As a direct result of the Federal and State notifications on group gatherings, all face-to-face meetings have been suspended until we receive further advice from the authorities.
Plases note that it is intended that meetings will transfer to 'online' for the foreseeable future.
If you are interested in joining our Toastmasters Club, please contact us via the 'contact' link on this page and we will forward details and log in instructions to you.
Let's all stay safe
Pat
Just to update all.
The Bright Spark Trophy will come into play from the first meeting next month.
This is the meeting being held on 11th March.
Reminder: the only way to win this award is to participate in the Table Topics session at our meetings on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays and be nominated by the committee members in the room on the night!
If you need more detail please speak with a committee member. The award will be allocated monthly.
Do join come and have a go at yet another evening of FUN!
Pat
We held our in-house Taylor Tall Tales Contest on 26th February.
This is an annual event held to remember Doug Taylor one of our members who passed away in 2007. Doug was a man who could spin the greatest of yarns [or 'porky pies'] at the drop of a hat.
They Came: 
with their Tall Tales.........
They Judged: 
the Tall Tales...........
They Won: 
the Tall Tales Contest!
A most enjoyable evening with much frivolity, was enjoyed by all. We even had a guest tell us they are joining and already planning to enter next year!
Pat
Our annual in-house Taylor TALL TALES CONTEST is happening again on Wednesday 26th February. This is one our more hilarious nights where members compete to tell the most convincing and biggest 'porky pie' they have ever told in their lives!
This contest is held in memory of Doug Taylor a member who has passed on and who had the gift of spinning the most outrageous stories in the most convincing manner.
The winner will be chosen by an external panel of judges and the contest is run is the true spirit of Toastmasters International.
Don't delay give you name to Viv or Pat, to enter this hilarious event! We are also in need of Timers, Tally Counters and a SAA for the event so if you can't tell a porky, why not volunteer to assist.
See you there
Pat
Recently some good people [not Toastmasters] visited our club to return a Southport Toastmasters Trophy which was last presented to one of our members in 1985.
THE BRIGHT SPARK TROPHY, photographed below [and yes, that is a real Champion Spark Plug] was presented in 1985 to our member John Michael Murphy. John Michael came from Ireland and legend has it that he 'kissed the Blarney Stone'! Unfortunately John Michael has recently passed on. The trophy was found among his possessions.
The current committee has elected to have the trophy refurbished and reinstated and will be presented on a monthly basis for the best Table Topic presented by a member. This will happen on a rotating monthly cycle. The committee members in attendance on the night, will vote for their best speaker and the member earning the most votes at the end of the month will hold the THE BRIGHT SPARK AWARD for that month.
So menbers do ask the Table Topics Master of the night to include you! You have to be in it to win it!
We will announce the commencement of this event, after the trophy has been refurbished....so do watch this space!
Pat
Our very popular and enthusiastic member Damian has graduated from his acting academy here in Southport......our heartiest congratulations to you!
On top of that he has landed his first acting role! What an immediate success story you are and an inspiration to us all!
We had a crew from the academy visit our club and they filmed Damian giving one of his inspirational speeches.
We are looking forward to more good news of you Damian. Best of luck for the future.
Pat
We are starting the year with a bang! Although we had a sluggish start in January we have really hit the road in February. Despite the rains we had 22 attendees at our first meeting in February and have had two new enrolments from that meeting.
We are looking forward to hearing them speak at the club.
Pat
We held our first meeting of 2020 on Wednesday 15th and what a different meeting that was.
We had a number of our members missing but we did have 10 guests in total. Welcome to Elizabet and John from Sydney and Christine and Tony from Bowen, it was our pleasure to host you and thank you for joining in the fun and frivolity.
Elizabeth & John returned a Southport 1985 trophy to the club and we are grateful for that.....watch this space for an update on this cup.
Ryan returned after some time away and is to renew his membership. Welcome back Ryan
We are ready to go for the new decade so why not jopin us for fun, learning and much self-development.
Pat
As we approach the end of the calendar year our regular meetings have now ceased at the Southport Community Centre. Our last meeting will be a fun night at a restaurant.
If you have missed the notice please call us for details. Normal meetings will resume on Wednesday 15th January 2020 at 6.30 for 7.00pm start in Room F4.
Why not join us and 'Have Fun While You Learn' a new and most useful skill......Public Speaking!
A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to one and all.
Pat
Congratulations to Jackie on presenting her ICEBREAKER Speech [first speeche by a member]. An excellent job. Jackie took us on a journey of discovery of her achiements and most notable, her negotiations with her telephone provider.....something very different!
Great start to you speaking career Jackie, looking forward to hearing more from you.
Pat
