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Crazy Times in Washington DC
Report by Anna Campbell, September 2006
 I sit here in my office at home gazing out on a beautiful southern day. Our farm house was planted with 5000 daffodil bulbs (by someone far more energetic than me) 10 years ago and now there is a sea of yellow, Otago is feeling like a great place to live right now! As I reflect, it is now over a month since my big US trip. I would have thought by now the memories would be fading, but if anything they are more crystal clear and just what the whole experience was worth I am really only beginning to realise. I will start by describing the competition and then finish with some of the highlights of my trip.
It was strange, in the months leading to the competition I felt under enormous pressure, to get those speeches right and to represent our New Zealand District the very best I could. When I reached Washington, I more or less relaxed, the hard work had been done and when I stood up on that stage ... yes I did feel nervous, but I also felt immensely calm and confident, far more so when I had stood up at District level. All the support from my friends and community back in New Zealand came to the fore. I was really pleased with my speech, the audience was involved and I could see the kiwis out there urging me on.
The standard of the competition was high, I felt I was in with a chance and was very honoured to be called out at third place. In saying that I was also a touch disappointed, you have to believe you can reach the top in these competitions however, the first place getter had been at that level seven times previously and the second place getter, four times previously, which made me realize just how hard you have to work to make it the top.
The great thing about not winning was the rest of the convention was a blur of relaxed fun! There was quite a bit of time out of the convention to explore Washington with my husband, Kevin. We have three young children, Tommy (five years), Alex (three years) and Hannah (one year), so while it was strange to be without them, it was a fairly exciting time for us as well! The national art galleries and museums of Washington DC were fabulous (and all free).
During the convention there was a whirl of workshops, meeting new friends and dinners. There were many highlights, mostly for me, meeting positive people from so many different cultures. My two favourite messages from the convention were from Golden Gavel recipient, Jim Kouzes, a highly regarded leadership scholar. He had many pertinent points but he strongly showed us that to be a truly great leader, whether it be community based or career based, we not only have to be respected, but we must be liked. This means acting with integrity and honesty, even when we have to make those tough decisions. If you think about all the people you really look up to in your life and all the great figures, such as Martin Luther King, they were respected and liked, an important thing to remember when going about our Toastmasters, work and family activities.
My other favorite message was from motivational speaker Marilyn Sherman who has written "Why settle for the balcony? How to get a front-row seat in life". She talked about the seven chairs in our lives, spiritual, career, family, health etc and the importance of balancing all of these. This message I had heard before, but what really resonated was when she said "you know how you look at someone in the same career as you and you compare yourself and you just don’t match up? Well you are doing a false comparison, you can only see one chair, their other chairs might be way in the back rows". Basically she was saying, look at yourself, recognise what you want to work on but don’t constantly hold yourself up to someone else and wonder why you feel flat.
Overall, I am left with so many memories and so many impressions. I experienced some fabulous speakers (which is inspiring for trying to improve my own presentations) and met some really cool people. When we got home again and saw our there beautiful children it was pretty magical (although they were fighting again the next day). A month later, I still feel a sense of calm when I think about the whole experience.
Would I do it all again? Who knows, right now I am off now for a picnic with the kids, I might just pick some lovely Otago daffodils.
Dandelion Theory blows opposition away
By Jeff Elton
I met a remarkable man on 19 November 2005 at the Toastmasters Convention in Invercargill. He not only proved a fascinating subject to interview but he also passed on three interesting snippets of information I feel I must share with you.
First he told me about the Dandelion Theory (more on that later), second he extolled the virtue of training in any organisation and third he explained how to conclude a presentation.
David Clarkson is the fellow's name and on first impressions there appears nothing special about him: there is a sparkle in his eyes, a great haircut and seemingly boundless energy - but no traits that would suggest a New Zealand champion.
David tells me he is an accountant and that suggests a degree of conservatism in a man - we have all heard those hilarious accountant jokes, haven't we? Certainly there is a staid quality there, but just below the surface there is much, much more.
Invercargill is in many ways a return home for David and his earlier memories of the province leave him a little cold.
"Yes, Southland has many memories for me. In fact I was a freezer hand at Ocean Beach in the 1962, 1963 and 1964 seasons. Boy, did that place complete the education of a young catholic boy!"
Many years passed before David had what he said was a life-changing experience - he became a member of Toastmasters. "I joined as a person who had lost his self confidence, lost his ability to relate to people."
That was twelve years ago and talk about 'zero to hero' - I have just seen David blow away the best impromptu speakers in New Zealand. He leapt around on stage, pulled stories from thin air and ultimately grabbed the audience by the throat and marched them off in the direction he wanted them to go.
