Lowdown meeting 1 June 2009

June 1st, 2009 admin Posted in lowdown, meeting | No Comments »

The president Andrew Timberlake called the meeting to order at 18.25 and requested everyone introduce themselves.

Kirsten confirmed the programme and Matt proposed the Loyal Toast.

The Toastmaster for the evening was Paul Smith.

Speeches

Thuli Makhene: CC1 Why I must learn the Tango

Thuli held the meeting entranced as she highlighted the two constants in her life – travel and learning to speak an increasing number of languages. Her parents seemed to want her to live in every province in South Africa and while living there to learn the language spoken most frequently in that province!

Once she was operating under her own steam she studied in the USA and then learnt French so she could really make the most of a field trip to Paris.

Now her ears are set on learning Spanish and the challenge of visiting Spain or the more exciting prospect of Tango-ing in the Argentine.

Terry Mashoke: CC1 Perfect work in Progress

Terry who started life in Zimbabwe was very relieved at the age of 6 that her mother decided to stop providing her with more brothers and sisters!

She loved school holidays, especially a trip to the Victoria Falls, when she went on a sunset cruise and game viewing.

Boarding school, at the age of 9 was a bitter sweet experience but taught her discipline & independence.

Her post school days started with secretarial training, which gave her access to, but not a seat in, the Board Room.

So she set off on the road to higher education, first a PR diploma in London, then a B degree in marketing communication and so to an MBA.

This enabled her to graduate from a sales rep, to accounts manager and then strategic management and so the trip continues from typing pool to Board Room and who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Theresa Muller: CC2 Small Business in South Africa

Theresa provided us with a range of fascinating business statistics, primarily from overseas, with respect to small and large businesses, their contribution to GDP, employment statistics, etc.

On the positive side she highlighted that it was actually small business that made the world go round, primarily because they had the flexibility to rapidly take advantage of and adapt to changing situations.

However on the negative side, small businesses tended to be hardest hit by economic downturns, but she countered this with innovative suggestions on how to overcome some of these problems, for example small businesses working together to pool their resources

She closed by saying that for South Africa to do well it must ensure not just the survival but also the success of our small businesses.

Danie Fourie: CC2 Conspiracy Busted

Danie posed the Question  “Did NASA actually land a man on the moon or was it a well orchestrated hoax”.

He presented 3 strong arguments to prove the hoax theory and countered these with three equally good explanations to prove man really did land on the moon.

His first argument was based on the fact that the flag planted on the moon was flying and not drooping, when it was in a vacuum. The second argument hinged around the lack of stars in photos taken on the moon and the final argument discussed the footprint on the moon.

Having challenged our thinking processes Danie left the audience to weigh the evidence and decide for themselves.

Ray Smit: CC3 Random Acts of Kindness

Ray described Random Acts of Kindness as being kind without warning. He said Random Acts of Kindness were always a win-win, since both the giver and receiver benefited.

Google records half a million Random Acts of Kindness and websites are dedicated to the topic.

Classic random acts of kindness include paying a tollgate fee or stopping to help change a tyre for a total stranger.

Ray asked his son and daughter for examples, his daughter suggested playing with a child at school, who had no friends or sharing her lunch with someone who had none. His son suggested standing up for someone who was being bullied

Ray closed with a quote from Martin Luther King “The Time is Always Right to do What is Right”.

Presentation of ACS Badge

Before breaking for recess Andrew proudly presented Graham with his ACS Badge.

Media Education Session

Kirsten and Erich presented a fascinating very informative session on how to conduct a TV interview. Kirsten’s recorded TV interview on the role and value of a Life Coach was viewed and reviewed by everyone.  Kirsten and Erich then reworked the interview, based on a number of suggestions and the audience again assessed this  vastly improved and very much more dynamic interview.

Evaluation Session

Mathew, as chief evaluator, led the session in which Karen evaluated Thuli’s speech, Monica Terry’s speech, Andrew Theresa’s speech, Richard Danie’s speech and Mathew Ray’s speech.

Time Keeper – Emma Dougherty very efficiently provided the timing.

ALS Presentation – Richard summarised the Extensia project, how this club had been very successfully relaunched.

Grammarians Report - Danie Roux gave a creative humorous grammarian’s report.

