Joe as a Toastmaster (Example 1: from 1997)

Someday, perhaps, this blog might be helpful to new Toastmasters and to others who are called upon to make speeches.  This is an example of how a Table Topics Master might structure a session to fit into a meeting.  You should note that there is an Opening, Body, and Conclusion.

                                           Shakespeare's Birthday

Today is a marvelous day!  It is the birthday of William Shakespeare, the great playwright.  Some people do not believe a "commoner" like William Shakespeare, of Stratford upon Avon, could have written all of the wonderful plays that are attributed to him.  Plays such as Hamlet, MacBeth, or Romeo and Juliet.  Some say that the plays were written by Sir Francis Bacon; others say that they were written by a committee of nobles who desired to remain anonymous; some even say that they were written by Sir Henry Vaughan (one of my ancestors.)

Whatever the truth (and this may never be known for sure)... the plays are wonderful examples of how beautiful the English language can be.  For example:  In one play, a character mentioned what they were going to do tomorrow... instead of saying: "Well, I think I'll get up early and do some interesting things"... Shakespeare had him say:

"The sun shall not be up so soon as I, to test the fair adventure of the day!"

This is one of my favorite lines.. and I use it instead of Carpe Diem.

And, since I am also the Grammarian for tonight, I will offer this as the Word for the Day: 

          bard: poet (Shakespeare was called the Bard of Avon)

Our Table Topics session will be very tough tonight.  I will ask every contestant to comment on a famous phrase from one of Shakespeare's plays.

1.  "To be or not to be, that is the question."  (from Hamlet)

2.  "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?"  (from Romeo and Juliet)

3.  "Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears."  (from Julius Caesar)

4.  "So, kiss me, Kate!" (from The Taming of the Shrew)

Ladies and Gentlemen.. if your only exposure to the plays of the "bard" occurred when you were in High School, I ask that you give yourself a treat... pick up a copy of one of the plays like Romeo and Juliet or The Taming of the Shrew... relax, and read it for pleasure.  You will be in for a great surprise and a memorable experience.

Madam Toastmaster.