The performance was full of energy, passion and enthusiasm. He believed in what he was saying, he knew the topic and boy, did he deliver - and all with only 15 seconds preparation time.
David's specialty is the Table Topics contest. This is an impromptu event where speakers present for two minutes on an assigned topic. David jokes that this suits him because he is too lazy to give a prepared speech, but there is nothing easy about impromptu speaking at this level. Ellie Young, the Table Topics contest chair, explains.
"In a nutshell, we are looking for quick wit, logical flow of thought and a strong, memorable conclusion."
With the topic being, "Is Guy Fawkes still relevant in our society?" it is a challenge that many of us could tackle, but could we add humour, create a solid structure to the presentation and them sum up expertly - I think not.
What David managed to achieve was the required objectives plus lots more. You saw him on stage; you knew he was straining every brain cell to deliver a message that the audience would buy into. He drew you in, and you found yourself thinking, 'I'm with you David, where do you want to take me with this presentation'. The convention room, the 200 plus Toastmasters in attendance, the ribbons and banners fade from your consciousness and it was just David and each individual listener.
In the post-competition interview he admitted the performance pleased him - that he felt he had done all right. "I knew I had given all I could. It didn't matter to me if I was first or last as long as I had done my best."
At this time David's phone rang, interrupting the interview briefly. It was his wife, Margaret, ringing to check how he had got on. From the one-sided conversation I heard, neither expected the win but both were delighted to embrace it.
"Yes I'm very pleased", David says to Margaret. "I believe the competition was pretty stiff."
David had not seen the opposition perform because, as the sixth of seven speakers, all with the same topic, he had sat outside the competition room waiting his turn.
Along with David's work as an accountant he also spends his 'spare time' running a company that specialises in training 'corporates' in public speaking - not bad for someone who used to struggle with self-confidence.
David said he cannot stress highly enough how important it is for an organisation to train its staff in public speaking and management skills.
"I tell my clients that every person in their organisation, when they are out interacting with clients, colleagues, friends or family, becomes the organisation in the eyes of the people they interact with.
"If they are able to present themselves and communicate well they put themselves and the organisation in a good light."
"It works like this, 'Pete's a good guy . . . therefore he must work for a good company."
So what skills can a New Zealand champion speaker pass on to us? David said when he hears the topic (in the 15 seconds' preparation time) a picture forms in his head. "I have an image that comes into my mind. Generally speaking, that becomes the base I build my speech on."
David said the middle section of the presentation is an expansion of the images, ideas and logic of the introduction and that the close (conclusion) is, in fact, the topic you have been asked to speak to. This is because the very reason you are there is to talk to the topic.
"If you don't have the topic in your close you haven't stayed on the task you have been set."
On humour, he said it is crucial; without it the speech will die.
"It's important because if we are serious all the time we don't allow the audience any relief. They need a subconscious breath - by giving them that break they can refocus on what you are saying."
He agrees it is like the intermission during a movie, a brief pause that refreshes the mind and stretches the legs.
David added that speaking to any audience is about the audience, not the speaker. He tries to lock into the audience's consciousness, so they know that what he is saying is relevant to them.
But are any of these points relevant to anyone outside the Toastmasters fraternity?
"Definitely," David says. He then tells me his Dandelion Theory. It is a philosophy that he believes all of us can use to improve our lives and our communities.
"I believe that the great ideas we have as individuals can be likened to the head of the dandelion. If we can translate (communicate) those ideas, everyone can appreciate the beauty of the dandelion. If we cannot do that with the ideas, solutions or strategies, it is almost as if we take a deep breath and blow the head of the dandelion away."
David said for him the Toastmasters programme has translated those ideas, solutions and strategies into words so that others can get whatever benefits those features may have for them.
Read all about ACC Case Manager Cindy O'Neill tells the story behind her winning speech, in the November 2005 ACC "The Planet" e-zine for staff. [page 7 extracted from the full e-zine].
 John Reimers DTM, New Zealand's International Speech Contest Champion May 2003 tells us how he "climbed his Mount Everest".
I have been asked to tell you about my journey, so far in my quest, for the Toastmasters Holy Grail.
I thought it was fitting to use our International President's theme, "Climbing your Mount Everest" because that is how it is.
I started this journey nine years ago when I joined Toastmasters in Townsville, North Queensland.
On my first visit to Toastmasters I was inspired by a Toastmaster who was practicing his International prepared speech. I thought if only I could speak half that well. I am still working on it.
