Volunteering is a great way to learn, use and expand your Public Speaking Skills!

Tonight  Nam Phan and I volunteered for CWILL -CWILL BC, Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia- .Children’s Authors and Illustrators in BC who have published a book in the last year are invited to present their book to an audience of school librarians. They are given 1.5 minutes to present their book.

Some of them have opted to have their presentation evaluated.

Location: HYCROFT MANOR, VANCOUVER

Shannon Young , a fellow Toastmaster has been volunteering the past two years and was unable this year, so Nam and I jumped in as the replacements.

I cannot tell you how much you learn from Volunteering. PPl say, but you are working for F.ree. Yes, but the experience is priceless. Do you think I was looking to be a part of a room filled with school librarian on a Tues. night? Of course not. On a Tuesday night I am on the computer or trying to find a quick sushi joint.  The opportunity came to Nam and I and we jumped on it.

As soon as we walked in the door we were given a goodie bag. Each bag had a different book  generously donated by the attending Authors along with business cards and bookmarkers advertsing the Authors.  Then a second book wrapped in green tissue paper was given to us that was  said to be more for the adults.

The two books that I received are:

“ A Christmas to Remember” Each story is written by one of Canada’s top award-winning writers for children, including Jean Little, Sarah Ellis, Maxine Trottier, Carol Matas and more. This collection is a lovely companion to A Season of Miracles, and will be treasured year after year at holiday time! 

The second book, more for the adults, was:

“Learning to Live Indoors” by Alison Acheson 

Learning to Live Indoors is a collection of short fiction by Alison Acheson that alerts readers to their subtle “rightness” by the intensity of the author’s observation and invention. Marriages, the family dog, toothbrushes, a pair of underwear flapping on the bit of roof below the window — each serves to rework poignant imagery from the familiar and domestic with deft delicacy. Acheson is the author of two novels for juveniles, The Half-Pipe Kidd and Thunder Ice. Learning to Live Indoors is her first work of adult fiction.

Thank You very much for these wonderful gifts.

Because it was Volunteer, it took the pressure off. I mean… I do not know about children’s books, and I am pretty sure neither does Nam. Also, the fact that they are not paying, ppl are more appreciative of you that you actually took time out of your day to be here for F.ree. Again, the value is on the experience. The volunteer get’s more value out of the experience than the organization. But yet, ‘they’ are forever Thankful. It is US that is Thankful!

This was a two-hour event that will have a life time of effect.

Nam and I evaluated thirty Children Authors, each had 90 sec to speak. We took turns.

I enjoy working with Nam, as this was a team effort. No breaks, thirty speakers back to back.

We watched authors showing off their books, flipping pages. We listened to authors sing! Yes, sing! That was a lot of fun and really grabbed everyone attention.

Being an evaluator can be a little tricky sometimes. You do not want to hurt someone’s feelings with something they care so much about. After all, what do we  know about children’s books.. Right?

Well, we don’t , however the structure is the same no matter what you are talking about up on that stage. Which is why we were there.

Body Language

Vocal Variety

Uhms, Ah’s, And, But

Speech Structure

After about the 15th evaluation tonight I was really starting to notice the style of how authors speak in public. Ya see, they are writing on paper or typing on the computer .  They rarely speak in public. . I was becoming more and more fascinated. I really enjoyed listening to all thirty speakers. All had their own style and represented themselves and their book.  As Nam and I were writing our evaluations ,I was becoming more and more aware of why we were  there.

When you step out of your zone , day-to-day life and jump into someone else’s, you begin to see and open up your perceptions about every other part of your life. This in turn makes you a better public speaker. You start speaking from you heart and not worrying if they will like you, and start paying attention to your delivery. Oh, they like you, alright. But can they hear you, or feel your words?

Public speaking is a very vulnerable position to have. But once you dive in there and see what is going on outside TM, you will never have the full experience.

After being a TM member, I don;t think I would appreciate these authors as much as I do today. I saw something in each and every one of them, and that is passion. When you speak with passion, you shine no matter how lousy  your speech was. What TM is there to do is to take that passion and blanket it all over your audience. Make them REALLY feel your words. To Polish it up.

It was my pleasure to evaluate the CWILL BC, Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia- to present their book to an audience of school librarians.

I am sure I can speak for Nam as well.

Next time an opportunity comes up to Volunteer, do it. This experience is invaluable and will move you forward faster to  your success! Just say “Yes!”

 

Jill Patrick

VP Public Relations

Contact: jill@jillpatrick.com

604-999-1252

www.burrardtoastmasters.com