Category Archives: Members
A Tree in the Forest
What do you make of a guy beginning a speech with his measurements? Who does that? Maybe he’s hoping you’ll hire him to do underwear modeling. Or he’s not feeling well and has decided to order a pine casket just … Continue reading
Let the Games Begin
This week’s jam-packed meeting featured not one by two competitions – an evaluation contest and the International Speech Contest, which pitted John’s boiling charisma against Bruce’s nerdy preparation. Lorne, who chaired, was kept busy doffing one hat and donning another. … Continue reading
Give like the Dickens
There’s something special about Speech #10 in the Competent Communicator Manual. It’s the one all the others have been building to. If you’ve made it to 10, you’ve learned to stem the panic, to apply solid research, to focus your … Continue reading
“The Man Thing”
This week’s meeting, which started small but gained momentum as a few members trickled in late, revealed something interesting. The body language of the speakers broke along gender lines. “He spoke very strongly and clearly,” said Susan in her evaluation … Continue reading
Time’s Up
In the old days of variety shows, they gave you the hook. At the Oscars, they cue the get-off-the-stage music—and then if you keep going they cut the power to your mike. At VanCore, longwinded speakers are “clapped down” if … Continue reading
End of joke: laugh here
We all appreciate people who can reliably bring the funny. Most of us can bring the funny ourselves, occasionally. But humour is like a bird in the wild. It sings when it thinks it’s alone. When it knows it’s being … Continue reading
Senses Working Overtime
Angela was wearing big groovy sunglasses as she stepped up to run Table Topics this week. Turns out this was more function than fashion: she was recovering from eye surgery. “It’s amazing how when you take away vision your other … Continue reading
“Moments Of Truth”
Announcement Please note that the Vancore Toastmaster’s meeting held on Sept. 11th will be devoted to a Moments of Truth session and will not be a typical meeting, for those looking to attend as guests. What is Moments of Truth? … Continue reading
Live from Maple Ridge, it’s Lorne
Lorne, Vancore’s new secretary, once got a tweet from Steve Martin — that Steve Martin. Lorne was chuffed, until he realized there had been a mistake. The comedian thought he was tweeting Lorne Michaels. You could say this was the … Continue reading
“Why Are You Here?”
It all started with tears – a meltdown by Niki’s young child that led to temporary chaos, a forgotten briefcase, and a forced last-minute change to the regularly scheduled programming. The result was that Niki showed up to this week’s … Continue reading
VanCore Toastmasters 