Carlisle and District Speakers Club

Our next Meeting, Thursday 2nd February

2012-01-27T20:24:00.002Z

Our next meeting, to be held at the usual time of 7:15 pm on Thursday 2nd February at Morton Community Centre, Wigton Road, Carlisle, will be a new departure for the Club.

We have invited a guest speaker, Paul Laidlaw of H & H Auctioneers and of TV fame, to share his knowledge and experience of auctioneering with us. This, we hope, will show us what to do at the following meeting on 16th February when the theme for the evening will be a Mock Auction. None of us have done this before, so we need an expert to show us how it is done!

Our members' experience of speaking varies from a month or two to nearly thirty years, but as this shows, we never stop learning new skills and finding sometimes quite unexpected abilities.

As always, visitors will be most welcome to join us, swell the audience and maybe even make a bid (not with real money!)

Carlisle Hosts Border Area Competitions

2012-01-27T15:50:00.006Z

Once again, as last year, Carlisle & District Speakers was the host club for the Association of Speakers Clubs Border Area Conference, at which entrants from the five clubs in the Area competed in Speech, Evaluation and Topics contests.

The Conference took place on Sunday 29th January at Morton Community Centre, Wigton Road, Carlisle and more than 45 members and guests attended from the Speakers Clubs of Annan, Carlisle & District, Cockermouth, Stranraer and West Coast (Workington & Whitehaven). VIP guests included Chris Robertson, President of North Western District of which Border Area is a part, and Graham McLachlan, National Vice-President. The Annual General Meeting which began proceedings chose three members of Carlisle & District Club to serve on the Area Executive for the next year from June 2012: Susan Trafford as President, John Barrie as Vice-President and Richard Hunt as Treasurer.

As current Vice-President Susan Trafford went on to chair the competitions which followed. The Speech winner was Frances Burditt of Cockermouth; Evaluation was won by Jess Sinclair, a founder member of Carlisle & District, pictured receiving the trophy from Chief Judge Vic Emmerson of Cockermouth; and the Topics winner was Liz McDonald of Annan. Unusually, the runner-up in each of the three competitions was a member of West Coast Club: 16-year-old Jess Longrigg for Speech and Anna Wilson for both Evaluation and Topics. Winners and runners-up will all go on to compete at North Western District Competitions on 4th March at Motherwell.

Workshops 21/1/12

2012-01-27T15:41:00.008Z

Saturday, 21st January saw Carlisle and District Speakers Club trying out a new venture. In response to requests for some general training on Public Speaking, the club organized some business-based workshops at Morton Community Centre.

Christine Shuttleworth, club president, welcomed more than 20 people to the workshops on Chairmanship, Presentation and Impromptu Speaking skills.

The workshops, aimed at providing tips on improving techniques on Public Speaking, as well as suggestions to reduce stress and anxiety of this number one fear in life today, were warmly received with comments such as, from one participant from a voluntary organization:

“A brilliant course, I really enjoyed it, I am taking away some positive tips & skills I can go on to use”.

Many would like more sessions like these and the club will have to think about how these might be financed.

Susan Trafford, Education Director said that, “Training for skills in Public Speaking is often low on an employer’s agenda, but employees with excellent speaking skills increase opportunities for maximizing the marketing potential of any organisation, promoting their products, be it a car, increasing take up of a project, or informing the electorate of a change in policy”.

“Training of this type is difficult to source locally at reasonable cost, so we were delighted to be able to provide an afternoon of training that has been so well received.”

The workshops were attended by people from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

At the end of the afternoon all those attending were able to practise their newly acquired skills choosing whether to speak from the stage, or use a microphone, maybe for the first time.

The afternoon was rounded off by a demonstration of a Speech by Gordon Little entitled, ‘Breaking the Barrier’, a personal account of achieving public speaking competence.

As well as attendance certificates, participants were given tickets enabling them to attend the Border Area Speaking Competitions, to be held next Sunday afternoon, 29/1/12 at Morton Community Centre.

