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25 Years of Redditch Speakers Club
Redditch Speakers Club in Worcestershire is in its 25th year and we decided to make it a year to remember. The club is mixed and has 25 members ranging from 20 years to 80 years.
In the early part of the year their oldest member, Joan Witherington-Perkins, reached 80 and was presented with Honorary membership by President Alan Young during a demonstration evening to attract new members.
Alan Young presenting Honorary Membership to Joan Witherington-Perkins
Another meeting saw an ex National President Bill Mitchell visit the club and give a talk and evaluation on Prescriptive Speaking.
Ex-National President Bill Mitchell (Left) with our two Prescriptive Speakers
Rhoda Lingard and President, Alan Young
The club, after great perseverance from Hazel Bradley, Treasurer, won a Lottery Awards for All Grant, which enabled them to plan a full day's Taster Course in the New Year.
The clubs website has now been relaunched and includes the diary, welcome pages for prospective members and a Blog…… keeping all up to date with the happenings at the club. For this we have to thank Andrew Greenall, who together with his partner Abigail Williams also ran a Christmas Social on the lines of the 'Richard and Judy' programme and great fun was had by all.
On the 13th January Redditch club ran a full day's Taster Course attended by about 30 people in the Town Hall. This was supported by The National Education Director, Dilwyn Scott, and the National Development Officer, Rosemary Harris. On the day some 10-12 potential new members attended and showed a definite commitment to join, including the Deputy Mayor.
The President thanked all of his members for their support, including Jim Fitzpatrick who carried out most of the prior advertising.
The Redditch club aim to finish off their season and their 25th Anniversary as they started. This year's annual dinner will be attended by the outgoing and incoming National President Tony Coleman and Gwyn Redgers, an official Toastmaster - (ex member) and a guest speaker. We hope to close the season with membership close to 30.
Speaker Feature
John Kemp's Experience of the ASC
“If you're thinking about joining the ASC, let me tell you how I nearly didn't! ...
John Kemp - Winner of the National Speech Competition 2005
... I'd found the details of Solihull Speakers Club on the net, and went down to Downing Hall one Wednesday - but I was about 10 minutes late. I stood outside in the foyer, placed my hand on the door handle, and suddenly there was a burst of applause. Then someone started speaking, and being too self-conscious to interrupt, and have all eyes turn on me - a stranger - I waited. A minute later, there was another burst of applause. I took a deep breath - and then held it again, because somebody else had started speaking. This sequence was repeated several times, and eventually, I slunk off into the night.
It was only curiosity about what had been happening on the other side of that door that persuaded me to give another Speakers Club a go. Less than two years later, I'd won the National Speech Trophy in 2005! So don't hesitate in the 'foyer' any longer (and try not to be late).
Oh yes! One more thing - sorry Solihull!”
John Kemp
Yardley Speaker’s Club