Latest News !

31st October 2007 Halloween Table Topics

Fancy dress add a special touch to an unusual evening of only Table topics; speaking on a surprise subject 'off the cuff' for 1-2 minutes. Well done to Steve Osborne and Dave Hassall for presenting the topics - one each for every attendee. A great evening!

September 2007 Area Contest

Richard Mack represents Cottonwood in Humorous Speech Contest

Dave Hassall represents Cottonwood in Table Topics Contest

The area contest was held at Swindon and Richard/Dave amused the audience with great aplomb.

31st March 2007 Cottonwood hosts Area Contests

Cottonwood Speakers hosted the Area 22 International Speech and Evaluation Contests at the Durley Hall Hotel. Nearly 50 members and guests turned up from clubs including Chaseside, Northavon, Thamesdown and Newbury. The Club were delighted to have Divisional Governor Jane Cameron (all the way from Glasgow!) to chair the contests. Cottonwood President David Mattocks hosted the event with Area Governor Jan Collins acting as Chief Judge. The International Speech contest was won by Guy Kingston of Northavon with John Evans from Thamesdown a very creditable second. Our own David Smith came second to Tony Henderson-Newport of Newbury Speakers in the Evaluation Contest.

28th February 2007 Keith Hart and David Smith win Club Contests

The Club held its annual International Speech and Evaluation Contest on 28th February 2007. With a good turnout of members and guests, Keith Hart pipped Peter McGeehan to first place in the speech contest and David Smith beat off fine competition from Shirley Thompson to take the Evaluationa Contest prize. Both Keith and David now go on to the Area competition, to be hosted by Cottonwood Speakers, on 31st March.

Barry Mitchell gains Competent Toastmaster award (CTM)

A member since August 2002 and regular contributor to club meetings, Barry completed his tenth and final speech in the Communications and Leadership Manualat the Club meeting on 22nd November 2006, thus gaining his well deserved CTM award. His certificate will be presented to him at a future meeting by Club President, David Mattocks.

Barry is a former commercial pilot, and gave an inspiring speech on his path to achieveing his dream. He has previously served as a Club Offficer and carried out every meeting role many times over - a regular and valued member of the Club.

Many congratulations to him on this milestone achievement !

David goes on to win Division Contest!

Our Immediate Past President, David Smith, went up to Bolton in Lancashire on 29th October 2006 to represent Area 22 in the Division E Humorous Speech Contest - and went on to win! Division E is the largest division in the country, spanning Scotland to Devon down the East side of the UK and including 23 Clubs. As champion, David goes to Nenagh, Co.Tipperary in Ireland on 11th November for the UK and Ireland Finals against the winners of the other seven divisions.

Club enters Area Contests - and wins!

At the Area Contest held in Bristol on Sunday 1st October 2006, former club president David Smith won the trophy for best HumorousSpeech, against opposition from Club Champions of Newbury Speakers, Northavon Speakers and Thamesdown Speakers. David now goes on to the Divisional Contest to be held near Manchester on Sunday 29th Oct. Go get 'em David !

At the same competition, and in only her second ever contest, Julie Pike represented the Club brilliantly in the Table Topics Contest against outstanding opposition from the other Club Champions in the Area, many of whom had competed several times in competitions. The winner, John Evans, earlier this year won the UK and Ireland Evaluation Contest, another contestant has been a TM for 14 years, and another has previously won the Area Humorous Speech Contest more than once - so Julie had some very stiff opposition! Well done Julie!

Julie Pike and David Smith win Club Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest!

At the Club's special meeting on 27th September 2006, after a great competition with entries from Westrow Cooper, David Smith and Keith Hart, and lots of laughter from the audience, David was announced winner of the Club Humorous Speech Contest!

Following this was held the annual Table Topics Contest, with entries from Dave Hassall, Keith Hart, Julie Pike, Steve Graham, Stuart Johnson. After a great contest, with outstanding entries from all contestants, the judges voted Julie Pike the winner.

Julie and David go on to the Area Contest in Bristol on Sunday - good luck to both !