Annual Competition Results, 17th November

2011-10-23T05:18:00.007+01:00

Here are the winners of the Carlisle & District Speakers Club's annual Competition Night, held on Thursday 17th November at Morton Community Centre, Wigton Road, Carlisle.

Left to Right: Christine Shuttleworth (Club President), Gordon Little (Speech winner), Margaret Hunt (Topics winner), David Heaton (Border Area President and Chief Judge) and Jess Sinclair (Evaluation winner).

Contests comprised Speech (prepared), Evaluation of a speech made by a guest speaker, and Topics (contestants to make a mini-speech without preparation on a theme given them by the Topics Chairman as they enter the room - a great exercise in thinking on one's feet!) These represent the principal skills that we hope to develop by joining a Speakers Club.
Gordon Little won the Speech competition with Runner-up John Barrie; Jess Sinclair won Evaluation with Runner-up Christine Shuttleworth, and Margaret Hunt won the Topics with Runner-up John Barrie.
Grateful thanks to our Judges: David Heaton (President of Border Area) and David Preshaw, both of West Coast Speakers Club, and Peter Hodgson of Cockermouth SC - and special thanks to our Guest speaker Roger Wise, who presented a speech for the Evaluation competitors to practise their skills on. The whole event was organised by our Education Director Susan Trafford, without whose hard work and leadership it could not have happened.

New Officers for 2011-12 Season

2011-06-14T15:06:00.005+01:00

At the Club's Annual General Meeting on 2nd June the following members were elected to office:
President - Christine Shuttleworth
(Immediate Past President - Susan Trafford)
Secretary - Rebecca Farrimond
Treasurer - Richard Hunt
Education Director - Susan Trafford.

John's Masterpiece

2011-05-15T09:46:00.004+01:00

The meeting of Carlisle & District Speakers Club held on Thursday 19th May was a special occasion because member John Harris succeeded in the final assignment from the Speakers Guide, his Masterpiece speech. In this he demonstrated mastery of all the preceding assignments, covering all aspects of public speaking skill. He was assessed by two of the Club's most experienced evaluators, both of whom have gained recognition at National competition level, and we all congratulate John on this important achievement.

"Deceptive" Victory for Carlisle Club

2011-05-15T09:32:00.005+01:00

The annual Gavel Competition for Speakers Clubs in Border Area was held on Thursday 12th May at Morton Community Centre in Carlisle, the home of Carlisle and District SC. It took the form of the panel game "Would I Lie to You?" The Clubs from Annan, Carlisle, Cockermouth, Stranraer and West Coast took part; each entered a team of three players, except Cockermouth who entered two teams to make up three 'heats,' and in the finish the best liars were Carlisle & District. It must have been our honest faces that did it! It is a bit disturbing to find one has such a reprehensible talent, but a win after the lapse of quite a number of years was very welcome. Everyone enjoyed the evening, and this format proved very successful. Especial thanks are due to David Heaton of West Coast SC, the new President of Border Area, who put an immense amount of work into devising untrue but plausible claims for the contestants, to supplement their true but (but unlikely) stories.

Joint Meeting 7th April 2011

2011-04-07T17:13:00.004+01:00

At our meeting, on Thursday 7th April, we hosted members of Cockermouth Speakers Club for a lighthearted competition based on the BBC programme "Just a Minute." Panellists had to try to speak for 60 seconds on a topic given them by the Chairman, without Repetition, Hesitation or Deviation. Any instances of these could be challenged by the opposing team, and points were scored for a successful challenge, successful defence, or completing the minute. It's harder than it may sound! If a challenge was successful the challenger took over for the remaining time, and whoever was speaking as the minute ended scored a point. Usually the speakers change several times, so bonus points could be awarded for completing the entire 60 seconds without interruption, though nobody managed it on this occasion.
After a vigorous and hilarious competition the victory was finally awarded to Cockermouth Club.

