Club 15’s Comedy Night a winner
Comedy Speech contestants (l-r) David Colson (19), Clive Carrington (11), Diana Marr (50), Linda Brown-Davies (15), Anna Piscicelli (15), Mike Hilton (50), Shane Dowling (19), David McAndrew (2230) and Wayne Passmore (15).
Club 15 held their Make Us Laugh Comedy Night for 2016 at the Perth Hockey Stadium on 10 May. The 60-strong audience was treated to nine very funny speeches and comedy routines, a lively debate and, as a bonus, a host of willing volunteer joke tellers who delivered extempore.
Clive Carrington (Club 11), who almost didn’t make it to the event, was the clear winner of the Comedy Speech Contest with his advice on how to get your shopping done quickly (‘first make sure your shopping list is clear and legible to someone else…’). Clive had previously given a similar speech as an impromptu in his club and was encouraged to enter by fellow members. He won $250 and the right to display the trophy at home for the next 12 months. Congratulations Clive!
We’re beginning to believe that Comedy Night regular Wayne Passmore (Club 15) had a tough upbringing indeed: this time, his teenage logi (logical) brain and testy (testosterone) brain did battle in the local gym. I hear testy brain now thinks he deserves the ‘bigger half’ of the Runner-Up prize money. Hope you don’t develop a headache, Wayne!
The Comedy Great Debate had the Rhetoric Meteorics from the South (Club 19’s Patricia Watts, Jason Lim and David Colson) challenging current Champions, the Free Speakers from the North (Angela McGuiness, David Rainey and Luke Matthews from Club 2230). Despite some stiff competition, Club 2230 prevailed, and now have to come to some amicable agreement as to who has first bags on the trophy.
Thank you to the judges Freeman Ken Holzman, Aldis Purins and Joanna Whitney, all the participants for providing a great night’s entertainment, and everyone who helped make the night a success – you are all winners. We hope to see you back again next year for another round.
Comedy Speech winner Clive Carrington (centre), Freeman Ken Holzman (left) and Clive’s nephew David.
Comedy Great Debate winners David Rainey, Angela McGuiness, Luke Matthews (Club 2230).
MC Jacinth Watson holds court with a magic wand.
(Photos Rose Fogliani)
From the President
Hi to all
Hope your Rostrum year is going well.
It was good to see some of you at Club 15’s Comedy Night on 10th May and what a great night it was. The debate was amusing and informative and an added bonus for me was that the team from my club – 2230 – won. Well done to all concerned. The main event of the night was the standup comedy segment with nine contestants vying for the trophy and cash prize. What talent was on show! I expected to be amused but was laughing out loud at some of the routines.
Thank you Club 15.
A few clubs have been asking about Dais giving them money to help promote their clubs. Dais will provide up to $500 to support clubs in this way, as long as the club can provide a solid marketing plan and, most importantly, show that their club is already a going concern that would not just attract visitors in the first place but also make them want to stay.
Yes it’s a bit of a Catch 22. Struggling clubs with few members want help, but Dais is reluctant to spend money unless there is a reasonable prospect of a return in the way of new members. It is also important that our brand isn’t compromised by visitors being turned off by a lackluster meeting. So we are willing to help–but if you are down on numbers have a look at your programme and make it as creative and lively as you can. If you have visitors coming along, try to bribe family and friends to attend to help create a more congenial atmosphere. Once you have an appealing package to offer visitors, put your plan together and approach us for assistance.
I have been busy until now but in June I intend to start visiting as many clubs as possible.
Freeman Sue Hart, President, Rostrum WA
Marketing and Membership update
This year I have switched hats on the Executive Board and have moved from Secretary to the Director of Marketing and Membership. I have big plans for Rostrum WA this year as we attempt to get our membership numbers back up.
Currently Rostrum WA is in a dangerous position as a number of clubs have seen declining membership over the past few years. We are at a point where, as a Board, a Club and an Individual member of Rostrum WA, we have a choice to start implementing some changes in order to move with the times, or we can chose to do nothing, remain the same and see the end of Rostrum WA in a few years.
Having said that, over the past few months I’ve been contacting clubs individually and coming out to visit quite a few of you so that I can get my head around Rostrum WA’s current state of affairs and the dynamic of individual clubs.
Over the coming issues of the Informer I will be highlighting some of the main marketing areas that we are focusing on for 2016 and the work that has already taken place.
These include:
- The Rostrum WA website www.rostrumwa.com.au
- The Rostrum Facebook page, www.facebook.com/rostrumwa and,
- Rostrum WA on the social networking site, “Meetup” www.meetup.com – ( Search “Rostrum WA”)
All of these efforts are being driven by the Board to bring together a consistent marketing message for Rostrum WA. But these initiatives do still need Club participation and contribution for its ongoing success. These efforts will help to bring Members through the door but it is up to clubs to have a vibrant and energetic meeting to keep visitors interested and coming back.
I look forward to hearing your ideas and working with all of you in your clubs to help Rostrum WA grow into a stronger organization in the future. You can contact me by email at e.chipper@hotmail.com.
Elliott Chipper, Director of Marketing and Membership
Com-mu-ni-ca-tions
Passing and receiving of messages.
Means by which messages are passed and received. The messages. Common category of (influencing) skills. An industry. Subject of study. Spin.
‘Organisations need to use plain English for all their communications withstakeholders.’ Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: authors of ‘Our strategic framework…’ and
‘7 Goals and 24 Strategies’ Worst Words, Don Watson 2015 Sydney: Vintage Books
VALE Freeman Neil Durston
December 1921 – April 2016
Rostrum WA members were sorry to hear of the passing of Freeman Neil Durston, a passionate stalwart of Rostrum who was affectionately known as “Dusty”.
Neil joined Rostrum in 1961 and quickly became an active member of Club 5. Over the years he undertook every Office Bearer position many times. He won the Club’s Annual Best Clubman Award, the Ron Jeffrey Award, many times, and for his selfless services to the Club was awarded Life Membership in 1981.
Neil became a Critic in 1974 and assisted many Clubs, including Clubs 1, 5, 31, 19, 27 and 22.
In the early 1990s Neil recognised that the Clubs in the Perth CBD had a common problem, that of a venue for their Club. Neil sourced a permanent venue and established the City Clubs Centre, which provided a home for Clubs 1, 2, 5, 31 and 45 for more than a decade. Neil also provided extensive services to Rostrum WA over a long period of time, including as Dais Representative, a member of Training Council and others. Neil was a finalist in the WA Speaker of the Year competition in 1963, 1972, 1976 and 1988.
Committed to his community, Neil used his Rostrum skills to benefit others as a Life Member of the YMCA, President of the 7th Army Troops RAE Association, Returned Services League, SciTech Guide Association, Men of Harmony Choir, Men of the Trees Organisation and the Floreat Probus Club.
These activities saw Neil elevated to a Freeman of Rostrum Australia in 1988. Tributes reflect on a man of great enthusiasm and passion for whatever he was involved in.
Anyone who experienced contact with Neil could never doubt his zeal and the manner in which he endeavoured to enrich their lives in his endless pursuit to promote Rostrum or his latest worthwhile cause.
Goodbye Neil and thank you for extraordinary services to Rostrum. Rest in peace.
Freeman Alan Ham, Chairman of Freemen’s Council