Recent News

David Mattocks inaugurated as new Club President for 2006/7

The 2005/6 outgoing Committee Celebrate !

David Mattocks inaugurated as new Club President for 2006/7

At the Club's meeting on 28th June 2006, outgoing president David Smith transferred the gavel and badge of office to newly elected president David Mattocks.

David is already an experienced and well respected business leader and marketing expert, and is looking forward to developing the Club even further this year, building on the success of the last year. He introduced and welcomed his new 'team' of Club Officers comprising:

Steve Graham (VP Education)
Sue Challis (pictured with David Mattocks) (VP Membership)
Russell Hart (VP Public Relations)
Catherine Gale (Secretary)
Shirley Thompson (Treasurer)
Margaret Edmondson (Sergeant at Arms)

Cottonwood Speakers fastest growing Toastmasters Club in the UK !

Outgoing president David Smith announced that the Club's net growth in membership over the last twelve months of over 50% is the best in the UK ! This is great news for the Club, which is a lively, fun, entertaining and educational place to develop confidence and self esteem through learning and practising the art of public speaking. Area Governor Jan Collings congratulated the Club on its achievements this year, and looks forward to continued success in 2006/7.

Cottonwood Speakers gain Select Distinguished Club status for 2005/2006!

Affiliated to Toastmasters International, the leading public speaking organisation worldwide, Cottonwood Speakers Club of Bournemouth became the first club in the South West to achieve Distinguished Club status in 2005/6, and have gone on to achieve Select Distinguished Club status. With three members achieving Competent Toastmaster award, two Competent Leader awards, 16 new members (making it the fastest growing (%) Toastmasters Club in the UK) and good development work by the Committee, the Club is thriving to become one of the leading clubs in the South West.

Area 22, to which the Club belongs, covers South Wales and the South West and includes clubs in Newbury (Newbury Speakers), Swindon (Thamesdown), Bristol (Northavon), Bournemouth (Cottonwood Speakers and Chaseside) and a new Club just starting in Torquay.

Well done to all Club Members, and especially to the Committee Members, who do so much to make the Club a friendly, supportive environment for developing confidence and self-esteem as well as great communication and leadeship skills.

David C.Smith - Club President 2005/6

Westrow Cooper gains Competent Toastmaster award (CTM)

A member since April 2003 and regular contributor to club meetings, Westrow recently completed his tenth and final speech in the Communications and Leadership Manual, thus gaining his well deserved CTM award. The certificate was presented to him at the 26th April meeting by Club President, David Smith.

Westrow has previously served as a Club Offficer and carried out every meeting role many times over.

Many congratulations to him on this milestone achievement !

Gillian King CTM gains Competent Leader award (CL)

Another member to gain this prestigious award, Club Sergeant at Arms and Competent Toastmaster (CTM) Gillian will be presented with her Competent Leader award at a meeting in May.

Gillian has been a member since Nov 2002 and, having gained her CTM award, is currently serving as a Club Officer, attended Area Training in January, presented education speeches to the Club on 'Moving beyond our Club' and 'Meeting and Committee Roles', both from the Competent Leadership series. As a result of her and others' contribution this year, the Club has now achieved Select Distinguished Club status.

Gillian is a valued and valuable member of the Club and many congratulations to her on achieving this award !

Shirley Thompson CTM gains Competent Leader award (CL)

The first member to do so for several years, Club Vice President Education and Competent Toastmaster Shirley was presented with her Competent Leader award at a recent meeting.

To achieve this award, Shirley had to gain her CTM, serve as a Club Officer, attend Area Trainings, present at least two education speeches from the Competent Leadership series and contribute to the Club Development Plan. As a result of her and others' contribution this year, the Club has already achieved Distinguished Club status.

Shirley is a valued and valuable member of the Club and many congratulations to her on achieving this award !

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For Public Speaking, Effective Presentations and Presentation Skills, Confidence to Speak in Public and Building Self-Esteem: Cottonwood Speakers, Bournemouth (Poole Christchurch Wimborne Dorset Ringwood Hampshire)

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