Christine Wins at District

2011-03-08T14:01:00.006Z

Christine Shuttleworth, pictured after winning the Border Area Topics competition, has won again at the North Western District competition held on Sunday 6th March. North Western District comprises 18 Speakers Clubs in Border, Greater Glasgow and Argyll & Clyde Areas, and as overall winner Christine will now compete at the National Conference in Edinburgh on 15-17 April.

Margaret Hunt, our other winner at Border Area level, was runner-up in a very tight finish in the District Evaluation competition. Altogether the six Border Area competitors won two first and two runner-up places.

Success for Carlisle & District at Area Competition

2011-02-02T16:44:00.004Z

Carlisle & District Speakers were hosts to Speakers Clubs from Annan, Cockermouth, Stranraer and West Coast on Sunday 30th January at our venue, Morton Community Centre, for the ASC Border Area Conference . The Conference dealt with essential business and then the main events: competitions in Evaluation, Speech and Topics (impromptu short speeches). The speech to be evaluated by contestants was given by teenaged Jess Longrigg of West Coast SC, who showed impressive maturity and skills.

Picture are the competition winners: (L to R) Margaret Hunt (Carlisle & District), Evaluation; Alec Cairns (Stranraer), Speech; and Christine Shuttleworth (Carlisle & District), Topics.
They and the runners-up, respectively Davidson Bell (Cockermouth), Liz McDonald (Annan) and Anna Wilson (West Coast), now proceed to North West District Conference at Motherwell on 6th March.

A Family Affair!

2010-11-22T10:08:00.007Z

Our Club meeting on 18th November was Competition Night: our annual Speech and Evaluation competitions were held, with four entrants in each. In a first for the Club, it was a family affair - the Speech competition was won by Richard Hunt, and the Evaluation by his wife Margaret. The Runner-up in both competitions was our Club President Susan Trafford. It was a first for Richard too; he only joined the Club in 2009 after being, as he would claim, "the most experienced non-member of ASC," as he had supported Margaret, one of the founder members, from the beginning. It is also the first actual trophy he has ever won in his life!
Many thanks to our Judges, Frank Grace of West Coast Speakers Club together with Liz McDonald and Ian Hodgson of Annan Speakers Club - also to Mairi Mole of Annan SC, Border Area President, who kindly gave the speech for the Evaluation competition.
We are grateful, too, to our guests who helped to swell the audience and create a lively and encouraging atmosphere.
The winners will go on to compete at the Border Area Conference to be held in Carlisle on Sunday 30th January 2011.

CDSC Guests of University of the Third Age

2010-11-20T10:46:00.002Z

Carlisle University of the Third Age (U3A) very kindly invited Carlisle & District Speakers to their monthly meeting in the afternoon of 18th November, to show what we do and how we do it. Our President Susan Trafford introduced the Club and gave a short history, then members presented a demonstration speech and an evaluation of it, as would be done at a Club meeting. Following that, three volunteers from U3A bravely stood up and spoke to topics of their own choice - to such a high standard that we would very much welcome them as members of our own Club.

Many thanks are due particularly to Gordon Little, a member of both CDSC and U3A, who acted as link man and chaired the presentation, for his hard work and meticulous preparation, as well as to U3A Chairman David Stevens and his fellow members for their kind welcome and hospitality.

A Brief History of CDSC

2010-11-20T10:29:00.003Z

The Club was founded in September 1982 and was originally known as Carlisle Ladies Speakers Club. We started with five ladies, three of whom are still members, and over the next five years increased to a membership of twenty-seven, our highest so far. It is our ambition to reach that level again soon. In the early years our Club was part of Ladies Council No 5 but we became full members of The Association of Speakers Clubs in May 1987.

In 2002 we voted to become a mixed club, which over the last eight years has brought many benefits and enriched our meetings. The gentlemen have played a full part in the running of the club and we have now had two male Presidents.

