the coveted title of 2021 World Champion of Public Speaking. Toastmasters. They were from over 100 countries and competed over several months in virtual settings for the title that can change one's life. Verity Price from District 74 based in South Africa took home first place with her speech title, “A Great Read.” Check out Verity’s speech here.

Verity is a speaker and facilitator who specializes in strategy, innovation, and promoting positive mindsets for organizations in need of inspiration. She spends her time helping businesses reach their full potential by empowering them with tools to problem solve and strategize tips to increase productivity. 

Verity has also spoken at TEDx Johannesburg and her message to the world is: “Great ideas only achieve great success when you ACT on them.” With a goal to motivate others to think differently and to apply themselves in order to reach their goals, Verity certainly has a keynote that the world deserves to hear. 

Coming in second place this year, Nitay-Yair Levi gave a captivating speech titled, “Advice for Life.”  Check out the speech here. Roger Caesar came in third place with his speech titled, “Is It in You?” Check out Roger's speech here. 

Congratulations to all of the winners at this year's World Championship of Public Speaking!

 

Congrats!! Krista Gettle, Annie Hines, and Kellie Hobbs

  • Krista completed Level 1 of Persuasive Influence

  • Annie completed Level 1 of Presentation Mastery

  • Kellie completed Level 1 of Engaging Humor


👏👏 Kudos to everyone for these achievements! 👏👏

 
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Public Speaking Games for Kids Going Back to School


As September begins to unfold, many of us are sending our younger loved ones and maybe even ourselves back to school. As Toasties who are all actively working on improving our public speaking skills, we are taking the challenge in our own hands with every speaking role and speech that is given during meetings. But what about the kids out there such as your own child, niece or nephew, or even your friends' children that you may interact with -- are they actively developing their public speaking skills? If you’re interested in promoting kids to improve their public speaking skills, here’s a few fun ideas to give a try! 

  1. Make a game for kids to practice Table Topics. Write down some random words on note cards and have them pick one and give a short impromptu response.

  2. Practice their video skills by reciting a short story or poem. Have them pick a reading of their choice and record them reciting it. Encourage eye contact, hand gestures, and vocal variety as things to focus on.

  3. Take it to the next level and encourage them to write a speech of their very own! Suggest some ideas to speak about such as their favorite class in school or what they want to be when they grow up. Having kids get comfortable with speaking about themselves can be invaluable to their confidence and self esteem.

It’s never too early for young folks to start developing skills to speak publicly. When they are given the tools at a young age, their dreams can only get bigger and brighter.

 

Dues are due!

Look for an email from RTM Club Treasurer Rubette Cowan for information on dues renewal for the next 6-month period, October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022.

Dues will be collected throughout September and are due by September 30.

Your prompt renewal and continued club membership is much appreciated!