Tag Archives: Public Speaking
Meet Your Executive
As this week’s meeting wound up and another VanCore election was in the books, our fearless new leader Katherine (Kate) Hallanzy announced she was heading over to Murchie’s for tea and who would like to join her? “Looks like the … Continue reading
Let Your Life Speak
Sometimes, sitting in the audience at VanCore meetings, you can tell something big is taking shape. What Niki has going on at the moment is more than a series of related stories. In installments, Niki is telling a coming-of-age tale … Continue reading
Two Words: Stage Time
From the department of mixed metaphors: This week Megan knocked her “Icebreaker” out of the park. Megan’s a new-ish member but not a new member. She’s been in the club for a few months. Many of us were eagerly awaiting … Continue reading
Freedom Fighters
There are many teachers among the VanCore member pool, and Kate’s one of them. Lately Kate has been teaching the British philosopher John Stuart Mill, who has strong opinions on liberty. Mill raises fascinating questions about how much freedom the … Continue reading
Note: This Week We Meet Down the Street
VanCore members, guests and assorted curious looky-loos are reminded that we’re meeting in a temporary location this week. It’s the Eclipse Boardroom, on the 2nd floor of 1055 W. Hastings Street. That’s about two blocks northwest of our usual digs. … Continue reading
L’chaim! (“To life!”)
We all have our crutches — all of us, no matter how experienced a speaker we are. Past-president Susan’s crutch is a sometimes overdependence on notes. But Susan didn’t look at her notes even once during this week’s great speech. … Continue reading
Say it Like You Mean It: Eunoia
Not all Toastmasters clubs include a “Word of the Day” on their weekly agendas, but VanCore does, and it’s hard now to imagine a meeting without it. There have been some obvious words, some silly ones, and some crazily obscure … Continue reading
Funny Strange or Funny Ha-Ha?
Have you noticed nobody tells jokes anymore? Maybe it’s because they’re so dangerous. What one person finds hilarious another may find grossly offensive (and it’s hard to predict these things in advance.) Plus which, they’re hard to tell well. Get … Continue reading
House Beautiful
When you throw an “Open House” there are usually mixed feelings. A new phase of life is nigh! But a stream of strangers just questioned your taste in wallpaper, and now you have to get your carpet cleaned. Fortunately, there … Continue reading
VanCore Toastmasters 