The members of our club have contributed to the running of The Association of Speakers Clubs at all levels. We have provided four Area Presidents, two District Presidents and a National Officer. On two occasions we have hosted the National Conference in Carlisle. The first, in 1992, broke all attendance records and we like to think of it as the most successful National Conference ASC has ever had! The biggest-ever dinner to celebrate Speaker of the Year was chaired by one of our members at the Central Hotel in Glasgow in 1996.

The National Contests have had a representative from Carlisle Club on over twenty occasions and five trophies have been brought home, four of them in the last eight years. Evaluation has been our forte and Carlisle members' names appear on all the National evaluation trophies.

We estimate that 130 people have joined our Club during the last twenty-eight years. All of them have learned to speak to an audience with confidence and many have moved on to achieve success in other fields - most notably Mayor of Carlisle in 2006.

Over the years our club has met in a number of venues: a variety of hotels, a club, the lounge of a residential home, and even a church vestry. Now we are settled at Morton Manor Community Centre in Wigton Road. We meet in the Robert Chance lounge, recently registered to hold weddings, for which it has been beautifully furnished, and it is very comfortable. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from September till May. Meetings start at 7.15pm. Guests are very welcome.

Susan Wins Through

2010-08-15T15:51:00.003+01:00

Having won the competitions for Topics at Club and Border Area levels, on 7th March 2010 our Club President Susan Trafford capped her success by winning the North West District title. She is seen here receiving her Finalist's Certificate from the event sponsor's representative. Her win at District sent her forward to the ASC National Final, held in York on 23rd April 2010. Carlisle & District Speakers have had a number of National Finalists in the past, and Susan has kept the tradition alive and well!

Gordon's Advanced Certificate

2010-08-14T21:36:00.004+01:00

Carlisle Club member Gordon Little is seen here receiving his Advanced Certificate of Achievement from ASC National President David Grainger at the North West District Conference on 7th March 2010.

Although Gordon had worked very hard to improve his speaking skills and had achieved a very high standard, the actual award came as a complete, though most welcome, surprise to him - his fellow Club members had managed to keep it secret until the day.

Club success at Area Contests

2010-02-01T19:36:00.006Z

At the Border Area Contests on Sunday 31st January 2010, club members Susan Trafford and Margaret Hunt respectively won the Topics and Evaluation Contests. Margaret and Susan went on to compete against representatives from other Areas in the North-West District on 7th March in Ecclefechan.

Congratulations to both.

Talking the talk

2009-04-29T21:37:00.002+01:00

Published in the News and Star, April 28th 2009.

In an era of soundbites, shorter attention spans and a former US president who had difficulty with the English language, it may seem that oratory is a dying art.

The days when Winston Churchill, Aneurin Bevan, Martin Luther King or John F Kennedy could make a lengthy speech and be sure of getting a hearing – and media coverage – may appear to have passed.

But public speaking hasn’t yet gone the way of vinyl records and smoking in pubs. Indeed interest in it may be undergoing a revival.

The BBC2 series The Speaker, a contest to find the most talented public speakers aged between 14 and 18, attracted thousands of entrants.

The programme, shown at 8pm tonight, follows a similar format to talent shows such as Pop Idol or The X Factor, in which contestants are eliminated until an overall winner is found. The final is being broadcast tomorrow night, also at 8pm.

Last year’s US presidential election has also raised the profile of public speaking.

Barack Obama’s talent as a speaker is often credited with helping him to victory, and already his inauguration speech looks set to be remembered in the same way as that of one of his predecessors, John F Kennedy.

But speech-making is not confined to American presidents or TV talent contests. In Cumbria there are groups of enthusiasts who regularly meet to make, listen to and discuss speeches and pass on their skills.

They hope that the BBC series, and the attention President Obama’s speeches have received, will arouse greater interest in their activities.

One prominent group is Carlisle and District Speakers Club, which meets every fortnight at Morton Community Centre on Wigton Road.

