Chairing the meeting on 25th February, Doug Weale welcomed guests from the Ambassadors Speakers Club of Toastmasters International who share the same ideal, to practice and improve the art of speaking in public.

President Ron Sheldrake, in the business session, recalled the club`s success at the Kent Area competitions: Bernie Morgan taking first place in evaluation, with other commendable performances by fellow Thanet entrants, to the impromptu, and set speech events. Ron will succeed Margaret Jones as Kent Area President shortly; maintaining the constant support of our club in office beyond club level.

The meeting then, departed from the usual agenda of prepared speeches, as all members and guests read chosen poetry or prose; the result, both entertaing and essentially an exercise in an aspect of the educational syllabus set by both clubs represented.

The second half, in usual format was devoted to impromptu speaking;equally challenging, and an essential in the speaker`s armoury. Evaluation of the responses were given by Ian Lockyer: the meeting as a whole was given a complimentary appraisal by Trevor Kenning who, by popular vote, was presented with the Topics Trophy by Educational Director Andrew Thomson.Visitors are welcome to all meetings: for details please contact Doug Weale on 01843 592221 or:dougweale@dougweale.plus.com or visit the website www.thanetspeakers.club