Hark Master – The audience had listened well and Coralie as Hark Master was not able to extract much money.

On a Point

The next meeting would be on Wednesday 17 June.

COT Training for all new Committee Members was on Saturday 20 June.

The Clubs Induction dinner was scheduled for Wednesday 24 June 2009, details to follow.

The Clubs humorous contest was provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 19 August
and Mini-Con would be held in Johannesburg on 16 and 17 October at Woodmead

Danie Roux reminded members that he recorded on DVD all the speeches and evaluations. Copies could be had at a cost of R10.00. this money was to be put in a self addressed envelope and given to him after which he would forward copies of the assignment.

Members would be asked to vote, via e-mail, for the awards to be presented at the installation dinner.

The meeting closed at 20.50


Low down 20 May 2009 - the AGM

May 20th, 2009 admin Posted in lowdown, meeting | No Comments »

Dave Black called the meeting to order at 18.25.

The President, Andrew Timberlake, welcomed and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

Kirsten Long gave changes to the programme and Mathew Hindley proposed the Loyal Toast.

Kirsten as Toastmaster introduced firstly the Grammarian, Cheryl Koorn, who challenged everyone to incorporate the word “scintillating” into their assignment. Secondly the Timekeeper, Emma Dougherty, and thirdly the Hark Master, Sue-Ann Joe.

Speeches

Brendan van Niekerk presented his CC1, Entitled “Know Thyself “

Brendan introduced his speech by saying know thyself, be thyself and in the case of Toastmaster introduce thyself, so he would try to explain what makes him tick.

It appears that diversity, on all fronts, work, education and hobbies has been the force driving Brendan.

Two years ago he started at 4th Dimension and then disappeared, because he had a nervous breakdown and went through depression as a result of losing both a business in Australia and a family member

He spent time in Thailand, where learning how to kick box and silent meditation, helped him naturally cleanse and heal his body, bring perspective back to him and putting his life back on track.

From this he learnt that he had so much for which he could be grateful especially, that he now has a purpose and mission to his life and can see every set back as a gift.

This saw him looking at the family business in a new way, the result a scintillating new business plan with an inspired vision and mission, which will touch the lives of billions.

Christa Roux - Some Engineering Secrets

Christa opened by saying that engineers perceive things in a strange and different way to the rest of humanity.

Three things make engineers extraordinary. They notice things others may not, they appreciate the magic in the world and finally they are always willing to help.

She used creative examples, a concert at OppiKoppi, a talking frog and the wrong folding of a map to explain each of these phenomena.
She closed by saying that the moral of this is that you can choose to be more like an engineer by noticing things you never payed attention to before, you can appreciate the magic in the world and last but not least please let an engineer help you if they keep insisting on it.

Danie Roux – Tales of a Journeyman

Having completed his CC at 4th Dimension, Danie took us on a creative Journey, visiting the clubs in and even beyond the borders of Division H, as he presented humorous speeches to each one in order to achieve his ACB.

To his consternation when he felt his speech was the ultimate in humour, the evaluators indicated the opposite and where he felt least confident he received a rave evaluation!

In closing Danie said that the prime lesson he learnt as a Journeyman travelling to different clubs in the Division and beyond is to challenge all members to do the same go out of your club and see how the rest of the Toastmaster world operates. There are many beautiful towns, with excellent drinks and food, where the feedback does not have me laughed at!

Coralie Rutherford – Stars of the Antarctic – The Launch of Falcoquine Plus

Coralie briefed and motivated the Aegean sales force on the launch of a new product, Falcoquine Plus for the treatment of malaria. The market situation, product sales target, achievable, sales force incentives, lots of money and even a trip to Antarctica, and the benefits of the product, effective against all strains of malaria and at an affordable price, were presented.

Graham Nicholls - ACS

ACS Badge to Graham Nicholls - Andrew congratulated Graham on completing his ACS and presented him with his badge.

Evaluation

Richard Riche chaired this session. Mathew, Zibu, Graham and Richard evaluated respectively the speeches made by Brendan, Christa, Danie and Coralie.

Emma presented the Timekeepers report on the evaluations.

Grammarians Report – presented by Cheryl Koorn

Annual General Meeting

Andrew Timberlake chaired this section of the meeting and welcomed our special guests Graham Nicholls and Richard Riche.