The club was founded in 1982, originally for women only, but has been mixed for the past 10 years and now has members of all ages as well as both sexes.

Club president Piers Hobson says it aims to be both enjoyable and educational. At each session members concentrate on a separate aspect of public speaking, such as construction of a speech, vocabulary, use of humour or gestures, tone of voice and audience rapport.

They then make speeches on any topic of their choice, featuring that session’s particular skill, and other members offer constructive criticism, pointing out its good points and giving advice on improvements.

“A lot of people join to try to learn to speak more effectively in public, so members have been salesmen or people who need to give talks as part of their work,” Mr Hobson said.

“But there is the social side as well. A lot of the longstanding members have got to be very good, and they enjoy passing on their skills and knowledge to younger members.”

Anyone who has to undergo a job interview or make a wedding speech can find a talent for speaking useful. And good communicators are in demand in many walks of life or work.

“A lot of the skills are transferable,” he said. “They apply in many different areas. Being able to speak well gives you more confidence generally.”

Mr Hobson says President Obama was among the present-day speakers he admired.

“He’s definitely got a great style and a great voice. Tony Blair is a very good speaker too, and David Cameron seems to do quite well.”

Meetings of Cockermouth Speakers Club follow a similar format to those in Carlisle, with members looking at a different speaking skill at each meeting.

Its president, Frances Burditt, agreed with Mr Hobson that speaking effectively was useful in roles other than politics, preaching and lecturing.

“There are many, many jobs nowadays where you are better off if you can get up on your hind legs and speak confidently,” she said.

“People often have to give presentations in business, and a lot of job interviews will depend on how confidently you speak and how well you answer questions on the spur of the moment.”

And Mrs Burditt disputes the idea that there is no appetite for speeches in the era of soundbites.

“I think that’s a bit of a misconception. People who say that underestimate the intelligence and attention span of the population.

“As long as a speech is interesting and is not delivered in a boring monotone then people will listen.”

The Cockermouth club has 17 regular attenders, and Mrs Hobson is hoping the BBC series will increase interest in their activities. “It’s good that the BBC is doing something like this,” she said. “It’s bringing public speaking into the public eye.”

She also felt the new American president’s talent was drawing attention to public speaking.

“Barack Obama is an extremely good speaker.

“I think he’ll be a good role model for a large section of the younger generation, and may well interest them in speaking.”

Anyone interested in joining either club can find more details on their websites at www.carlislespeakers.blogspot.com or www.cockermouthspeakersclub.org.uk

SBlease@cngroup.co.uk

CLUB CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY

2007-11-06T20:16:00.000Z

Last Sunday (28th October) Carlisle and District Speakers Club celebrated our 25th anniversary with a lunch held at The Auctioneer, Rosehill, Carlisle. Past and present members, friends and guests from around the UK gathered for the occasion. Also in attendance was the National Vice President of the Association of Speakers Clubs.

The Club was founded in September 1982 and was originally known as Carlisle Ladies Speakers Club. We started with five ladies, three of whom are still members, and over the next five years increased to a membership of twenty-seven.

In 2002 we voted to become a mixed club, which over the last five years has brought many benefits and enriched our meetings. The gentlemen have played a full part in the running of the club and we have now had two male Presidents.

The members of our club have contributed to the running of The Association of Speakers Clubs at all levels. We have provided four Area Presidents, two District Presidents and a National Officer. On two occasions we have hosted the National Conference in Carlisle.

The National Contests have had a representative from Carlisle Club on sixteen occasions and five trophies have been brought home, four of them in the last five years.

We estimate that 120 people have joined our Club during the last twenty five years. All of them have learned to speak to an audience with confidence and many have moved on to achieve success in other fields - most notably Mayor of Carlisle in 2006.

We meet at Morton Community Centre on 1st and 3rd Thursdays from September till May. Meetings start at 7pm. Guests are very welcome.

