Good Morning Victorians! ☀️

As the new year confetti settles, we’re faced with the reality of getting back to the grind. Goals to hit, speeches to deliver, feedback to action, but how do we keep on top of it all?

Sometimes, improving our public speaking can feel like we are lost in a dark wood. We take a few steps forward, hesitate, is this the right direction? Am I making progress?

We circle back, speed up, slow down, anything but stick to a single path.

Think about it though, what if we chose one path and followed it through? Eventually, we’d find our way out.

Good news…there is a well trodden path to follow and it’s right at your fingertips. Pathways is that tool, an interactive learning journey filled with carefully curated content designed to help you grow as a speaker.

Don't leave your progress to chance people.

📢 Club Update 📢

A look back at our Reverse Meeting

One way to turn the agenda on its head is to, well… literally turn it on its head. We recently tried a ‘reverse meeting’ format, demanding the mental agility of a blindfolded tightrope walker, on a rope made of butter.

How did it go down?

It started with the Toastmaster of the Day (Sam) thanking the guests for attending, and then “closing” the meeting, and continued with the general evaluator (Lucy) offering their assessment of the meeting.

Speakers then had to recall the feedback they had received earlier in the meeting and then incorporate this into their speech.

From Krishna instructing us in the zen art of mediation as part of his timekeeper report or David giving his feedback stood directly in front of Saloni, it really did feel like a toastmaster meeting from a parallel universe.

If you enjoyed this format, we’d love to hear your ideas for changing up our usual routine. Stay tuned for more unconventional meetings ahead.

🔦 Member Spotlight 🔦

This month, we spotlight Lucy, a committee member, aspiring author and one of our most engaged and active members. Here's what Lucy had to say…

Reflecting on your journey, how has Toastmasters helped you in your personal and professional life?

Professionally, Toastmasters has encouraged me to not be afraid of blanking in meetings (of which I rarely do now). I was also able to regain my professional confidence after losing this during Covid – and getting promoted was a nice consequence of that.

If you could deliver a speech to any audience in the world, who would it be and why?

I would really love to deliver a speech and talk about my novel in Turin, Italy. Specifically, at the Circolo dei Lettori and Feltrinelli bookstores. A conversation style speech at Waterstones, Piccadilly (Level 4) is also a big dream and appears as a location in Eternal Gravity. Why? Because it provides opportunities to intimately connect with an in-person audience about a shared interest of true love and physics.

What’s a public speaking tip or technique you swear by?

Trusting yourself and the process of repetitive practice; this means learning from every opportunity and showing up again and again. Try to have fun, and/or channel “date energy” with the audience for an easier path to stronger connection.

Lucy is also writing a book where true love collides with physics, reality, and a touch of magic. Want to support her journey? Sign up to be notified when it’s published: http://eternalgravity.com/.

👥 New Members 👥

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the London Victorians family! This month, we’re thrilled to introduce:

🚀 What’s Next 🚀

Workshop open to all: Elevate Your Evaluation Skills!

London Victorians invites you to an interactive Evaluation Workshop on February 11th, 2025, at 6:30 PM, featuring a past District Evaluation Champion, Lynne.

With over 12 years of experience mentoring and running workshops, Lynne is passionate about helping others master the art of evaluation. Whether you’re new to evaluations, need a refresher, or want to refine your skills, this workshop is for you.

💸 Cost: FREE!
📍 Where: London Victorians

📅 Other Dates for the Diary

February 18th – Speech & Evaluation Contest

Ready to put your skills to the test? Our Speech & Evaluation Contest is happening on February 18th. Sign up now on EasySpeak to compete or help with roles.

March 5th – Areas B18 International Speech and Evaluation Contest

The winners of our club contest go on to compete with other club winners of our area. It’s at 18.00 at Palestra House 197 Blackfriars Road SE1 8JZ

April 1st – Open House Meeting

Invite your friends and colleagues! Our Open House Meeting is the perfect opportunity for guests to experience the magic of Toastmasters.

🎓 Enlightening Insights 🎓

This week’s suggestion isn’t just an insight—it’s an invitation.

That invitation? Volunteer for a General Evaluator Role at other Toastmasters clubs. Sticking to the same club, with the same people, in the same setting can be comfortable—but it can also limit your growth.

Every club has its own style, traditions, and unique spin on Toastmasters roles. Exploring different clubs can broaden your perspective, spark fresh ideas, and inspire new approaches to your speeches. Best of all? When you bring those insights back, you help our club grow too.

So, take the leap—step outside your comfort zone and experience the wider Toastmasters community! Speak to our VPE (Krishna) about how to get involved.

📣Feedback Zone 📣

Got ideas to elevate our club or jazz up our events and newsletter? Share your thoughts at [email protected] and help shape our future!