New Committee - The following were unanimously elected:

Sargaant at Arms          Shared bySue-Anne Joe and Tayangwa Masawi

Secretary                      Raymond Smit

Treasurer                      Christa Roux

VPPR                          Tiaan Otto

VPM                            Monica Oosthuizen

VPE                             Danie Roux

President                      Kirsten Long

They were congratulated on their election.

Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 20.25


Lowdown - 6 April 2009

April 6th, 2009 admin Posted in lowdown, meeting | No Comments »

Call to Order & Welcome

Dave Black called the meeting to order at 18.15 and Andrew Timberlake welcomed everyone, especially our guests.

New Member Induction

Amid great excitement Danie inducted FOUR new members: A second Danie, Liz, Ray and Theresa.

Should they and all the current 4th Dimension members keep the promise to undertake all the activities in the Toastmaster’s Promise, the Club would never be short of a board or anyone to undertake any assignment!

After the Loyal Toast, proposed by Dave Hardingham, Andrew introduced the Toastmaster, Coralie.

The theme for the evenings: Easter Customs

During the meeting Coralie outlined the origin of Easter and a number of the customs associated with Easter. The Queen of England’s Maundy Money, Easter Bonnets, the eating of Lamb at Easter were all mentioned. Most important of them all, is the customs around eggs at Easter. These range from the painting of eggs, searching for eggs in the garden, egg fights and egg rolling races to last, but definitely not the least: The Russian Faberge eggs.

Speakers for the night

Danie Fourie: Driving my SUV

Danie very cleverly tied the stages of his life to the cars he drove, from the aging sports car that announced the end of his time at University, to his laid back lifestyle with a convertible Combi. So the cars changed as he started a business and studied for his MBA.

Ray Smit: Stuttgart

Ray gave us just a little peek at his life when he described his trip to snow buried Stuttgart in Germany, to attend a corporate conference. He spoke of his hesitancy in standing up to give workshop feedback, how he eventually gained the confidence to talk to people and had a wonderful networking night. We got an insight into his life as a devoted husband and father who missed his family so much that he rushed straight home from the conference.

Theresa Muller – Who am I?

Theresa gave us tiny fascinating insights into her life prefixing each segment with the words “Who am I”.

Is she the director of a strategic marketing and advertising company, a magazine publisher, an illegal US immigrant, a mother? Theresa we all want to hear much more detail of who you are!

David Black – The Widest World Wide Web

David fascinated us by his summary of the development of the World Wide Web from the day the first e-mail was sent until what we know and use today. A meteoric progression which none of us would have believed if we hadn’t seen it unfold before us in those few years.

Barbara Poultney – Memories of World War II

This was not the title of Barbara’s oratorial speech but it sums up the tone of the three speeches she read from those years, speeches which ensured the British did not give up until they had won World War II.

The speeches were “The Glory Years 1939 to 1945”, “the Hour of our Greatest Effort is Approaching” and “D Day June 6 1944.

Table Topics Session

Tayengwa Masawi presented a challenging table topic session. Tayengwa asked each speaker to explain why they had the essential qualities for the following jobs:

David Black – Priest in his local church
Coralie Rutherford – The Spokesperson for the ANC
Danie Roux – A Taxi Driver
Clinton – A School Teacher
Barbara Poultney – A Hangman
Maureen - A Commercial Pilot

Evaluation Session

Andrew Timberlake chaired the wvaluation session where Sharad Mistry evaluated Danie Fourie’s speech, Monica Oosthuizen the speech by Ray Smit, Dave Hardingham Theresa Muller’s speech, Kirsten Long David Black’s speech and last but not least Andrew himself evaluated Barbara Poultney’s reading.

Closing assignments

Sue Munro gave the timekeepers report, Danie Roux, the Grammarian’s report, Liz Pearson was Hark Master and Sue Munro ran the raffle.

On a Point

Kirsten encouraged members to complete assignments for the CL manual and outlined the activities involved.

Members were encouraged to support the Area Contest, Maxicon in Cape Town on 15 and 16 May, the Club’s AGM on 20 May and especially our next meeting.

Because of the elections the next club meeting will be held at Accenture Club on Tuesday 21 April.

Danie asked members to request a DVD of their assignment, the cost was R5.00.

The meeting closed at 20:50.