It is very much like climbing a mountain, only those who have set out to win a contest can know how frustrating yet rewarding the journey can be.
I first won at club level in 1995 then won the area contest in Townsville. We then moved to Tauranga and I was unable to compete at Division. There was always next year, so back to base camp to get ready for the next climb.
Since then I have managed to win at club level only to get knocked out at area, then get through area and knocked out at division. Back to the bottom of the mountain and get ready for the push back up the mountain next year more determined than ever to make it.
There are always winters in our quest to achieve, but summer always follows winter some where in the scheme of things.
Like climbing a mountain none of this would be possible with out a support team. I have a group of people around me that when I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes. I know when I ask them to sit through another practice. It must bring tears to their eyes - Oh no, not again, when will they deport this bloke.
I must thank Chrissy Meyer, who is my number one coach, she tells it how it is. The speech I delivered at Palmerston North was a far cry from the one I delivered at my club a year ago.
My club members at Otumoetai, Matamata and Corkers - thank you for the support, you have been with me all the way.
As I get further up the ladder in the competition, I am amazed at the number of people getting behind me to support and encourage me. It reminds me of a small stream, then another one joins then another and soon there is a force that seems unstoppable.
Thank you New Zealand Toastmasters for your support.
John Reimers DTM
Lindsay Wright, New Zealand Humorous Champion, November 2002, answers the question "How did you do it?"
Analysing humour is a deadly serious pastime, and everybody has their own methods and opinions.
Regarding the 2002 District Humorous Speech Contest, there is no specific answer to "How I did it". Rather I would class it as a progression over 14 years of Toastmasters.
Know thyself ... First came learning about myself and the aspects of speaking that appealed to me. I established that I enjoyed speaking a lot more if my audience was enjoying themselves. As I used to get as bored as my audience if I tried to do anything too heavy, it became obvious that the best way to keep their attention was through humour.
Over time I evolved a style of presentation that suited me and the audience. I tried everything from props to dress-up to slapstick, but eventually found I was most comfortable with a low key, dead-pan approach. As far as the props go, if they don't fit in my clothes I don't use them. Having established a style, I found from experience what material worked for me - simple topics treated in an offbeat way.
What is probably of more importance is the motivation behind why I kept trying for the goal of a District speech title.
It all began at Club ... That began with my first ever club competition in the Gore club. I was placed third behind two accomplished club members. I was rapt to be placed, but at the same time determined then and there that one day I would beat them. It took some time but eventually that goal was achieved, and I was off to Area competitions for the first time - and got third. Again there was a thrill in the placing, but I knew there was more!
Without lifting a finger I suddenly found myself in Blenheim at the division conference, as both first and second placegetters from Area had pulled out. Thrust into such a heady situation I was pleased with my presentation being placed third again. The winner was a pleasant chap by the name of Bryan Buchanan. I determined that one day I was going to beat him. (It was only later that I found out it was he who co-founded Toastmasters in New Zealand.)
Off to District ... Eventually in 1996, I was lucky enough to compete at the District competitions in Wellington. The speech I gave that day still stays in my memory as one of the best I have ever given. Everything went as well as I could have hoped, and the audience was on a string. When I sat down I felt as though I had given the complete performance. A couple of other contestants went well too - a David Nottage and a John Twaddle. As was my custom I was ecstatic with my third place, and went home vowing to one day beat them too. When David Nottage later won the world title, I consoled myself that at least it had taken a world champion to keep me from the title!
Beaten by a world champion ... again ... The following year I had my chance again. I had heard of one of my fellow competitors, Robin Grieve. I figured he may be a bit of a hurdle to overcome, but certainly didn't rate some unknown called Brett Rutledge. Simple mathematics quickly reveals my placing. When Brett Rutledge went on to win the world title the following year, I started to suspect a conspiracy.
I was getting used to the third placings. The problem was that the list of people I was determined to beat was getting longer and longer.
There have been many false starts since then, including being knocked off my perch at club level in 2001 by a virtual newcomer, so 2002 saw me with renewed determination to get it right.
Key points to remember ... I can identify several key things that I used to modify my speech on its journey from club to district that made a great deal of difference to the end product.
I made a conscious effort to listen to the audience each time I presented it, trying to identify what they laughed at, and what they didn't. Material that didn't work was discarded or rewritten. Of the original club speech, only a couple of paragraphs remain.
