We are a Toastmasters Club originally formed from the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants but we are an open club and welcome everyone.
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Toastmasters International is the world's largest educational organisation committed to public speaking, communication and leadership skills development. It is a non-profit organisation staffed almost entirely by volunteers. For more information please refer to the london speaker (http://thelondonspeaker.typepad.com/weblog/about_Toastmasters.html) or Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/)
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You are welcome to attend as a guest of the club at anytime. We would love to have you! Simply email us for availability membership@bankspeakers.org.uk.
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The Association of British Insurers (ABI) 51-55 Gresham St, London EC2V 7HQ
Nearest tubes: Bank, St Pauls and Moorgate Stations, all about 5 minutes walk away.
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1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 7.15 for a prompt 7:30am start (finishes at 8:45am).
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The 6 monthly fee for Bank Speakers is currently £100 - great value for all those CPD hours. This covers the cost of hiring the room, membership of Toastmasters international and associated materials, plus breakfast and entry to one of our evening events.
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In order to speak at the club, you need to become a member. When you join us, you receive a membership pack that explains the learning objectives of both the speaking stream (Competent Communicator) and the leadership stream (Competent Leadership). Most members complete these in parallel and you work at your own pace. There is no pressure from the club - other than we like you to turn up as often as possible and to participate!
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We run a mentoring programme to help you through the programme, although this element is not compulsory. We aim to support everyone in their development so please do get involved!
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Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation. You will learn by participating in the following activities:
• How to give an impromptu speech • How to write and deliver a prepared speech • How to listen more effectively • How to give feedback to others in a more helpful way • How to introduce other speakers • How to chair and run meetings
Bank Speakers is effective because it provides a mutually supportive and positive learning environment. It is not a formal course in public speaking with instructors. Work is not graded nor tests administered.
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Simply email our VP of Membership membership@bankspeakers.org.uk with your request.
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This is the part of the meeting where you learn to "think-on-your-feet" and practise Impromptu Speaking. An experienced member - the "Table Topics Master" will pose prepared questions and calls on members of the audience at random to give a one to two minute response. The questions aren't difficult and are intended to give the speakers a chance to practice impromptu speeches.
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Prepared speechers are the speech projects outlined in the Competent Communicator manual. During the meeting three or four members will deliver speeches that they have prepared in advance. The speeches can be about any subject, but the structure and style of the speech is defined by the Toastmasters Competent Communicator programme. Most speeches are between five and seven minutes long.
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There are several roles to help a meeting run smoothly. These form part of the Competent Leader programme and test our ability to listen, to motivate, to provide feedback and to facilitate. Roles include: Toastmaster, Timekeeper, Grammarian, Table Topics master, Speech Evaluator and General evaluator.
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