Our One Hundredth Member

Guess What!  
The next person who joins Bremer Forum will be our 100th member inducted - ...  and that's worthy of a special celebration.

Do you have a friend or acquaintance who has been hesitating to come along to our group?  Now is the time.  They won't win an overseas trip for it .... but surely we could have a packet of chewie or a chocolate bar or something special for our 100th.

If they don't jump in at our next meeting on the 10 September - I know someone who wants to join on the 24 September.  Let's see who it will be.... and let's make them feel very special - because any one who joins our group... must be special.

Next Meeting

I missed the previous meeting. Can someone explain about the pick-a-box challenge, and what it has to do with life highlights please?

Extraordinary - that's what our speakers are....

In the Beginning.... who would have thought the topics this would bring to light....

• The Internet and the incredible journey so far ... a journey without end
• Humble beginning of the telephone created because of a deaf wife (wondering what I could invent - because of a deaf husband?  This could be the `retirement plan' I've been waiting for )
• The great narratives from the Bible - reflected in so many modern stories
• The humble beginnings and rise to fame of Susan Boyle who `dreamed a dream'

Add to this ---

• 27 August 1908 - one Birthday - two great men - Lyndon Baines Johnson and our Don Bradman
• Our visitor - sharing how their lives evolved because of an initial encounter that started a journey into basketball and beyond
• Some very strong opinions voiced through a simple formula used for impromptu speaking

I get my adrenalin rush from this great interaction in Bremer Forum with intelligent, caring, strong confident people .... who share much wisdom plus a special part of who they are at every meeting ....  just love it

Bremer Forum is the right place for this ....

Hey everyone... expecting another visitor at our meeting Tuesday 27th August.

A long standing friend who is desperate to overcome fear of speaking in public speaking. This has caused her to literally freeze at large national gatherings of the company she holds a management position in.  I'm excited about being part of her journey to change this.  Hate to see anyone suffer in this way when we know how possible it is to overcome the fear.  

See you there.

GREAT AMBASSADOR TONI...

For those who couldn't make it - I attended the morning tea on Saturday to support Toni who was 1 of 4 key speakers on the program for the Fundraising event for Mayoress' Community Fund Committee.  Toni used her speaking skills well as she delivered her wealth of knowledge on Greek Cafes with ease and had the capacity audience in the Barry Jones Auditorium totally captivated.  Her PowerPoint presentation using remote was as professional as you can get.  So very proud of her.... and you should have seen her moves in the impromptu  Jazzercise class ... legendary. 

Now for Tuesday 27th ... our next meeting - looking forward to hearing your take on `In the Beginning' - Leanne put out some great ideas for topics.  See what your lateral thinking can produce to this title.

Don't forget to register for Conference by 26 August.  www.forumcommunicators.asn.au for your Registration forms.

Success at last....

Thanks Campbell for all your expertise in helping the amateur bloggers get started. You are a gem. 

Bursting into Blogging

Hi everyone... it ain't easy being green at this blogging. This is a test run to see if I have mastered the complexity of putting words into the right section of this maze... and finally make my way into the light.  Sometimes I love modern technology and sometime I don't. So here goes fellow bloggers and friends of Bremer Forum. Wish we could meet every week - so that we could enjoy more great speeches.

My Brain is sore.....

Yes I'm always intrigued by the diversity of speeches we have to a topic and it looks like there is no let up for next meeting. I haven't given a 10 minute speech for some time and it can be very challenging but it is a good work out of brain. I slept like a log that night :-)

We exercise our bodies at the gym and we exercise our minds at Forum

Titles

That was an excellent title for your speech Campbell - 'Carpe Diem' made us all think about what's important in life....unless it didn't ;)  Rex' title for next meeting is also open to broad interpretation - 'In the Beginning'...  What about:

• the big bang theory
• the creation of a painting or any project you can think of
• the history of local or national organisations / volunteer groups / businesses / a town
• anything worthwhile begins with an idea...what about how the brain generates ideas?
• inspiration - where do you get most of your best ideas (a certain location / google / watching people?  Give an example of how something unfolded for you, and try to leave the audience with something to think about.

Have fun and I'll see you on the 27th!

Meeting 13 August

Hi All
Great meeting and great speeches. Leanne, I enjoyed your speech. Taking the title in the negative and saying what was NOT good about it was clever-hope you are feeling better now.
It is so true that we count the days and wait for our holidays and then end up sick. At uni it would be straight after the exams! Just when you really need a rest you spend the first week miserable!
Leanne-how many minutes are you suggesting for the "pick a box" speech?
I don't think I have done a speech this year-so it was "getting back on the horse" again. Feels good....
Jenny

Keeping it 'under wraps'

I've been thinking about this speech-writing business and, in particular, how our blog might help members develop topics as they write their speeches. It occurs to me that an important aspect of any speech is the element of SURPRISE! Isn't part of the fun at meetings discovering what members do given titles? The End, for example, might be about coming home after touring Europe, the words uttered on famous deathbeds, retirement.....or something else entirely. Doesn't part of the power of a speech lie in the audience not knowing what it's going to be about? Wouldn't a speech be a bit boring if we'd already read it?
I find myself holding back in posting questions about how to attack or improve a speech, because then that element of surprise is at risk. We've never discussed this before, but don't you hold back when preparing a speech?
The speech I gave last meeting is probably the one I will give at conference, and I'm aware that, especially since this is a competition, it should be kept 'under wraps' - that it's potential diminishes if conference attendees know too much about it. The title - What Women Want - intrigues, but doesn't give away too many secrets.
What do you think? Don't the best orators play their cards close to their chests? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Lets go blogging

It is wonderful to have an opportunity to promote our Forum to the outside world, and to let others know what a great time we have at meetings, honing our public speaking skills, especially the impromptu practice we've had in the last few months.  It is a great confidence booster.  I'm excited to be part of a group of enthusiasts who enjoy listening to my life stories.   Keep on blogging.

Congratulations to Toni on her impromptu speaking efforts at the Birthday luncheon.  Toni will now represent us at Conference.  I couldn't think of a better speaker - cant wait to hear you in September.

Ok I will.....

As I've thrown down the gauntlet to my fellow bloggers, I now have to get off the bench and and jump in with both feet. I believe this is a great medium for freedom of speech and creativity,but also a great venue for us to share with the world the value of an organisation like the Bremer Forum. Every week we are treated to new thoughts and ideas from our members when we are asked to speak to a title or thought. It can only serve to expand your mind and enhance the soul.

Let's Get Blogging...

Hi everyone! Bremer Forum has been in the ether for nearly a month; now is the time to get blogging! It's not hard, and Campbell is very willing to help. He's here with me now, as a matter of fact, helping me to sort out the finer points of the blog page on my computer. Everything is so much better when someone who knows what they are doing is nearby. 'Carpe Diem' is the title of the next speech, and certainly the theme for this post, so take the opportunity! Make your first post today! Campbell has thrown out a challenge: how many posts can we make before next meeting?