Where are all the members?!!
We’re nearly at the end of April and travelling OK but not breaking any membership records. We’ve increased total membership to 310 to the end of March, that is, to the same level it was at the end of last year. The table below shows where all the recruiting action has been for January to March – where are all the other clubs? Please keep in mind the ‘Find Five’ campaign initiated in the last newsletter, and let’s strive to get the membership numbers up in the next quarter!
I urge all clubs to read, review and apply the ideas in Freeman David Price’s program, ‘How to Increase Your Membership and Make Your Club Thrive’, which he presented and handed out at the last Dais meeting. This provides information on how and where to attract members. Applying these ideas to your own club will help Rostrum attract and retain new members.
The year has got off to a good start with a great turn up to the February Dais meeting – over 40 people attended and stayed for the full 21⁄2 hours. The focus was almost exclusively on the workshop, with only a 35 minute Dais meeting – much welcomed by everyone.
Vice President and Director of Communications, Speaker Marianne McAdam, introduced a YouTube video on the impact of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) on daily life. If you would like to view the video the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8. This is very much the communication medium of the future and, if you’re on Facebook, please go and ‘like’ the Rostrum WA Facebook page, making sure you choose the ‘non-profit organisation’ site.
There will be more workshops at the Dais AGM on Friday 29 April. Put the date in your diary and I’ll look forward to seeing you there.
I was also pleased to be able to get down to Albany in March and, with Adrian Grant and Fmn Chris Walker (from Albany), run a successful Critics Training workshop.
The Convention has been confirmed for Saturday 21 May 2011 at Wollaston Conference Centre, Mt Claremont, with Freeman David Price organising the full-day program (details next page). Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend this year, as I’ll be relaxing in Male in the Maldives, probably snorkelling! I’ll be thinking of you all! Have fun – I will!
Freeman Tony Lightman, President, Rostrum WA
Dais Representatives Annual General Meeting
Make a special effort to attend this meeting on Friday 29 April–in addition to the usual AGM business; there will be two workshops.
**April Workshops**
Session 1. Meeting Procedure into the 21st Century
New ways to achieve the same outcomes
Presented by Freeman David Price Session 2. Social Media, Communication and Rostrum
Learn all about Facebook
Presented by Marianne McAdam
Please note that there will be no Training Council Meeting on 30 April. The date of the next meeting will be advised later.
Half-a-dozen of the best – the top 6 reasons for joining Rostrum
New members to Rostrum are routinely asked to indicate why they join. Katy Dymond at the Rostrum Information Centre surveyed the responses from recent new members and revealed the following:
- Confidence to address a group 33
- Prepare speeches 32
- Deliver business presentations 23
- Conduct meetings 16
- Career improvement 13
- Wedding speeches 3
Other reasons cited included:
- Impromptu speaking
- Better communication skills generally
- Confidence to speak about self, rather than business, services or products
‘Joy’
While the desire to deliver a wedding speech confidently remains a strong motivator to master the skills taught by Rostrum, those same skills are clearly regarded as essential to career and business.
Thanks Katy!
“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting ink.”
George Orwell (1903-1950) British author
Convention 2011 is happening in May
Venue: Wollaston Conference Centre, Mt Claremont
Date: Saturday 21 MayTime:8.30 am to 5 pm
Some highlights:
The Keynote Speaker is an adventurer who has climbed Mt Everest and Mt Kilimanjaro, walked to the South Pole, and trekked the Kokoda Trail. He will tell his fascinating story and show some stunning pictures.
Jani Murphy will reveal how to use the latest tricks and techniques in PowerPoint (or Keynote on the Mac) to make your presentations legendary.
Carol Brands will draw on her experience as a stage director to demonstrate how to apply stage and theatre techniques to your speeches and presentations for greater impact.
Freeman Bill Smith will share his secrets for delivering a professional technical presentation.
Jenny Brock is, Speaker of the Year 2010 and ‘Brain Fitness’ specialist, will give tips on how to keep your brain working.
David Beard will show you in an entertaining and practical way how to ‘stay sharp’ physically.
PLUS…
An information session on Professional Speaking in which you will learn how you may be able to make money from your Rostrum training.
A Competition Speaking Panel Session in which previous finalists and winners of the Speaker of the Year will address traps and pitfalls, and answer your questions.
Critics Idol in which up to 10 Critics will deliver a 90-second critique on the same prepared speech, and the audience will judge the winner – your opportunity to critique the Critic.
Impromptu Speaking Competitions in which multiple members from a club can enter either the Open or the Novice competition.
PLUS…
Much more learning, fun and fellowship on offer!
Cost is $75 for members ($100 for non members) and includes lunch and morning/afternoon teas. Numbers are limited so please book early.
