Toastmasters

About three weeks ago, I gave my first impromptu speech ever. My friend was giving her "ice-breaker," the first speech, at the meeting and had invited me to come watch her, so I did. During the meeting, during every meeting, they have table topics. This is when a person comes up with a few ideas, related to the theme of the day, and gives you one, while you walk up to the podium to speak. Basically, you speak on the fly. I didn't have to talk, but the members looked at all the guests and asked if they wanted to try. Knowing the others wouldn't dare, and I really don't have a problem speaking in front of complete strangers, I said I would. My topic was old music and the words of the day, which must be used, were lion and lamb.


Swing music was the first thing to come to mind, although if I had really been thinking I would have chosen old english music because at that time I was trying to come up with old English dances. But i didn't. So I talked about swing, I pretend to dance in front of everyone, and came up with the idea that swing music is like a lion and a lamb. A lion because you have the loud brass. The saxes, trumpet, etc. A lamb because you have sweet wonderful voices like ella fizgerald. Yea, it was cheesy, but I won for best table topics. I even got a ribbon.

I've been back twice since. Funny thing is, no one remembers my name, they all remember the dancing. Still, they continue to say they are glad to see me again and my friend who invited me in the first place has asked me to join. She's even volunteered to be my toastmasters mentor. After much hemming, hawing, and questioning and wondering, i realized it isn't that important if I do or don't join. Yes, I may be bad at critiquing people (nicely) and unsure of doing any job right, but these people really don't care. If I do or don't say the right things, it's not going to bother them in the slightest. In fact, they just want people to join so they can get their premiere group status.

So I joined. Today. I am going to have to speak in front of people, evaluate others, check others grammer, count Ah's and um's, come up with ideas for impromptu speeches, and eventually lead meetings. Geesh. Well, if I don't like it I can leave. All I know is that the people like me there, especially my friend..... I lower the average age in that group by about 5 years.