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Pecksniffian, Ahem, Ummmm, Ahh…

Pecksniffian, Ahem, Ummmm, Ahh…
October 18, 2015 Ho‘oulu Staff

Toastmasters Can Help You Overcome a Fear of Public Speaking

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Put on your roller skates, the No Ka ‘Oi Toastmasters meeting moves so fast you will be breathless—and please do not be a “pecksniffian.” The No Ka `Oi Toastmasters Club meets every Friday at noon in Room 104B of the Ka Lama Building (just follow the ruckus of laughter down the hall) on the UH Maui College campus. Toastmasters is an international nonprofit organization that is dedicated to excellence in communication and leadership.

The Oct. 9 meeting was packed with approximately 18 people in attendance. The Toastmaster that day was Danny Macias, who is also the president of the club. Macias promptly called the meeting to order, then guests were acknowledged and new members congratulated. “To get the most out of an event like this,” Macias explained, “the most important thing is to stand up and let your voice be heard.” One of the goals of being the Toastmaster is to listen, speak and learn to run a meeting.

The meeting moves at warp speed. The word of the day is “pecksniffian” and was to be used by the evaluators in their evaluations of the speakers. The word was derived from Charles Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit of 1844, in which Seth Pecksniff was a land surveyor and architect. It is now defined as: falsely moralistic, hypocritical, and insincere.

The meeting is perfectly ordered with a designated “Joke Master,” followed by three speakers with three evaluators. Each of the speakers spoke on a different topic and votes were taken after they finished. Then, there was a quick round of “Table Topics,” where a speaker is randomly chosen to give an impromptu quick speech for the given topic.

Evaluators reported on each speaker and then votes were taken for the best evaluators. The evaluations are helpful, supportive and encouraging. Members are given opportunities to prepare, rehearse and then deliver a presentation in front of their fellow members.

If you’re planning to attend one of these meetings, bring some extra change for each “ahem,” “well,” “um” and “ah.” Those filler words are counted by the “Grammarian,” who watches over everyone speaking; there is a 25-cent fine for each filler word used. At the end of the meeting, members are told how much, if anything, that is owed.

“We can do this,” said Donna, a speaker who talked about her dream that is materializing for the West Maui Trail. She used a visual aid in her presentation as she showed the steps that had been taken for her dream to be a reality. “Dedication, consistency and perseverance have paid off,” she said. “My dream is manifesting in stages.”

Ilene had a moving speech titled “Take the Time” that showed how in our busy, busy world we lose track of what is really important. She talked about a girl named Shelby and her relationship with her mother. “Shelby’s mother almost died from an accident,” Ilene said, “and that was a wake-up call for Shelby, who had been too busy to give her mother any time.” Shelby was so engrossed in herself and her own life, that she had become insensitive to her mother’s needs and requests. Luckily she had been given a second chance.

Macias summed up the lessons that he learned in his speech “48 hours of Detention.”

“Don’t assume anything,” he said. “Be nice to the people who handle your food and sometimes it is fun to break the rules.” His speech was about his time in a private Catholic school when he and a friend often cut seventh period to go to a fast food place. They were caught and detention followed.

The voting results were shared with a round of applause.

No Ka `Oi Toastmasters is a wonderful place to boost your confidence with public speaking opportunities, regardless of your age or gender. One of the visitors shared that his boss encouraged him to join to develop his leadership abilities. Another visitor was there to improve his speaking abilities, salesmanship and confidence.

A great speaker is in high demand. Malcolm Gladwell can get $80,000 plus for a speech and David Sedaris can sell out Carnegie Hall. TED talks can bring fame and fortune to many and well-known celebrities can command millions of dollars for a speech.

If your goal is to become a better public speaker and to overcome public speaking fears, then Toastmasters gives you the opportunity to practice presentations for other audiences. This instills confidence and the courage to lead.

Leadership is the ability to effectively communicate a vision; Toastmasters can help you develop the confidence to communicate your vision to others.

If you want a dynamic, inspiring time, visit the No Ka ‘Oi club or call (808) 478-5407 for more information. Membership is open to all interested parties without restriction.

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