The image above shows, from left to right, John Barrie (Carlisle and District Speakers Club President), Christine Shuttleworth (founder member), Gordon Little, Joe James (Association of Speakers Clubs National Vice President), Piers Hobson (Carlisle and District Speakers Club Vice President), Jackie Snowden (Annan Ladies Speakers Club President) and Graham McLachlan (Association of Speakers Clubs North-West District President).

Joe James (Association of Speakers Clubs National Vice-President) replies to the Toast the Association of Speakers Clubs.

Graham McLachlan (Association of Speakers Clubs North-West District President) toasts Carlisle and District Speakers Club.

Jackie Snowden (Annan Ladies Speakers Club President) replies to the toast to the guests.

John Barrie (Carlisle and District Speakers Club President) replied to the toast to Carlisle and District Speakers Club.

Christine Shuttleworth (a founder member of Carlisle and District Speakers Club) toasts the Association of Speakers Clubs.

Susan Trafford (Education Director of Carlisle and District Speakers Club) toasts the guests.

Jess Sinclair (a founder member of Carlisle and District Speakers Club) gives the Vote of Thanks.

Gordon Little (a member of Carlisle and District Speakers Club) says Grace.

Piers Hobson (Vice-President of Carlisle and District Speakers Club ) chairs the meeting.

We now have a MySpace page!

2007-08-10T09:29:00.001+01:00

Carlisle and District Speakers Club now has a MySpace page!

Click on the picture to visit!

When?

2007-01-01T00:04:00.001Z

7.15pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month (Sept - May).

Where?

2007-01-01T00:03:00.000Z

Morton Community Centre
Wigton Road
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA2 6JP

Click here for directions!

Why?

2007-01-01T00:02:00.000Z

Being able to speak with confidence in public is something that almost anyone can do - given regular practice and expert advice and support. Oh, and a friendly and supportive atmosphere helps too!

Do you ...

* Feel panic if you are asked to speak out loud?
* Feel too shy to put your point of view?
* Want to improve your personal confidence and communication skills?
* Need to speak as part of your job?
* Have to speak at a function, such as make a wedding speech?
* Have to face that job interview?
* Need to speak at any social or business occasion?
* Already have an interest in speaking ?
* Just feel you'd like to try it?

If the answer to any of these is 'YES' then why not come along and visit us? Visitors are always welcome - come for a night out and see what we do - take part if you wish, but we will not pressurise you. The Association of Speakers Clubs may not be for you!

Our members are men and women who have a range of speaking skills, from experienced professionals to nervous beginners. Frequent opportunities to speak within the club definitely helps us to overcome problems and build confidence. You will be guided by experienced speakers (who have all been where you are now) who are keen to pass on their skills.

How?

2007-01-01T00:01:00.000Z

We use a ten-stage programme that is monitored to ensure that all members have the opportunity to develop to the point where they deliver a Masterpiece speech with confidence. This programme has been proven to work over many years but is totally flexible and means that new members are able to move at a pace they find most suitable.

The programme will cover the following skills:

Making a start
Mean what you say
Speech construction
Use of gestures
Use your voice
Vocabulary and word pictures
The use of notes
Smile please!
Audience rapport
The Masterpiece

You will also have the opportunity to learn the skills involved in chairing a meeting and entering various competitions should you wish to do so.

Who?

2007-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

Our members are young and old, at work, at home or retired, want to learn for business, for a particular social occasion, for an interview, for their other interests or to feel better and more confident about themselves. Many of our members continue to come year after year just for the enjoyment!

The Carlisle and District Speakers Club is part of the Association of Speakers Clubs, a mutual self-help organisation. We are people who come together to help each other gain in confidence and learn a valuable life skill while having some fun. Anyone who comes along to one of our Clubs and hopes to learn how to be an effective speaker and help others to be an effective speaker will be delighted with the outcome. That person will be given the opportunity, the support, the knowledge and the feedback in a relaxed friendly environment which is the most efficient way to become an effective speaker. It does not happen overnight but it does work.