Be honest with me ... I was fortunate to have two fellow club members who were brutally honest enough to tell me what worked, and more importantly what needed attention. On the other side of this, after winning at Division, I was grateful for comment from two other toastmaster friends who said "don't change it - it works as it is". This comment proved invaluable leading up to the Hastings competition as I became thoroughly sick of the speech. Had I not had that reassurance from them I could easily have lost faith in my material. I kept rehearsal to a minimum (once every couple of days) until just a few days before the competition.
Watch the lights ... I was aware from past experience how much time is lost in a humorous speech as the size of the audience grows, so spent a lot of time pacing and timing the last two minutes so I had marker points for the timing lights when they appeared. This turned out to be crucial. When the green light appeared during the competition I was a full paragraph behind, with a lot of laugh time still to come. From that point my mouth (suddenly now very dry) went into automatic while my brain started editing or dropping out material to regain the time I had lost. The rest is history, but by the time I had finished, the red light had been on for a very long time.
And was it all worth it? Absolutely!! To have finally achieved the goal that the taunting of all those third placings had driven me on to was certainly a moment of great satisfaction in my toastmaster career.
Equally, to know that I had given the audience seven minutes of enjoyment and laughter gives me just as much satisfaction. To do that and win as well is an experience to cherish!
Ivan Moss, New Zealand 2002 Public Speaking Champion
 English born 33-year old Ivan Moss admits to having been a "couch potato" before escaping to New Zealand in 1998. After living in Auckland for 2 years, he moved to Rotorua, joined two Toastmaster clubs (Lake City Breakfast and Pioneers) and married Irish lass Gainne (meaning "Grace") in 2000. Ivan achieved his Competent Toastmaster Award in 2001, completed the New Zealand Ironman triathlon, and entered the International Speech Contest - with pleasantly surprising results!
A Chartered Accountant by trade, Ivan has also worked as a management consultant and project manager, and until recently he worked for Carter Holt Harvey as a Finance Manager, but is currently self-employed. His hobbies include mountain biking, Italian motorcycles and Toastmasters!
Ivan won the 2002 District 72 Toastmasters New Zealand International Speech Contest in Auckland in May. To become New Zealand's representative at the Toastmasters International world speaking competition, Ivan has progressively won at the Club, Area, Division and District levels. He represented New Zealand in the 2002 World Championship of Public Speaking in San Antonio, Texas.
Competing at the World Championships - an Inter-District Experience.
by Ivan Moss, representing District 72 Toastmasters New Zealand
My wife, Grainne, and I flew to San Antonio via Los Angeles on Friday 16th August 2002. Because of the time difference we flew out of Auckland on the Friday night and arrived in San Antonio on the Friday night - very strange.
The contest wasn't until Tuesday 20th August 2002, but I spent the next few nights lying awake at night - not nerves, just jetlag!!
Exploring Texas - Texas was hot though. Not hot as in "cool" (though it is a nice place). Just hot as in boiling hot.
The next few days were spent exploring the streets of the city, trying not to think about the contest and sneaking into the contest room to rehearse whenever it was empty (along with all the other contestants).
The other contestants were all very friendly and there were none of the mind-games or huge egos that I had been warned about. In fact, they were all very relaxed - in the circumstances.
The contest briefing and so on was all very normal - you could almost have been at an Area contest.
The contest - The actual contest was no different from the New Zealand District Convention contest - similar sized room, same audience size, similar room layout, similar type of audience οΎ… it was reassuringly familiar.
The other reassuring thing was knowing that everyone else was in the same boat - they too had all left their best speech behind at District level and were trying out a new speech.
The standard of the speeches was high, but not exceptional - I felt every speech would have placed in the top 3 at our District Convention, but that several other speeches I saw at my District contest would have been of a similar standard.
Unfortunately the judging didn't go my way. But I really don't mind. I had a great time, I gave the best performance of the best speech I had on the day, and people enjoyed it.
Having done some judging myself, I know how fickle (and surprising) the results can be - and I have to know that that's as true for the times I've won as for the times I've lost!
Jim Key (2nd place in the World Final in 2001 and 2002) sent me a great email where he summed up what he got out of the contests.
He said he got 3 things from competing:
- personal growth and learning
- the opportunity to pass a meaningful message to your audience
- adulation / recognition
Jim said that by far the 1st and 2nd of these are more valuable, more rewarding, longer lasting (and more within your own control).
I believe that Jim's right and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I have had, through the Toastmasters contest, to experience that learning and growth.
So, finally, the big message is - don't be intimidated, you too can do it!
Ivan Moss, New Zealand 2002 International Speech winner, answers the question lots of people have asked: "How did you do it?"