EITHER Pay by cheque (payable to Rostrum WA) Send to: Rostrum Convention
42 Newry Street
Floreat, WA 6014
Be sure to include your name and club.
OR Pay on line: http://www.stickytickets.com.au/5485
See you at the Convention!!
Freeman David Price, Convention Coordinator
Albany Critics Training
What a long way! Oops, used that last year for Geraldton and Albany’s not quite as far. Having said that I just checked and Albany is only 13 km less in distance and only one minute less in travel time! However, when you go via Esperance, my choice, it’s a really long way. It did give us a very enjoyable few days in Esperance though; somewhere we’ve never been before.
All this is leading up to the fact that on Saturday 12 March I met up with Adrian Grant, who had driven down separately, to run a weekend Critics Training workshop for members of the Albany Club.
We had a very successful course, with four attendees – three aspiring critics and Freeman Chris Walker, Albany’s only accredited critic – up to that weekend. Not only that but it was our first (to my knowledge) all female Critics Training workshop, with Speakers Catena Skalko (Club President), Suzanne Yewers (Alan Crook Coordinator and Website contact) and Vanessa Hawkins (current Program Director & Dais Rep). The ladies were very excited by this and really got stuck into things.
Nearly the whole team (l-r) Suzanne Yewers, Catena Skalko, David Cronin, Dais President Freeman Tony Lightman, Freeman Chris Walker, Adrian Grant, Vanessa Hawkins, Ingrid Walker and Alf Frater.
The venue was the Albany Club, Club 63’s previous home and it was ideal for the size of the workshop with great food provided. As a result, we all had a really great time, with some competition from the Church service on the Sunday morning for a short time.
Being so small it was a very interactive workshop, with Adrian and me sharing the presentation of the training material and then working with Chris in providing feedback on the trainees’ critiques. We also introduced David’s ‘How to Increase Your Membership and Make Your Club Thrive’ program, which was used to great effect with application of Quirky Questions for impromptu exercises. For the presentations, various club members turned up to do their bit, some staying most of the time, others only able to come for the lunch meeting. They were Alf Frater, Ingrid and Jeff Walker, Brian Burns and David Cronin, and our thanks go to all of them for their input, enthusiasm and capabilities.
So, at the end of the weekend there were three new critics in Albany – all three passed with flying colours – and Chris now has a team to share the load. Congratulations to everyone and thanks to the Albany group for making Adrian and me feel so welcomed.
We’re hoping that members of Club 63 may be able to make it to the Convention. So, if you see them there, please say a big hello!
Freeman Tony Lightman, President, Rostrum WA
Club 42 awards two Life Memberships
Rostrum City Breakfast Club 42 recently surprised speakers Eric Alcock and Ken Evans with Life Membership Awards.
Eric has been a member of the club since September 1990 and Ken since September 1993. Both speakers have provided valuable guidance to the club executive and served as inspiration for newer members in particular. Barely a week goes by without their irreverent sense of humour infusing the atmosphere of the meeting.
Congratulations Ken and Eric – you thoroughly deserve this award!
Phil Otley, President, Club 42
Leedy Speakers Club meets again
The aspiring Rostrum Club at the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) which held meetings during the last quarter in 2010 have just restarted for 2011.
They have 24 potential members and have chosen to be known as the Leedy Speakers Club. They meet at DSR’s office on Vincent Street in Leederville on Thursday mornings at 7.45am. They welcome members from outside their department and have sent invitations to other local organisations, with one taking up the challenge so far.
They’d love to see other Rostrum members at their meetings and invite them to visit or deliver presentations. If you’re interested, please call their acting President, Carmel Philippe Shugg on 9492 9846.
2011 Rostrum National Convention
Venue: Adelaide Hotel Meridien
Date: Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October 2011Time:11 am Friday to 3 pm Sunday
This event is being hosted by the SA/NT Zone and planning is well underway.
The theme of the Convention is Speak Up, originating from the Rostrum Promise“…not to be silent when I ought to speak.”
The program will consist of workshops on a variety of topics led by speakers from every zone. Workshops are scheduled for Friday afternoon, and Saturday and Sunday mornings. One presentation on Saturday morning will be‘How to make your audience laugh ’by Adelaide comedian Irish Albert.
The topic of the forum on Friday night is Freedom of Speech, also derived from the Rostrum Promise to“…defend freedom of speech in the community…”
The highlight of the Convention, the Sidney Wicks Speaking Competition, will be held on Saturday afternoon. Freeman Terry O’Meara, the current Speaker of the Decade, will represent the WA Zone in this event. The night will conclude with the Convention Dinner.
Further information will be published in the Convention newsletter “Speak Up” available on the Rostrum National website.
