Neil MacLure was the Toastmaster of the Evening for our special Christmas meeting. He was assisted by timekeeper, Kirsty Urquhart.

To begin the evening, Neil asked members of the audience, what present would you like from Santa? Thankfully I am not one of Santa’s elves as requests included: directional golf balls, the ability to grow a moustache, a teleporter, time extender, time machine, hair regrowth, and snow on Christmas day. The latter is probably the easiest to accommodate as Santa could always deliver a snow machine!
Our prepared speech of the evening was by Moira Beaton, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). Moira chose a story with a Christmas theme for Project 4 of the Advanced Communication Series Speciality Speeches –‘Reading out loud’. Moira adapted a story written by Pearl S. Buck, entitled Christmas Day in the Morning. Graeme Buck evaluated Moira’s speech highlighting her excellent oral interpretation.

Duncan Thompson had the role of Table Topic Master. Brian Duffy, Paul Bailey and Declan Colgan were transported to Boxing Day and were asked to tell the audience why the present they received for Christmas is a gift they always wanted. Eileen Scott, Johanne Burns and Claire Dipnarine were asked to tell the audience about a special person they had met at a magical ball the previous evening. The Table Topic Evaluator was Pauline Dix who awarded the Table Topic Best Speaker Ribbon to Brian Duffy for a speech relating to a hip-flask present.

Eu Jin Teh, past Area Governor and President of Haymarket Toastmasters, was our special guest of the evening. Eu Jin spoke briefly about his experiences of setting up a new club, Haymarket Toastmasters, and thanked everyone involved from our club for all their help. Due to his level of commitment to the formation of the new club Stephen Dix accepted, on behalf of Waverley Communicators, the Founder’s Award for sponsoring Haymarket Toastmasters.

During Club Business it was announced that Waverley Communicators and Linlithgow Speakers have co-sponsored another new club, Livingston Speakers with Pauline Dix and Stephen Dix at the helm. The meetings will be held on alternate Thursdays to Waverley Communicators.

The first Livingston Speakers club meeting will be held on Thursday 17th January 2013. If you can support Livingston Speakers by attending and undertaking roles or know of friends, family or business colleagues who may be interested please let Pauline or Stephen know by contacting: paulinedix@blueyonder.co.uk or stephendix@blueyonder.co.uk
Happy New Year!
Johanne Burns
Member of Waverley Communicators