I can't tell you what definitely made the most difference for me, but I can tell you what I did. After winning the Division International Speech contest, I met with Brett Rutledge, David Nottage and Morgan MacArthur (three past World Champions of Public Speaking who live in Auckland) to find out what they did to improve their skills and to get their views on strengths and weaknesses of my speech.
The key advice I received from them was:
- The audience is king - more important even than the judges!
- Speak to every audience you can for the practice.
- Be yourself - trust your own instincts, be different, develop your own style.
- Take risks - let them love you or hate you!
- Laugh at life - its got to be fun (mostly).
- Dramatise things - word pictures matter a lot.
- Keep it simple - you only have time for one simple motivational message in seven minutes.
- You have to have good 'hooks' - things that the audience can relate to in their own experience.
- Less is more - pausing lets an audience keep up and less description lets their imagination fill in the gaps you don't describe.
- The opening and closing matter the most - tie back to your start.
- Repetition of key phrases can build tension and reinforce messages.
- Don't fake emotions!
- A quote can get a message across very succinctly - and also helps in that you are simply sharing with them someone else's wisdom (so you don't sound like you're giving a sermon or claiming to be smarter than the audience).
- You have to believe, in your heart, that you will win - tell yourself "I am the World Champion of Public Speaking" every time you think of the contest.
Based on this advice, and the help of others, I did the following things. As I've said, I can't tell you what definitely made the most difference for me, but I can tell you what I did:
- I performed the speech approx two to three times a week for about 10 weeks for different audiences (Toastmasters, Rotarians, community coffee mornings, school assemblies, etc) - every time getting the audience to give verbal or written feedback (I gave out evaluation forms for them to fill in). My regret here is that I never bought myself a video camera and tripod to take with me - I think I could have learnt even more and faster that way.
- I constantly re-wrote the material based on audience feedback.
- I cut down my workload (I am currently self-employed) so that I could focus two to three days a week on the speech.
- I took singing lessons to extend my voice (and I still need to do a lot of work on this).
- I met with a retired actress to work on the delivery four or five times.
- I met with David Nottage and Morgan MacArthur again in the week before the contest for final criticisms.
- I went back to the scene of the story of my speech (Taupo) a couple of days before the contest to get emotionally back in touch with the speech and its message.
- I did Linda Shaw's "About Face" workshop twice - at the Division Convention and the District Conference.
- I did a comedy and drama weekend with Lisa Brickell at Auckland University / Unitec. I learnt a lot about the importance of being "in the moment" and fully present with the audience and some tricks for getting energised for the performance.
- I watched Morecambe and Wise videos and Tommy Cooper instead of practising in the two days before the contest - I think its good to laugh!
I also worked really hard on my mental state and attitude - I believe that the audience comes first, the purpose of a speech is first and foremost to use whatever talent I have to get a message across that may be important or useful for even one member of the audience. And this is much more important than winning or losing.
I also believe that if a speaker's first concern in their mind is to "win" then they are, in my view, more concerned about themselves than the audience - and the audience will sense this, and will not 'connect' with the speaker or the speech as fully if this is the case, lessening the impact of the speech.
If I were to emphasise any one thing to a serious contestant, it would be the last point - attitude! An audience can sense your sincerity and it will give power to your speech - it's what I detect in all the great speakers I have seen.
And remember - you're meant to enjoy yourself too!
District 72 New Zealand takes pride in having had two World Champions of Public Speaking - David Nottage in 1996 and Brett Rutledge in 1998.
 DAVID NOTTAGE is an Australian born New Zealander, a Kiwi with an attitude - an attitude for success. He has come a long way in the past 20 years, from someone who was too scared to speak in front of a group of four people to being an internationally dynamic speaker.
David made history in August 1996 when he competed in and won the World Championship of Public Speaking in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. David became the first New Zealander in the 70+ year history of Toastmasters International to win the coveted award. Over 20,000 people entered the contest in 1996 representing speakers from every English speaking country in the world, only one would win.
David is the founder of TORQUE Ltd, a New Zealand based Public Speaking Consultancy which provides training in effective and powerful business presentations and other communication based modules. David is also a sought after Keynote Speaker and Master of Ceremonies. Visit David Nottage's website.
 BRETT RUTLEDGE
When Brett joined a Toastmasters club he did not imagine that public speaking would provide him with a way of turning his unusual talent of imitating famous voices into a full-time career as a corporate speaker and entertainer.
1998 also Brett become only the 5th person outside America, and the youngest ever, to win the coveted Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. Since then he has worked full-time as a professional speaker with speaking engagements throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.
Visit Brett Rutledge's website
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